ATDC, which is headquartered at the Georgia Institute of Technology, is extending its reach into Gwinnett County with the establishment of a new facility at the University of Georgia-Gwinnett Campus in Lawrenceville.
Presidents from Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia will come together on Oct. 11, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. to sign a memorandum-of-understanding solidifying this entrepreneurial-friendly initiative for the metro Atlanta region. The event will be held at ATDC Gwinnett’s new home: the University of Georgia Gwinnett Campus at 2530 Sever Road in Lawrenceville.
The launch of ATDC Gwinnett is a result of strategic collaboration between the two universities and Partnership Gwinnett, the community and economic development initiative led by the Gwinnett Chamber and over 160 public and private partners.
Jim Maran, president & CEO of the Gwinnett Chamber, said, “Gwinnett has been working for years to bring a strong start-up program to its community. The ATDC, together with Partnership Gwinnett’s dedicated focus on start-ups and small business, will provide an even stronger environment to foster organic growth and the entrepreneurial foundation for which Gwinnett is already so well known.”
University of Georgia President Michael F. Adams emphasized the collaboration among institutions to facilitate economic development.
“This captures the spirit of two great institutions collaborating to provide meaningful economic development programs to enhance job and wealth creation in an important part of the State,” said Adams. “We are very pleased to be working out of our Gwinnett Campus with the ATDC and Georgia Tech on this endeavor.”
Launched in 1980, ATDC has become a highly-successful start-up engine for economic and business development in the state. This new Gwinnett location will provide enhanced technology-based economic development in Gwinnett, delivering educational programming and consulting for existing and potential entrepreneurs located outside the ATDC’s existing midtown location.
“For more than 30 years, ATDC has contributed to the growth of technology industry in Georgia and to the development of a thriving community of entrepreneurs,” noted G.P. “Bud” Peterson, president of Georgia Institute of Technology. “We are pleased to collaborate with the University of Georgia and economic development organizations in Gwinnett County to expand ATDC’s reach.”
ATDC operates two incubators in midtown Atlanta, and in a third in Savannah as part of Georgia Tech’s campus there. The Gwinnett location will not have incubator space, but will provide space for ATDC staff to meet with entrepreneurs and conduct educational programs.
The University of Georgia Gwinnett campus already offers graduate degrees, continuing education opportunities and services of its Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Adding an ATDC location to its overall product offering answered the school’s intent to further support technology-based economic development in Georgia.
The ATDC Gwinnett location also fits seamlessly into the local community’s strategy for community and economic development, targeting the recruitment of technology companies and entrepreneurial growth in Gwinnett. That initiative, known as Partnership Gwinnett, has already received national and international recognition for its collaborative success in the region.
“Partnership Gwinnett’s strategic plan requires a dedicated focus on small business, startups and entrepreneurial activity which is a rising trend in business development today,” said Nick Masino, VP of economic development & Partnership Gwinnett at the Gwinnett Chamber. “Having an ATDC location in Gwinnett will be an excellent resource for building on that strategy and setting standards for entrepreneurial growth in our community.”
The ATDC signing ceremony on Oct. 11th will make official the first phase of this new collaborative partnership between education, business and community. Additional phases of this initiative are being considered. To RSVP for the October 11th event, please email Lindsay Myers, Lindsay@gwinnettchamber.org. RSVPs are not required, but for planning purposes, are encouraged.
— Posted by Nancy Fullbright on October 8, 2010 · Copyright © 2010 · Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute
