Local entrepreneurs can mix business and pleasure September 19 in downtown Covington.
Covington's inaugural UPSTART street party runs from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m for entrepreneurs looking to unwind and learn more about growing a business. Nearly 40 Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati entrepreneurial organizations will line Pike Street, which will be closed for the event. There will be food, drinks and live music.
Local businessman Tony Lamb, founder and CEO of
Kona Ice, a national shaved ice franchise, will give a keynote on growing a business in the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati region.
"It's a fun and inviting way to draw entrepreneurs together and have a good time," explains Amanda Greenwell, an event organizer. "We see entrepreneurs struggle with navigating through the jungle of resources and identifying what programs are best suited for their needs."
Greenwell is the program manager of Northern Kentucky business incubator
UpTech. Other sponsors include NKY Tri-County Economic Development Corporation (Tri-ED), NKY Chamber of Commerce, Adams, Stepner, Woltermann & Dusin, PLLC, Republic Bank, BLDG, and West Sixth beer.
Participants will get some one-on-one time with a wide range of business support resources, including incubators, funding and loan programs, investment and economic development organizations and more, Greenwell says.
Upon arriving, entrepreneurs will receive a "passport" listing all the participating organizations, including:
Sam Adams Brewing the American Dream
SCORE
Covington Business Council
Startup Weekend
Hamilton County Business Center (HCBC)
The Garage Group
Cintrifuse
The Legacy Center
ArtWorks SpringBoard
CincyTech
Greater Cincinnati Venture Association
Minority Business Accelerator
Participants can get their passports punched by visiting the booths and learning about the services each organization provides. In exchange, attendees can earn free drink tickets and an event T-shirt.
Feoshia H. Davis
Follow Feoshia on Twitter.
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