Innovation Outposts

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Supporting Rural Entrepreneurs and Communities Through Connections, Business Supports, and Programming

Throughout 2022 and 2023, Innovation Outposts powered by Libro Credit Union are being set up across Essex County and Chatham-Kent, using business and community spaces to connect the people behind local startups and businesses. The program will host regular events and support business development through education and better links to other support groups and programs.

The following Innovation Outposts have been selected for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Each location will host events throughout the year.

By the numbers, Innovation Outposts aim to:

• connect more than 250+ entrepreneurs

• support 250+ entrepreneurs with entrepreneurial training

• support 12+ regional businesses annually via space rental, catering, and more

• and host 10 events annually across Essex County and Chatham-Kent

"We want to empower entrepreneurs and their communities by connecting them to each other and to the regional resource network and bridging the rural innovation divide. We believe rural entrepreneurship is a key element to rural revitalization and regional economic impact and prosperity."

Lori Atkinson

Regional Manager - Windsor-Essex, Libro Credit Union

"We realize that our region’s entrepreneurs, particularly those in more rural areas, have access to fewer resources than their peers in urban areas and face greater challenges in starting and scaling their companies. This partnership seeks to provide rural entrepreneurs increased access to entrepreneurial supports and networks and create a sense of place to connect and collide."

Adam Frye

Director of Operations, WEtech Alliance

"This is about creating opportunities to succeed, and making sure people with great ideas can make them work, wherever they are. It’s vital for rural economies to have supports like this, and it aligns well with Libro’s many years working with the rural community, especially in agriculture."

Natalie Close

Regional Manager - Lampton, Kent and Middlesex Counties, Libro Credit Union

Innovation Outpost events

Gone Ice Fishin’

Thank you to all of the innovators, entrepreneurs, small business owners, students, and community partners across Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent that attended our Innovation Outpost events in 2022!

Outpost events are taking a break for the winter and will return again in Spring 2023.

Be sure to follow our Eventbrite page to be notified when additional events are added!

cards

At each of our Innovation Outpost events, we invite attendees to fill out an OUTPOSTcard with their advice, tips, and shout-outs to other local entrepreneurs and small business owners. Once completed, they’d then then pop them into our Outpost Mailbox before they leave.

After each event, we scan each of the completed OUTPOSTcards, share them here for all to see and then mail them out to past Outpost event attendees as a fun surprise! (who doesn’t like getting mail?!)

You can browse the current OUTPOSTcards below (click the images to expand on desktop, or swipe on mobile to slide through), and if you see some that you like, feel free to download them for yourself! Don’t forget to share them on social media using #OUTPOSTcards to help spread the word! Check back after each event to see the newest mail!

Entrepreneurial Advice

Advice to Female Founders

Hats Off to a Kingsville Business

Marketing/Branding Advice

i.d.e.a. Fund: Get i.d.e.a. Fund email updates on upcoming information sessions and when the applications open.

Innovation Outposts: Get updates on upcoming Outpost events, resources and supports for entrepreneurs.

WEtech Alliance | Newsletter: Get the latest Tech News, Events, Talent & Tech Jobs in Windsor-Essex & Chatham-Kent with the monthly Tech It Out! Newsletter.

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