Education & Training
The Iowa Lakes Corridor is continually seeking excellent training opportunities for existing and potential entrepreneurs in the Iowa Lakes region.  The Iowa Lakes Corridor has partnered with several institutions to provide this component of our economic gardening initiative.

The Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute was first held in 2006 and provided a week-long business simulation and class-room training to 24 Iowa Regent's University students, along with the opportunity to meet several successful Iowa entrepreneurs and experience the Iowa Great Lakes region.  Now, 32 students are selected each year from the Iowa Regen'ts Universities as well as Buena Vista University and Iowa Lakes Community College.  The program has provided significant momentum and support for additional entrpreneurship programming in the region.

Be Your Own Boss
Over 200 high school students from the Iowa Lakes Corridor region attended the first Be Your Own Boss seminar in April 2008 at the Clay County Events Center in Spencer, Iowa.  Keynote speakers included Tom Bedell, former chairman of Pure Fishing, and David Hensley of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at the University of Iowa.  Several break-out sessions were held for students to learn from other young entrepreneurs about their business ventures.  The seminar is scheduled again for Wed., November 5, 2008 at Arrowwood Resort in Okboji.  As many as 300 high school students are expected to participate.

Entrepreneurship Academy
The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation sponsored the first Middle School Entrepreneurship Academy in August 2008.  Eleven young persons from the region participated in a week-long camp at the Spencer Middle School, learning about developing a business idea and business plan.  The program will be offerred again in July 2009.  For more information, contact Holly Pearson at 712.264.3474.

Food Entrepreneur Seminar
The Iowa Lakes Corridor will again sponsor the nationally-known "From Recipe to Reality" food entrepreneur seminar on Saturday, February 28, 2009.  For more information about the day-long seminar please view the Food Entrepreneur Assistance Program Brochure .

"As first time Food Entrepreneurs, my husband and I did not have a clear plan as to what direction to go in to bring our product to reality.  But thanks to the Iowa Lakes Corridor for holding a Food Entrepreneur Seminar with the University of Nebraska, we came home from the seminar with a clear idea on what we needed to do to move forward and are now about to bring our product to market.  The University provided very useful materials and gave a strong presentation that was full of valuable information on the Food Industry and how they help assist in your projects in a step by step plan.  It’s been two years now and all along, we have been working with the University of Nebraska and have had assistance with the Iowa Lakes Corridor and our product is now about to come to reality!  The whole experience we’ve endured with both the University and the ILC could not have gone any better.  They’ve made our journey one that has gone very smoothly and has been enjoyable too.  With their professional insight and assistance, we credit them for where we are today."               
          - Tammi and Mike Heuck

More entrepreneurial training opportunities, classroom and individual, are being pursued.  Contact us at the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation if you have questions or recommendations.