Along with Tennessee partners AgLaunch and Epicenter, LaunchTN recognized for Regional Innovation Strategies i6 proposal.
LaunchTN is thrilled to be recognized by the US Economic Development Administration with a grant award for our Regional Innovation Strategies i6 proposal to expand and enhance our Mentor Networks program. We’re particularly excited that this year two of our Tennessee partners, AgLaunch and Epicenter, have also each been honored with an i6 grant.
The award is a testament to the strength and vitality of Tennessee’s network of partners supporting its innovation economy.
Now in its sixth iteration, the i6 program is providing a record $23M in federal investment and more than $26M in community match, for a total of nearly $50M in overall project activities. We’re pleased to partner with EDA in this initiative to empower regional growth and invest in projects that support entrepreneurs and increase access to capital.
Mentor Networks 2.0 will expand into auto and ag sectors
LaunchTN will apply the i6 grant award to enhance our existing Mentor Networks program, expanding into the Automotive and Agricultural sectors with technology and programming to add company capacity, enrichment activities, and alumni support.
Built on proven strategies, Mentor Networks 2.0 will deepen already fruitful partnerships with educational and research institutions as well as industry leaders. The result will be a more powerful statewide entrepreneurial economic engine and a robust distribution of Tennessee’s abundant educational and industrial resources.
LaunchTN is grateful for our project partners from across the state, including the University of Tennessee (particularly the University of Tennessee Research Foundation and Institute of Agriculture), Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Eastman Chemical Company, Life Science Tennessee, Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council, TennSMART, Innova, and the St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
