The Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas (Board), Texas Tech Small Business Development Center and Griggs Center for Entrepreneurship & Philanthropy at ACU are proud to announce their selection by the Texas Workforce Commission to receive an entrepreneur training grant.  This grant is designed to provide training and resources to entrepreneurs in a 19-county region covered by the Board. An Advisory Board has been established to reflect representation of the region. Members selected to serve on the West Texas Innovation Network (WTIN) Advisory Board include Richard Burdine, CEO Development Corporation of Abilene, Ken Becker, Executive Director Sweetwater Enterprise for Economic Development (SEED)/Sweetwater, Emily Crawford, Executive Director for Economic Development Corporation/Brownwood, Wallace Emerson, (Ret.) President of First National Bank Haskell Texas, Jim Porter, Porter Capital Partners/Abilene, and Allison Workman, Director of Workforce Education, Western Texas College/Snyder, Jim Litton, Griggs Center for Entrepreneurship ACU,  Mary Ross, Executive Director Workforce Solutions of West Central Board, Tom Smith, Executive Director West Central Texas Council of Governments, Judy Wilhelm, Texas Tech Small Business Development Center and Mike Mikeworth will serve as WTIN Project Director.

The WTIN grant is intended to assist individuals who have been impacted by the economic downturn, such as individuals who have lost their job, individuals who are/were self employed and small business owners (99 or less employees), as well as individuals who are interested in starting a business. Additional targeted populations include individuals who reside in rural communities, females, minorities, individuals with a disability, veterans and ex-offenders.

WTIN services will build upon and expand existing services to promote development of a regional entrepreneurship culture, supported by a network of resources. Services include training, an entrepreneurship boot camp, intensive counseling and mentoring.  The first major event for WTIN will be held on Monday, October 3rd, at the ACU Hunter Center from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Community leaders are invited to participate in an intensive training session to design a customized strategy to support entrepreneurship and small business development in their communities.  There is no cost for the event, due to funding provided by a grant from the Texas Workforce Commission, however, individuals must register in advance.  Communities are encouraged to bring a team to this event.  Registration is limited and reservations must be made by Wednesday, September 21.  For more details, visit the Board’s website at www.workforcesystem.org or contact the Griggs Center at 325-674-2762 or via e-mail at [email protected].

The Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas Board is one of 28 boards in the state charged with oversight and policy-making responsibility for workforce and training programs in a nineteen county region.  Additional information on the Board’s economic development efforts or services for business customers may be obtained by calling the Workforce Board at (325) 795-4200 or by visiting the website at www.workforcesystem.org.