Media Contacts
Melissa McCarville, Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance Communications Manager
319.730.1415 (direct & cell)
mmccarville@cedarrapids.org
Jessalyn Holdcraft, NewBoCo Director of Marketing
jessalyn@newbo.co
Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and NewBoCo Announce New Partnership
NewBoCo to Co-Produce EntreFEST, Largest Regional Entrepreneurship Conference
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, August 18, 2016 – Today, the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and the New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative (NewBoCo) announce a partnership in which the two organizations will co-produce a number of new and existing regional entrepreneurial events and programs, including EntreFEST, the region’s largest entrepreneurship conference.
“This partnership will leverage the strengths of each organization,” NewBoCo Executive Director Eric Engelmann said. “It will focus our combined energy and resources toward regional entrepreneurship events and programming.”
Jill Wilkins has been named Events Director and will lead these efforts in a new position co-funded by the two organizations. With over ten years of event planning and community development experience, Wilkins led the growth and development of the Downtown Cedar Rapids Farmers’ Market from an average of 6,000 patrons per market to its current average of 15,000 patrons per market. As Events Director at NewBoCo, Wilkins will primarily lead EntreFEST and a coordinated series of innovation and entrepreneurship events co-produced by NewBoCo and the Economic Alliance.
“We are thrilled for the opportunity to be involved in the regional entrepreneurial community, as it is an area we feel is vital to our business community’s growth,” said Doug Neumann, interim President & CEO, Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance. “We are equally thrilled for Jill, as she has been an incredible asset to this organization and previously at the Downtown District. This is an equally incredible opportunity for her.”
EntreFEST will take place in May 2017 in Iowa City. For more information about EntreFEST, please visit http://www.entrefest.com/.
About Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance serves as the catalyst for economic diversity, growth and prosperity for the region through core functions of business support, economic development, community development, public policy and regional development.
About NewBoCo
The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative is a nonprofit with the mission to accelerate world-changing ideas, from Iowa. The organization aims to create impactful startup businesses that grow here through its Iowa Startup Accelerator program and more; to foster world-class technical and creative talent via innovative educational programs for kids and adults; to assist thriving, innovative companies in developing new products and attracting the best talent through corporate innovation programs; and to make an outstanding social impact and make the world a better place. Since 2014, the program has grown dramatically, helping hundreds of startups get off the ground and grow, and thousands of children learn to code.