The Dublin Entrepreneurial Center (DEC) wants to help local entrepreneurs with their international goals and to attract businesses from around the world. That's why it's opening new incubator space called The Dublin International Business Assistance Center.
The new center, which opens next week, will provide office space, conference rooms, and access to technology and other resources. The new center will be a kind of "incubator" for local entrepreneurs seeking international markets or partners, as well as a local resource for international business leaders looking for a foothold in the huge American market.
DEC, a partnership between the city of Dublin and TechColumbus established in April of 2009, is now "home" to 50 tenants. Monthly meetings facilitate networking, shared technology, funding and education. Specialized events also help to stimulate local and international interest in the center's offerings.
Dublin was recently named a "Top Seven Intelligent Community" by the Intelligent Community Forum for the second year in a row, and many area companies boast significant international operations.
"We are the first TiE [The International Entrepreneur] chapter outside of Cleveland, and we're developing relationships with a number of organizations, like the Asian Indian-American Business Association," says Dana McDaniel, Dublin's deputy city manager and director of economic development.
"We introduced what we call a 'Green Integrator' to focus on green companies, and we now have 11 green startups in the entrepreneurial center, doing collaborative-type projects. We have companies that focus on 'clean' diesel; we have companies doing LED lighting, solar panels, and a couple of companies that do energy audits and architectural work."
Source: Dana McDaniel, City of Dublin
Writer: Patrick G. Mahoney