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1. Provide training and skills development of entrepreneurs in ail areas of business operations <br />and management through individual counseling, serninars, and fozlnai education and training <br />in entrepreneurism - both degreed and non-degree programs. <br />2. Build a network of rural business incubators that can provide best practices incubarion <br />capability on a]ocal and regional basis and become a model for rural Texas and Oklahoma. <br />3. Creation of a regional kitchen incubator to support entrepreneurial activity in <br />commercialization af small farm production in the region. <br />a. Provide leadersh'sp in entrepreneurism and supply the resources to create regional support for <br />mutuaI benefit to every community in the defined geography. <br />5. Engage community, business, civic and governmental leaders in creating programs, <br />providing facilities, and improving business friendly permitting and licensing processes and <br />procedures with the goal of achieving "project ready" status for new business and industry. <br />6. Estab)ishing regional partnerships for mutually beneficial and collaborative economic <br />development programs and move each community, and the collective region toward greater <br />self-sufficiency and overall economic stability. <br />7. Establish a conduit for joint regional review of new opportunities and selection of the best <br />location to insure success of startup ventures. <br />8. Establish a network of funding sources for Series A venture and angel capital, low interest <br />revolving loan funds and community grant programs supporting entrepreneurism in rural <br />communities. <br />Integrated Project Concept Through Coordiuated Training, Development, Resources and <br />Tools <br />A portion of the budget will be committed to support the following activities related to both the <br />EDA and the USDA funding stream. The partnership and collaboration with these service <br />providers will be critical to providing the training, development and support to the ultimate <br />recipients - small business and entrepreneurs and communities and their business and civic <br />leadership infrastructure. <br />1. Paris Junior College's implementation of a certificate program in entrepreneurship and to <br />promote the program across PJC's service area. <br />2, Texas A&M Universily - Commerce's implementation of a regional entrepreneurship <br />network and partnership, and a student incubator. <br />3. The Lamar County Coalition of Business, Industry and Education's implementation of <br />high school and younger aged youth entrepreneurship training progtams, and a facilitate the <br />formation of the year-round manufacturing academy for high school students to attend Paris <br />Jr. College and enroll in the electromechanical training program. Also, support of the <br />summer STEM Academy to prepare student for opportunities in science, fechnology, <br />engineering and math. <br />4. Tbe Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center's (TMAC's) implementation of the rural <br />innovation hub and support of the NE Texas Manufacturing Alliance, providing access to a <br />myriad of programs, services, tools and resources fostering innovation. <br />Our project management team will oversee and coordinate all grant activities focused to expand <br />access to programs and services, and to enhance economic develapment on both a local and <br />13 <br />