Building a Digital Technology Cluster in the Shoals

UNA College of Business 1

Recent study completed for NACOLG about areas of growth for the region

Business Support Services and Computer Systems Design

• A very small sector ( <200 jobs) in the Shoals area economy has almost doubled in size locally over the past five years. The 10-year national growth outlook is 30% or 603,407 more jobs.

• The development of this industry in the Shoals area will require a coordinated effort among educational institutions, government, and economic development organizations.

• Existing industry will most likely drive the growth. • This sector could be a primary focus of the Shoals Entrepreneurial

Center, with UNA and the Center collaborating to provide support, training and guidance to recent college graduates and others looking to establish a business in the Shoals area.

• The Digital Technology Hub envisioned by the University of North Alabama could play a key role in developing a sustainable Computer Systems Design and related Services sector.

Five transformational developments:

1) Manufacturers will increasingly rely on IT consultants to design economical computer systems related to just-in-time supply management

2) Increasing usage of smart-phone devices will cause additional growth for the IT consulting industry

3) Traditional professional services will evolve in order to adapt to new technologies and a transforming customer market

4) New and emerging methods of retail electronic payment, including mobile technologies

5) Return to the US of some foreign outsources services due to diminished efficiencies and customer dissatisfaction

These forces create a generous number of opportunities for new start-ups, expansions and relocations.

Establishing a core team

UNA College of Business 5

Oct 20-21, 2014200+ involved over 2 day event

University of North AlabamaFlorence, AL

www.una.edu/strategicdoing

Workshop attended by over 50 peopleFocused on Digital Technology Hub and a team from Corinth, MS

Brainpower

•Big Idea Competition• March 10

•Tech Meetup • 2nd Thursday monthly

Innovation

• Student Coding• 2016 recruiting

•Biz Buzz

•1st Wed monthly

Quality Connected

Place

•Broadband Capability• 3rd party broadband

franchise agreements with 4 Mayors

New Narratives

•Visually Express the Shoals• Shoalsshift.com

launched

Building a Digital Technology Cluster

Pathfinder Project Status- February 2016

Capacity for the future comes from actions we take today!

ShoalsShift.com- the new narrative

UNA College of Business 9

2014- 32 pitches- 1 winner!2015- 30 pitches – 3 winnersNovember 17, 2016

• Feb 27- Mar 1, 2015• 35 students• 25 mentors• 5 panelists• over 3 days formed and advised • 6 startups• April 8-10, 2016

Shoals Big Idea – Building the Digital Community

201539 Individuals43 Idea3 winnersMarch 10, 2016

Innovation Pathfinder Project

• Over 150 students served• Black Rocket served 20,000

students last year• Scholarships available• Taught by UNA faculty• Building the digital economy

pipeline• Offered 2016 UNA Summer

Camps

Held Monthly on the 2nd ThursdayOver 50 participants each session

Meets every First Wednesday at 9:00A fast hour of learning and exchanging ideasOver 25 participants each week

Opened Oct 17, 2015For all UNA studentsA place and support to start your business!28 Students accepted

Mentor training Jan 18,-19, 2016First cohort of startups/ entrepreneurs early April.

Mane Capital Fund LLC

• Creating local Angel Investment Fund• Aligning with national organization• Funded at $1M• Focus is North Alabama companies• Initial work funded by ARC• Launched in Sept 2015• Accepting submission for review-

• https://angelcapitalgroup.venture360.co/apply

Expanding the capability of the region with training and certification

13 people trained and in process of certification

10 enrolled for Feb 24-26 training

UNA MBA ConcentrationInnovative Economic Development

Offered Fall 2016 Online MBAPartnered with University of Purdue:• 21st Century Economic Development (1 credit)• Regional Innovation Ecosystems (3 credits)• Collaborative Leadership (3 credits)• Economic Development & Innovation Strategy (3

credits)• Economic Development & Innovation Policy (3 credits)• Capstone Project (2 credits)

Targeting state, regional and local economic development organizations

Institute for Innovation and

Entrepreneurship

Economic Development

Consulting Services

Incubator

Strategic DoingJan 2016 Approved by UNA

Held Monthly on the 2nd ThursdayOver 50 participants each session

Engagement Elements in Place

• We are growing: – Relationships / Networks

– Academic curriculum

– Media coverage

– Community awareness

• Results are showing– Participation growing

– Startups announced

– Investor funding

Brainpower Innovation

Quality Connected Place New Narratives

Shoals Shift

Collaborations

Black Rocket Coding Camp

Innovation Engineering Minor

Hour of Code

HCI/UX Minor

Strategic Doing Course

MBA Innovative Economic Development

Pathways to Innovation TeamInnovation Fellows

Tech Meetup

Biz Buzz Meetup

Mane Capital Fund

Innovation speaker series

Shoals Shift website

The Generator

FLPL Digital Media Space

Wi-Fi Expanded Hangouts

Propel

Shoals Idea Audition

Shoals Big Idea

Co-Starters

3 Day Startup

Institute for Innovations and Economic Development

E-Games

Innovation grants

Building a Digital Technology Cluster in the Shoals

UNA College of Business 26

Learn more at www.una.edu/strategicdoing