By: Jackie Davis
The Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC) has announced that the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute (ENI) at Georgia State University has won the 2020 Award for Excellence in Specialty Entrepreneurship Education. The award was presented virtually at the GCEC annual conference on October 30.
GCEC presents the Excellence in Specialty Entrepreneurship Education Award to honor an entrepreneurship center dedicated to expanding access to entrepreneurship education to a specific audience or area of focus. Selection criteria includes innovation of programming, measurable outcomes, partner engagement and long-term impact.
The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute was selected from over 100 nominations and received the award for the specialty area of non-majority populations, based on the creation of the Main Street Entrepreneurs Seed Fund accelerator program. The program applies a university-wide approach to identify and support underrepresented entrepreneurs from the Georgia State community.
“We are extremely pleased the Main Street Seed Fund has been recognized globally as a model of inclusive entrepreneurship demonstrating that entrepreneurs of all backgrounds can succeed,” said Jackie Davis, ENI’s associate director.
“We’ve been grateful to leverage Atlanta’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in the creation of this program. In addition to the Georgia State Community of faculty, staff and alumni our work has been supported by local entrepreneurs, corporate and philanthropic partners who all believe in this program,” added Jennifer Sherer, director of ENI.
The Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers is the premier leadership organization for university-based entrepreneurship centers to collaborate, communicate, and jointly advance excellence in entrepreneurship. The consortium brings together 250 leading entrepreneurship programs globally.
The Troesh Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation was established in 2006 as an administrative unit within the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ Lee Business School to provide opportunities for students, faculty and the community to learn about entrepreneurship. The center is host to the GCEC annual conference.
