Two Upstate organizations were among nine who received grant awards from the S.C. Department of Commerce Office of Innovation as part of its Startup Fuel Challenge grant series. More than $719,000 was awarded from the grant program to advance innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology-based economic development.
For this year’s grant awards, applicants could request up to $100,000 for seeding programs and/or services that focus on the technology startup community.
NEXT Upstate LLC was the recipient of a $60,000 grant for its new entrepreneur training and virtual and physical skill development program. Formed in 2006 as a part-time program at the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, NEXT has since opened two new facilities, launched MIT’s Venture Mentoring Service, and hosted an annual Venture Pitch Conference.
Tri-County Technical College received a $100,000 grant for the INSPIRE Lab project in cultivating a network of small businesses. TCTC strives to create an entrepreneurial education curriculum that supports the INSPIRE Lab, which is mirrored after the LemonADE Stand program piloted through e-Merge @ the Garage in Anderson.
“As South Carolina has become a leader in advanced manufacturing, an innovation economy has developed within our borders. To ensure that our industry partners have access to cutting-edge technology and a high-tech workforce, the continued growth of our innovation economy is critical,” Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt says. “I congratulate these nine awardees and look forward to all they’ll achieve in the years to come.”
The other seven awardees are Charleston Digital Corridor Foundation, The Fifth T Innovation Group, The Harbor Entrepreneur Center, McNair Center for Entrepreneurism at Columbia College South Carolina Women’s Business Center, Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation, South Carolina State University, and Venture Carolina.
The S.C. Department of Commerce is the state’s leading economic development agency working to recruit new businesses and help existing business grow.
