1.Please rate the importance of each activity as Extremely Important (E), Somewhat Important (S), or Unimportant (U).

Providing increased opportunities for coaching/consulting, partnerships, and other support for new and potential entrepreneurs

Creating increased access to capital for businesses of all stages

Continuing to invite government procurement professionals from Army Materiel Command, Treasury Department, NASA and others to help Decatur-Morgan County residents understand the “real world” of how to earn or increase federal government contracts

Promoting “tech transfer” partnerships with UAH, Marshall Space Flight Center, and others where residents learn to start a tech company for a small investment using technologies developed by partner organizations

Growing our educational event series on how to buy a business

Providing guidance, promotion, and other support to organizations dedicated to retaining workers in Decatur-Morgan County, such as Young Professionals of Decatur

Connecting business owners to existing sources of financing, investment, or other capital (as opposed to identifying new sources of capital)

Sponsoring organizations to help female entrepreneurs meet and grow their businesses

Offering business educational courses including Business 101, Excel, QuickBooks, etc.

Providing access to subject matter experts who help residents understand how AI, additive manufacturing, and other new technologies can be utilized for their benefit

Bringing new technologies onsite so people can learn how to use them

Promoting accomplishments, special offers, workforce needs, and more for local entrepreneurs and small businesses to encourage a culture of entrepreneurship

Hosting conferences and special events to help entrepreneurs and those who support entrepreneurship network with each other

Hosting investor-only events where elected officials who are supportive of entrepreneurs speak and interact with attendees

Creating a new generation of local entrepreneurs by growing our first-in-the-state CEO entrepreneurship education program for high school students

Expanding our recruitment of high-skill young people, including engineers, nurses, and teachers, through The Best and Brightest Initiative which brings highly skilled workers, income to support small businesses, revenue to the community, and more

Encouraging a culture of entrepreneurship by highlighting and interviewing local entrepreneurs, promoting an Innovation District, and more

Seeking state and federal funding to modernize our facilities, creating a more creator-friendly environment which encourages risk-taking, innovation, and entrepreneurship

Actively advocating for pro-entrepreneur policies and education with local, state, and federal officials

Building partnerships and opportunities between Decatur-Morgan County and surrounding counties by serving in regional leadership roles (for example, our Executive Director is Cochair of the Entrepreneurship Pillar for Launch, an organization fostering partnerships between all counties in North Alabama)

Working to bring more resources for entrepreneurs to our community by expanding current partnerships with the Small Business Administration, Innovate Alabama, Alabama Commission on Higher Education, and more

2.In your opinion, what are the most significant obstacles to making Decatur-Morgan County the best place in the world to start, grow, or relocate a business?

3.What is your perception of The E-Center’s role, purpose, and function in the community?

4.Are there ways The E-Center can lead as it relates to supporting entrepreneurs and growing the Decatur-Morgan County economy which will benefit your business directly?

5.Do you recommend any other ways we can add value?

6.Would you please recommend 3-5 people whose support would help achieve our goals?

7.OUR RESOURCES


The E-Center has been ranked as a #1 incubator statewide for both the number of businesses we currently serve and the number we have graduated into the community. We also undertake many activities which incubators do not typically pursue. Given this work and our increasing scope of operations, do you believe a $400,000 annual budget is attainable?

***For context, here are annual budgets for incubators that serve a similar number of companies and typically focus only on incubator operations.

· Shoals Entrepreneur Center (Muscle Shoals) $431,000
· Innovation Depot (Birmingham) $1,668,000
· Innovation Portal Alabama (Mobile) $1,250,000

We anticipate seeking five-year commitments from our investors and offering investment packages which include naming opportunities, invitations to special events, promotion to our stakeholders, and more at the following amounts: $500; $1,000; $2,500; $5,000; and $10,000.

If we produced a strategic plan that you believe will help meet your key goals and priorities for The E-Center, would you consider investing in these efforts?

Yes

No

8.Do you have any additional thoughts you wish to share? If so, please add in the comment box below.

9.Please type your name below.

Finally, please note we will be summarizing the results of all responses and will communicate those results to you. Thank you for your time!