E-Center
The Entrepreneurial Center (E-Center) was funded and developed in 2003 by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. Located in the Fischer Building, it was established to support and strengthen Phillips County. The E-Center has help leverage economic development assets of the region with internet connectivity, has assisted with potential workforce and provided entrepreneurs with the educational tools and support they needed. While the initial intent was for the E- Center to support Phillips County, the residents of thirty- one adjacent counties in Kansas and Nebraska have utilized and benefited from the offerings of the E-Center as well, thus creating an additional partnership with our rural neighbors.
The E-Center has grown over the years by leaps and bounds and to date has surpassed all expectations. Workshops and computer classes remain at the forefront for requests. A total of six new computers were purchased this past year, and now the Center has 14 working stations for class training increased from the original 4 computer stations in 2003.
This fall the E-Center will become a Cooperating Collection for the Foundation Center. Cooperating Collections provide under-resourced and underserved populations in need of vital information and training with tools they can use to become successful grant seekers. The E-Center offers access free of charge to the Foundation Center’s detailed information on grant makers and how to apply for grants. The Foundation Center’s core collection includes The Foundation Directory Online, print directories, and proposal writing guides. Cooperating Collections also hold training sessions on how to effectively use these resources and identify potential funders.
In addition to the Cooperating Collection, new to the E-center this fall will be Career development programs. There will be career assessment tools which will help individuals identify their strengths and how to apply to their career, opportunity to take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and/or the Strong Interest Inventory, develop a strategy to advance your career, decide which education path to pursue and enhance your job search.
The E-Center continues to operate from the generous support from Dane G. Hansen, Albert & Leona A. Morgan Foundation, Phillips County Community Foundation, Phillips County Economic Development and businesses through out Phillips County.