The E-Zone will continue to serve as the Innovation and Commercialization Center (ICC) for the Northern Region in Kentucky’s Innovation and Commercialization Center network. The Williamstown Innovation Center, which serves Bracken, Carroll, Gallatin, Pendleton, Grant and Owen counties, will receive $72,000 of the DCI grant matched with in-kind services from

Northern Kentucky University’s Office of Economic Initiatives. NKU’s mission is inclusive of these six Kentucky counties south of Northern Kentucky Tri-ED’s region of Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties.

DCI Commissioner Deborah Clayton anticipates positive momentum as a result of this integration. “Entrepreneurship and high-tech initiatives are key focal points for the Commonwealth of Kentucky as our economy successfully transitions and adapts for the future. We look to Northern Kentucky to serve as a catalyst for this transition.”

Created in 2001, the mission of the E-Zone is to incubate, mentor, align capital and gain exposure for start-up, emerging and existing high-technology businesses. Soon after its founding, the EZone was designated by DCI as one of six regional ICC’s in the state. Since then, the E-Zone has assisted in the creation of 781 new jobs with 116 firms in Northern Kentucky and stands out across the state in entrepreneurial job creation.

Northern Kentucky E-Zone has assisted many new and expanding high-tech businesses since its inception including:

Casey Barach will continue to lead the E-Zone as Vice President, Entrepreneurship Services, at Northern Kentucky Tri-ED. Keith Schneider, currently the Williamstown Innovation Center Director, will move to the Northern Kentucky E-Zone and serve as the Commercialization Manager upon the fulfillment of his current position. Rounding out the team at the E-Zone, Sheryl Stolze will continue in her role as Office Assistant at the E-Zone. Northern Kentucky Tri-ED will be advised on E-Zone services by a new “Entrepreneurship Committee” which will be comprised of both Tri-ED and non-Tri-ED Board members imbued with the entrepreneurial spirit and desirous of assisting budding high-tech entrepreneurs succeed.

One of six competitive economy strategies included in Vision 2015, a 10-year strategic plan developed by the citizens of Northern Kentucky, is to “make entrepreneurship and innovation defining qualities of Northern Kentucky.” Northern Kentucky Tri-ED and E-Zone will continue to be a resource to lead entrepreneurs to the information and services they need and provide “hands-on” help to small businesses in targeted industries. Northern Kentucky University’s Office for Economic Initiatives will collaborate even further with Tri-ED and the E-Zone on entrepreneurial support services in Northern Kentucky with this integration.

Northern Kentucky Tri-ED’s President Dan Tobergte added: “The foundation for entrepreneurial assistance in Northern Kentucky has been established in the Northern Kentucky E-Zone operation. Northern Kentucky Tri-ED will strive shape this service even better. I commend the assistance we received from the Northern Kentucky E-Zone Board of Directors, the Kentucky Department for Commercialization and Innovation, the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation and Northern Kentucky University in this integration.”