The speaker on April 14 was Diane Kamionka (pictured below) with the NW Innovation Resource Center ("NWIRC"), a non-profit organization that works with entrepreneurs and inventors to help them move forward with their ideas.

 

NWIRC is working with Paul and Mayor Barb to identify entrepreneurs in Arlington.

 

It is committed to creating economic opportunity and jobs in NW WA by supporting entrepreneurial innovation.  Works with individuals in any industry and start their business anywhere. 

 

Ideas positively impact the local community.  The community befits from invigorated environment of the creation process.

 

Two programs:  Buildit Program and Enterprise Pgm programs.  The first – I’ve got an idea for a product but don’t know what to do with it.  The second – I am an entrepreneur who has an unusual business model. 

 

NWIRC provides strategy, tools, and access to community resources e.g. building and industry expertise.  It offers a market program for investors.

 

Last year, over 4,500 volunteer hours.

 

Marketing company will be created to help the entrepreneurs turn their product over to for marketing /selling/ licensing.

 

NWIRC researches to make sure it is a novel idea and there is a market for the product.

 

Funding through the “pay it forward” system.  NWIRC does not charge the inventors up front but they agree when they start making money to pay it forward to the next inventor.

 

May 11^th, noon to 2pm, NWIRC will be at the city council chambers for inventors/entrepreneurs to learn more about NWIRC. A local entrepreneur and inventor, Lara Merriam-Smith, will share her journey in taking a product to market and how NWIRC helped in the effort.  Its free but if you want lunch (its free) register at www.nwirc.com/events.

 

EvCC is also sponsoring the event and it will give an update on its Advanced Manufacturing Training and Education Center.