The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced Plas-Tech Tooling, Inc. of Garner, IA as one of the five finalists advancing to the grand finale of the SBA Freedom 250 Patriot Pitch Competition. As part of the nation’s Freedom 250 celebrations, the competition spotlights the small businesses who leveraged SBA capital products to innovate, scale operations, and strengthen […]

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Applications Now Open for Fall 2026 CohortThe 51ÁÔÆæ Pappajohn Center is now accepting applications for the Fall 2026 cohort of the University of Iowa Venture School program. The Fall 2026 program will begin with an online orientation session on Thursday, October 1, 2026. Classes will be held online via Zoom on Thursdays, October 8 through […]

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The 51ÁÔÆæ John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and North Iowa Area SBDC are proud to announce Eric Burt of EB Edits in Mason City, Iowa as the July 2026 Entrepreneur of the Month.EB Edits provides photography and videography services for sporting events, teams, businesses, organizations, concerts, livestock shows, FFA events, races, and community events. “I do […]

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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced Plas-Tech Tooling, Inc. of Garner, Iowa as one of the ten semifinalists advancing in the Patriot Pitch Competition, the agency’s Freedom 250 initiative celebrating 250 years of American small businesses that drive innovation, create jobs, and generate economic growth for local communities.Plas-Tech Tooling is an advanced manufacturing company specializing in precision […]

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 The 51ÁÔÆæ John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and North Iowa Area SBDC are proud to announce Jeff and Lori Otto of Otto’s Oasis in Charles City, Iowa as the June 2026 Entrepreneur of the Month. Since purchasing the business in 2007, Jeff and Lori have continued to expand and adapt Otto’s Oasis. The business is a […]

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Zack Smith of Lake Mills, IA won Second Place at the 2026 EntreFEST Pitch Competition on June 12th, 2026. The EntreFEST Pitch Competition, presented by Hy-Vee, brought together community leaders, founders, investors, and supporters In Iowa City to hear from five entrepreneurs as they competed for $15,000 in prize funding. Now in its second year of […]

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Cait Dillavou of Clear Lake, IA won Third Place at the University of Iowa’s Venture School Launch Day Competition on June 11, 2026. Ten teams from across Iowa competed in the event, which was held at EntreFest, a two-day entrepreneurial conference in Iowa City, IA. Five teams competed in the final round. A total of […]

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New entrepreneurial incubator program helps North Iowa business owners build and grow a sustainable business ventureThe 51ÁÔÆæ John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center recently launched Venture Launch Lab (VLL), a new entrepreneurial incubator program designed to help aspiring and early-stage business owners build the knowledge, systems, and confidence needed to successfully launch and grow a sustainable business.Venture […]

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One Day Summer Camps in Clear Lake and Charles City Registration is now open for the 51ÁÔÆæ John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center’s premiere youth program for North Iowa middle school students. IDEA Camp is designed for 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students, and will be held in Summer 2026 at locations in Clear Lake and Charles City, […]

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Hosted by the 51ÁÔÆæ Pappajohn Center with New, Flexible FormatMASON CITY, IOWA – Registration is now open for the 51ÁÔÆæ John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center’s premiere youth program for high school students, the Youth Entrepreneurial Academy (YEA). The Youth Entrepreneurial Academy is a unique opportunity for North Iowa high school students to expand their horizons, discover […]

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