Dublin Lands Best Innovation in Economic Development Award

The City of Dublin’s Business and Education Workforce Development Summit, which culminated in the creation of the Dublin Entrepreneurial Center, was named the Best Innovation in Economic Development by the Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA).  The award was presented March 11 during OEDA’s Fifth Annual Legislative Event. 

The award-winning initiative began in early 2008 with the City hosting separate education and business roundtable events.  It soon developed into the Business-Education Summit on Workforce Development which established working relationships between educational institutions and businesses and led to a variety of significant outcomes, including the conception of the Dublin Entrepreneurial Center (DEC).    

The City of Dublin celebrated the opening of the DEC yesterday with a community Open House and ribbon cutting ceremony. More than 400 business, civic and economic development leaders came together to mark this milestone event.

TechColumbus operates a satellite office at the DEC to provide venture services and access to a variety of resources to startups in the area.  Rick Coplin, TechColumbus business development specialist, leads the organization’s efforts at the DEC.  

“The DEC represents an exciting partnership between TechColumbus and the City of Dublin,” says Coplin.  “Not only are these efforts bearing fruit in terms of helping launch viable tech-based companies in the area, but we’re also able to offer a host of business support resources and services that are important to the continued advancement of the region’s innovation agenda.”

Coplin says there were a number of business owners in attendance at the DEC Open House who expressed interest in locating to the center which is at 7003 Post Road in Dublin.  “I think in the next few months, we will see the DEC spring to life with an array of exciting and vibrant emerging companies” predicts Coplin.

For more information, download the release about the OEDA award: /attachments/wysiwyg/39/DublinInnovationArticle.pdf 

For more information on the DEC, visit www.dublin.oh.us