Northeast Alabama Community College (NACC) invites the public to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house for its newly established Entrepreneurial Center on Monday, January 13, at 3:30 PM. The Entrepreneurial Center is located at 246 McCurdy Ave. N. in Rainsville.

“We at Northeast are very pleased to be able to provide this service to our community,” stated NACC President Dr. David Campbell.  “It’s a service of helping our area people pursue their dreams and ambitions of starting or improving a business of their own. Ultimately through these businesses, we believe that DeKalb and Jackson counties are going to grow economically through the businesses we put into them. These are very exciting times for us."

The Entrepreneurial Center aims to support innovators and entrepreneurs through programs designed to accelerate business development. Director Jennifer McCurdy is enthusiastic about the new opportunities the center will provide.

"We are thrilled to begin offering accelerator programs and workshops in the coming year," McCurdy said. "Our partners are collaborating with us to deliver programming that helps entrepreneurs refine their ideas, navigate the implementation process, and succeed. There are also funding opportunities available to support these initiatives."

“When considering innovative ideas and entrepreneurship, it goes beyond the service industry—think of product development and technology too,” McCurdy continued. “You may work in agriculture and have an idea of how to make a process more efficient, or you work in healthcare and have a product idea. What about manufacturing—do you have an idea for making a process more efficient? Ideas like these with low capital investment are what Angel Investors or Venture Capitalists look at for funding. Let us help you get started. It can be a simple idea; we can help you make it happen!”

Alabama Speaker of the House and DeKalb County native Nathaniel Ledbetter has been very supportive of this project. “I’m very excited about the direction the Entrepreneurial Center is heading now that it’s under Northeast Alabama Community College’s umbrella,” said Speaker Ledbetter. “This program has the potential to drive innovation, grow Alabama’s economy, and ultimately change lives in Northeast Alabama and beyond.”

The E-Center provides cost-effective coworking, office, and meeting spaces, ideal for remote workers or entrepreneurs launching new ventures. Additionally, the center offers community meeting spaces for hosting workshops, signing contracts, or conducting office training sessions.

Dr. Stephen Brewer serves as the NACC E-Center’s Advisory Board Chairman. “The new E-Center opened by NACC in Rainsville is a game changer for new start-up businesses in DeKalb and Jackson counties,” said Dr. Brewer. “This resource is designed to support entrepreneurs who are looking to launch and grow their businesses. Established companies and industry professionals are encouraged to serve as mentors, providing guidance and insight that can be invaluable to these start-ups. Individuals facing challenges with their business ideas or operations can also be referred to the E-Center for resources tailored to fit their needs.”

We hope to see you at the ribbon cutting on Monday, January 13, at 246 McCurdy Ave. N., where you can tour our beautifully appointed collaborative space and learn more. Please RSVP to ecenter@nacc.org.