Dublin Entrepreneurial Center Open House Scheduled for March 19

The City of Dublin, a founding partner in the TechColumbus TechStart program, has announced the grand opening of the DublinEntrepreneurialCenter (DEC) with ribbon cutting ceremonies planned for Thursday, March 19 from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.   The opening of the DEC is a key part of Dublin’s economic development plan to attract businesses to a 1300-acre InnovationPark on the northwest side of Dublin. The DEC will provide economic development services and promote the kind of entrepreneurial culture needed to attract and nurture promising startup and technology companies.

“Through the Dublin Entrepreneurial Center, the City of Dublin is tapping into the energy of the many great ideas generated in our community and assisting entrepreneurs to launch and grow their businesses,” says Dana McDaniel, Dublin’s deputy city manager and director of economic development.

Companies located in the DEC will have demonstrated a viable business product, process or concept and will be well on their way to growth and sustainability. 

“We’re creating a sense of place,” says McDaniel. “Our goal is to provide a centralized place where viable companies can grow into sustainable companies.” 

McDaniel says that the City of Dublin is not the landlord for the DEC but it has leased space within the building to serve as meeting areas and offices for the many resources the city plans to make readily available to startups. 

“We have gained naming rights to the building and have secured a few offices, conference and training areas, but we are not in the business of leasing or subleasing commercial real estate,” he says. “Our mission is solely to create a place where high growth companies can gain synergy from being located in and around other companies in similar stages of development and to provide the resources necessary to support this continued and dynamic growth.” 

TechColumbus is one resource that has opened a satellite office on the 4^th floor of the DEC. Companies have full access to TechColumbus services, expertise and resources. Rick Coplin, TechColumbus business development specialist, is located in this office. TechColumbus also makes available commercialization specialists in advanced materials, biomedical and information technology and venture development professionals. TechColumbus’ Platform Lab will also operate a testing and training satellite within the DEC. 

Other onsite resources include the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) which offers business counseling, training and key business services to companies. There will be an entrepreneurial college, along with university and workforce training opportunities from a number of leading regional institutions and organizations. The DEC will house Edison Centers of Innovation such as the Center for Innovative Food Technology, which has already been instrumental in supporting one startup company in the DEC.

The DEC will become the center of entrepreneurial activity in Dublin. The city has retained training, conference and common area spaces on the 4^th floor and it is expected that the DEC will host frequent activities and events such as CBus TechLife MeetUps.

Local Jelly Work Groups, independent telecommuters who come together in one place to form casual work groups, are also expected to be held at the DEC. These “Jellys” are expected to become very popular in the Dublin community because high-tech, computer and software businesses within the city are spread throughout residential sections of the city as much as commercial areas. 

“I’m convinced that the next Cardinal Health will grow from one of the many smaller businesses located in the garages and basement offices that are so proliferate within our city,” says McDaniel. “We’re committed to providing these businesses the place and the resources to grow to their greatest potential.”  

The open house will feature tours of the building and stories from local entrepreneurs of how they launched their businesses. Michael Bowers of the SBDC will present an “Ideas to Deals” program. At 8 a.m., a ribbon cutting ceremony will officially open the DEC.

If you would like more details on the DEC, or the March 19^th open house, please contact the City of Dublin economic development office at 614-410-4618.

For more information visit: http://www.dublinecondev.com/