Minority Economic Development Initiative of Western Kentucky, Inc

One bus full of students from Trigg County High School attended with their teacher, Lori Ricks. Keynote speaker, Dr. Larry Cox, expert in entrepreneurial development and professor at Pepperdine University kicked off the morning after participants enjoyed breakfast, fruit and pastries sponsored by Kroger and coffee sponsored by Starbucks. His topic was “How Entrepreneurs Move the Needle,” mentioning how entrepreneurial success starts with a problem or an idea that leads toward the development of a new or innovative product or service.

Three tracts of breakouts were packed to capacity. The three (3) tracts were: “I Have an Idea,” “Entrepreneurs in Motion,” and “Out of the Box.” Each breakout session helped both potential entrepreneurs, inventors and innovators and those that support them to move forward with process understanding, legal copyright, patent and trademark information from attorney Laura Hagan, funding and technical assistance from organizations such as Murray State University’s Regional Business & Innovation Center and Western Kentucky University’s Center for Research and Development. Christian County Cares launched its newly designed business startup competition, Christian County EI².

MEDI’s Executive Director and Certified Economic Developer, Henry Snorton, III says “the entrepreneurs conference is what I believe western Kentucky has been longing for…help, knowledge, guidance and information that improves our entrepreneurs success and entrepreneurial environment. We are so excited to be asked by Western Kentucky University’s Center for Research & Development to host next year’s conference in Bowling Green with the Hilltoppers.” Participants’ evaluations also point to the great success of the conference with a vast majority of all the breakout sessions being ranked “Extremely Satisfied or Very Satisfied.” The one overwhelming comment was that participants wanted more time with each of the breakout session presenters, a good sign that 2013’s conference will also be a success.

MEDI mission is to serve as the leading 501c3 economic development organization that impacts communities and economies for improvement using education, entrepreneurship, small, minority and woman-owned business development in western Kentucky.