Media Contact:
Stacy Luckensmeyer, business and industry liaison, 509-682-6915
Libby Siebens, community relations executive director, 509-682-6436 (Mon.-Thurs.)

The first-ever StartUp Bootcamp kicked off on Tuesday, Sept. 18 at the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce. For the 7 participants, the 10-week bootcamp will help them think about, plan and launch their business idea.

It was made possible through funding awarded to Wenatchee Valley College’s Center for Entrepreneurship by the Washington State Department of Commerce. The aim of the funding is to expand programs and partnerships for entrepreneurial success in Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan Counties.

“This is specialized expertise that they might otherwise not be able to afford or is available in the county,” Luckensmeyer said. “This project with the Department of Commerce will give rural entrepreneurs a real boost by leveraging and connecting local, regional, state and national resources in a single location in their community.

Entrepreneurs will have access to expanded business development tools and support, including rural and urban mentors without leaving North Central Washington, she said.

The StartUp Bootcamp is one of multiple pilot programs made possible that are part of a broader economic development initiative known as “Startup 365 Washington.” Startup 365 Washington is a growing professional network of public and private sector partners uniting tools and mentors from urban business centers with individual entrepreneurs in rural communities.

In addition the bootcamp, Business and Industry Liaison for the WVC Center for Entrepreneurship Stacy Luckensmeyer has already organized multiple events as part of the Startup365 Washington initiative. She has organized events including informal monthly coffee meet-ups and “Ask the Expert” sessions, and has sponsored a local team to participate in Startup Weekend Spokane in November. She has also arranged “Office Hours”, where local entrepreneurs can get a free consultation with volunteer experts on a particular topic essential to their small business success.

Luckensmeyer works in collaboration with partners including the NCW Economic Development District, the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce, The Economic Alliance and Twisp Works.

For more information on Startup NCW, contact Stacy Luckensmeyer at cfore@wvc.edu.

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The mission of the Center for Entrepreneurship at Wenatchee Valley College is to assist existing and future entrepreneurs by providing a one-stop access point for regional resources in training, business development, networking and doing business in North Central Washington. Visit our website, wvc.edu/CforE.

Wenatchee Valley College enriches North Central Washington by serving educational and cultural needs of communities and residents throughout the service area. The college provides high-quality transfer, liberal arts, professional/technical, basic skills and continuing education for students of diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds. Visit our website, wvc.edu.