{"id":10859,"date":"2018-06-28T16:29:06","date_gmt":"2018-06-28T20:29:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsroom.ocfl.net\/?p=10859"},"modified":"2022-01-12T12:10:56","modified_gmt":"2022-01-12T17:10:56","slug":"orange-county-government-celebrates-community-collaboration-national-entrepreneur-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsroom.ocfl.net\/2018\/06\/orange-county-government-celebrates-community-collaboration-national-entrepreneur-center\/","title":{"rendered":"Orange County Government Celebrates Community Collaboration with the National Entrepreneur Center"},"content":{"rendered":"

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs joined the Central Florida business community for the Celebration of Collaboration Breakfast hosted by the National Entrepreneur Center (NEC<\/a>) on June 27.<\/p>\n

The event recognized the many partners of the NEC and the transformative role these relationships have played in nurturing a successful environment for start-up businesses, small businesses and entrepreneurs over the last 15 years.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you to the more than 350 community members and investors who support small businesses and startups here in Central Florida,\u201d NEC President Jerry Ross said. \u201cWe are thrilled to have celebrated our 15 years of service, and can\u2019t wait for the next 15 years.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the event, Mayor Jacobs was presented an award of recognition for Orange County\u2019s partnership and ongoing support since the launch of the NEC.<\/p>\n

\u201cOrange County is proud to support the National Entrepreneur Center, and recognizes the NEC as a crucial part of our economic development strategy,\u201d Mayor Jacobs said. \u201cOur culture of collaboration and economic synergy is a perfect partnership with the NEC and its mission to be a platform of success for the business community and entrepreneurs in our region. Congratulations to the NEC for celebrating 15 years of success!\u201d<\/p>\n

Founded in 2003, in partnership with Orange County, Disney<\/a> and the University of Central Florida<\/a>, the NEC, provides convenient access to business assistance organizations for local entrepreneurs. Since inception, the resident organizations have trained and counseled Central Florida businesses in record numbers, while creating nationally recognized business development programs.<\/p>\n

This innovative approach to economic development through small business, known as Main Street Gardening, has been instrumental in earning Central Florida recognition from Entrepreneur Magazine<\/a>, the Orlando Business Journal <\/a>and other publications as one of the best places in the nation to start or grow a small business.<\/p>\n

Photo Caption:\u00a0Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and the Central Florida business community celebrate the achievements of the National Entrepreneur Center.<\/em><\/p>\n