The Colorado Springs Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) views Enterprise Development (ED) as the critical third leg of its economic development stool. ED has a very broad definition ranging from micro-businesses that fill the needs of small neighborhoods, to early-stage companies with the ability to grow into significant generators of wealth and job creation. The EDC assists the latter group as they grow to become primary employers.

The EDC believes that a strong entrepreneurial culture is critical to a successful and vibrant economy. Our role is to help facilitate Enterprise Development through the support of organizations directly responsible for assisting companies as small as a sole-proprietor, to early-stage companies with significant institutional investment.

The Colorado Springs Technology Incubator, Peak Venture Group, High Altitude Investors, Small Business Development Center (SBDC), SCORE, and the Colorado Homeland Defense Alliance, are focused directly on assisting the Colorado Springs entrepreneurial community. The EDC directly assists entrepreneurs through its Project Scout program and Project Scout database, and through its support of the Segway Economic Gardening program.

The Pikes Peak region’s unique attributes contribute to a strong entrepreneurial culture. There are over 15 institutions of higher learning with a vast array of offerings, including a Bachelor’s Degree in Innovation at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. The City boasts a highly educated workforce with over 45% having higher education degrees; 10% higher than the national average.

We believe that all of these “Community Assets” make Colorado Springs a very unique environment for successful entrepreneurial activities.