August 14, 2018, Cedar Rapids, IA – 1 Million Cups Cedar Rapids, a free weekly entrepreneurial community program on Wednesdays at 9 a.m., has planned six themed months to highlight key industries, neighborhoods, and founders in the Cedar Rapids area. The themed months include:
- September 2018: Month of Marion
- October 2018: Corporate Social Responsibility
- November 2018: Nonprofits
- January 2019: 1 Million Cups Alumni
- February 2019: Female Founders
- June 2019: Patios, Plates, and Pints
“Focusing on themed months gives our community an opportunity to become more engrossed in those particular segments of entrepreneurs and new business that may be hidden at first glance,” NewBoCo Events Specialist and 1 Million Cups Cedar Rapids Organizer Laura Kaiden said.
The first themed month kicks off this September with a month of Marion. Bistro 3 Nineteen and SCOUT of Marion are among the first businesses to apply and be accepted to present. Interested businesses should apply to present soon because the remaining six spots are filling up quickly.
“Marion has experienced significant growth in the last decade, especially new business owners and small businesses,” Kaiden said. “It has been exciting to see how the city has changed over the years, and the explosive growth in Uptown Marion in the recent years inspired us to reach out to phenomenal businesses there to share their stories.”
Marion has been recognized as one of the Best Small Cities in America according to WalletHub as well as receiving the All-Star Community Award from the Iowa League of Cities for past two years. The city has gained an estimated 5000 residents since 2010.
“I’m really excited about the business growth in Marion, and I think that our 1 Million Cups audience is in for a really great month of presentations,” Kirkwood SBDC Regional Director and Uptown Marion Board Member Scott Swenson said. “The Uptown district is vibrant with a mix of historical redevelopment that blends urban residential living and an experiential business district. Also, MEDCO has been championing the growth for manufacturing and service industries. All of this sits on top of a great community for families and education.”
The 1 Million Cups Cedar Rapids team is actively recruiting people with big ideas, from startups to nonprofits to special events, to fill spots for each of these months. Applications are open. Organizations can request to present in a themed month when they apply.
The 1 Million Cups Cedar Rapids team is made up of local entrepreneurial ecosystem supporters, including NewBoCo Events Specialist Laura Kaiden, NewBoCo Events Director Jill Wilkins, Accelerator Managing Director David Tominsky, Kirkwood SBDC Regional Director Scott Swenson, Kirkwood SBDC Business Counselor Julie Lammers, entrepreneur Rina Jensen, and de Novo Marketing Video Producer Braden Kopf. This team recruits presenters, markets the event, coaches presenters, photographs speakers, and produces the weekly networking event. If you’re interested in joining the organizing team, contact events@newbo.co to learn about ways to get involved.
1 Million Cups was started by the Kauffman Foundation based on the notion that entrepreneurs discover solutions and engage with their communities over a million cups of coffee. Ewing Marion Kauffman believed it was a fundamental right for anyone who had a big idea to be able to bring it to life.
UPDATE: 1 Million Cups Cedar Rapids is excited to announce an update to the upcoming themed months. First, October will now be Corporate Social Responsibility. Inspired by sponsor Frontier Co-op, October will focus on how companies in the area hold themselves accountable for the impact they are having on community, including economic, social, and environmental. Second, the team will now host Nonprofits in November. This month will highlight how nonprofits have innovated in the face of adversity.
About 1 Million Cups Cedar Rapids
Every Wednesday from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m., NewBoCo hosts 1 Million Cups Cedar Rapids (1MCCR), a free weekly program to educate, engage, and connect local entrepreneurs and community members.
About NewBoCo
The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative (NewBoCo) is a 501(c)(3) organization located in the New Bohemia neighborhood of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. NewBoCo’s programming supports entrepreneurship, innovation, and tech education to help Iowans become more resilient and thrive in a changing economy.