Dublin Entrepreneurial Center Marks Earth Day and 1st Anniversary with Launch of a Green Integrator

The City of Dublin this week celebrated the one-year anniversary of the opening of the Dublin Entrepreneurial Center (DEC).  More than 400 individuals, city officials and business leaders were on hand to mark the occasion. 

The City marked the occasion, appropriately held on Earth Day, by cutting the ribbon on the DEC’s new “Green Integrator.”  According to Dana McDaniel, deputy city manager and director of economic development, the Green Integrator is an opportunity to promote the creation and co-location of green companies and green technologies to the DEC.  The goal of the Green Integrator is to provide opportunities for companies to develop symbiotic, collaborative partnerships. 

“It’s not a traditional incubator,” said McDaniel.  “Instead we call it a Green Integrator, designed to bring companies together, many of whom are startups that have green technologies they are advancing.  We are both creating new technologies and advancing green technologies to the marketplace.”

The DEC opened one year ago through a collaborative partnership between the City of Dublin and TechColumbus to accelerate the growth of technology businesses in the area.  When it opened, there was one tenant, Socious, Inc, a provider of social media tools, software and services to help membership organizations build communities among members.  Now, the DEC is home to more than 40 businesses and organizations located at the center’s 7003 Post Road location.  In total, more than 63 companies have engaged with the DEC and TechColumbus and 46 jobs have been created as a result of the partnership.   

“There are two parts to the DEC,” said McDaniel.  “There are the companies physically located here, and the ones virtually connected to the DEC through technology events, activities, jellies and TechLife Meetups.” 

McDaniel said the DEC has been a key plank in the City’s economic development platform to retaining, attract and create companies within the region and develop the workforce to sustain these companies and others that will follow.  

“We co-invested $625,000 with TechColumbus and so far Dublin companies have received $14.6 million back in funding and services,” McDaniel told the standing-room-only crowd.  “I challenge you to find a better return on investment than that.”  

For more information on the DEC, visit the center’s newly launched Web site