ENTREPRENEURIAL GROWTH BEGINS HERE
Innovate 218 is a regional Launch Minnesota group designed to support innovators and entrepreneurs located in Greater Minnesota. This region-wide effort drives our local entrepreneurial ecosystem to help business owners start, grow and thrive in northeast Minnesota.
At Innovate 218, our main purpose is to grow entrepreneurship in northeast Minnesota. We do that through an extensive network of resources, business development support and connections to financing opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Our job is to help you start, grow and thrive as an entrepreneur. And we’ll connect you with additional resources available through Launch Minnesota.
MEET THE INNOVATE 218 TEAM
If you’ve got a business idea, we’ll help make it a reality.
TAMARA LOWNEY
Itasca Economic Development Corporation President & CEO
AMANDA LAMPPA
Innovate 218 Project Manager
KAYLA SWANSON
Administrative Assistant and Marketing Specialist
STACIA ROM
IEDC Administrative Assistant
INNOVATE 218 TASK FORCE
Adam Fulton – City of Duluth
Amanda Lamppa – Itasca Economic Development Cooperation (IEDC)
Andrea Black – Entrepreneur Fund
Amanda Vuicich – Northland Foundation
Bart Johnson – MN North Colleges
Betsy Olivanti – City of Hibbing
Brenda Nyberg – Carlton County Economic Development Authority
ChaQuana McEntyre – Families Rise Together
Dan Skogen – Auri
Elissa Hansen – Northspan
Emily Nygren – City of Duluth Economic Development Authority
Holly Hansen – Cloquet Economic Development Authority
Jordan Zeller – East Central Regional Development Commission (ECRDC)
Jennifer Sterbentz – Two Harbors Economic Development Authority
Katherine Lahti – Northland Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Kayla Swanson – Itasca Economic Development Corporation
Karl Schuettler – Northspan
Lezlie Sauter – Pine County Economic Development Authority
Mark Jeffers – Aitkin County Economic Development Authority
Mary Finnegan – Carlton County Economic Development Authority
Matt Shermoen – APEX
Micheal Cloclough – Northland Foundation
Michelle Thomas – East Central Regional Development Commission (ECRDC)
Pat Campanaro – Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Rob Sjostrand – Itasca Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Rolf Weberg – University of Minnesota (UMN)
Ryan Malich – Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRR)
Sarah Carling – Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA)
Tamara Lowney – Itasca Economic Development Corporation (IEDC)
Tracy Benson – Entrepreneur Fund
Tim White – Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI)