amarillo chamber of commerce - HPN Books

In association with Amarillo EconomicDevelopment Corporation, the WTAMUEnterprise Center conducts an annualAmarillo EnterPrize Challenge. The Challengeis a business plan competition that preparescompanies for investment. Recipients areawarded grants provided by the AmarilloEconomic Development Corporation withfunds furnished by local sales tax dollars. Inaddition to the cash award, the grant recipientsreceive coaching in the EnterpriseCenter’s incubation program with a goal ofhelping the businesses become sustainable.The Enterprise Center endeavors to supportits clients’ passions and provide themwith resources, options, and guidance througha unique coaching approach. Coaching is thefoundation of the client’s experience with theEnterprise Center. It creates a safe environmentthat inspires motivation, inspiration, anddevelopment of relationships that encourageexploring beliefs, values, and vision. Coachingprovides an atmosphere of accountability aswell as an opportunity for thinking out loudand creating possibilities to accelerate entrepreneurialdevelopment and business growth.The Enterprise Center’s certified coaches haveowned companies and are experienced entrepreneurs.They do not make decisions forclients; they support their passions, ask hardquestions, and help them make life decisionsthat support their business aspirations.Clients that locate at the Center receiveaccess to state-of-the-art production andoffice facilities. Tangible assistance with officefacilities provides clients with shipping andreceiving services, reception services, the useof support equipment, secure mail boxes,office equipment, phone system, and resourcelibrary. Offering clients valuable resources likeshared resources helps clients preserve capitaland become more efficient as they grow theirbusinesses. The Enterprise Center is a “glovefor the hand” of the early stage entrepreneur.Another important function of the Center isto facilitate relationships between their clientsand the community. Business networking is animportant component of establishing a sphereof influence or creating a pool of resources.Every business needs a network of “go to”people for services, advice, collaboration, orproblem resolution. The Enterprise Centerhelps their entrepreneur clients find resourceslike CPAs, attorneys, and technical support.In addition to community support center,a primary element of strengthening businessskills is education. The Enterprise Center hascollaborative partnerships with institutionsof higher education like Amarillo College,West Texas A&M University and the TexasA&M University System. In 2010 the Centerlaunched an internship program targetedtoward educating and developing young entrepreneurialminded WTAMU students pursuinga career in business. The Center has alsoestablished partnerships with high schools tosupport entrepreneurial development. Otherpartnerships include the High Ground ofTexas, Texas Agri-life Extension, and the TexasManufacturing Assistance Center. The diversityof Enterprise Center collaborators facilitatescustomized assistance to clients.The WTAMU Enterprise Center is measuredand funded by its clients’ success. As itsclients have “left the nest” over the years andcontinued their businesses, their success storieshave been told throughout the region.Those successes have increased revenue cominginto the region, caused over $5 million incapital investment, and have created employmentfor over three hundred people. Thoseachievements have resulted in increasedfunding for the Center, enabling the Center toassist more entrepreneurs. Expanded supportfor those with an entrepreneurial spirit willcontinue to provide innovative opportunitiesfor economic growth throughout our region.WTAMU Enterprise Center is an incubatorfor businesses and entrepreneurs.THE MARKETPLACE231