The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has announced the 2024 recipients of its entrepreneur education program. Grid Catalyst is proud to lead a team of partners who were selected as grant recipients and will build a new Cleantech Innovation Pathways program, to engage and develop a new generation of Minnesota energy and cleantech entrepreneurs. Read the DEED announcement.
This new program has been designed to create new pathways for entrepreneurs in this sector through engagement with partners working in community and economic development, workforce training, entrepreneurial support organizations, and higher education. The partners will work together to reach existing and potential entrepreneurs and provide education and training to help them build and grow impactful businesses.
Cleantech Pathways Partners
- Adam Choe
- Clean Energy Economy Minnesota (CEEM)
- Itasca Economic Development Corporation
- ILT Academy
- Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Project (MNSEIP)
- Ramsey County Workforce Innovation Board
- UMN – Min-Corps
- UMN – Technological Leadership Institute
We share a collective goal of creating a more equitable future for energy and cleantech, which requires us to connect with and support more diverse entrepreneurs and changemakers. The comprehensive program creates essential community connections and access for those with big ideas and equip leaders with tools and resources to get their businesses off the ground. Providing dedicated programming and support to diverse founders through this platform will ensure that our future cleantech businesses and communities have better representation in the clean energy economy and increase access to wealth-building. More information is available on our program page and will be shared in early 2024.
Thank you to our partners at DEED for this opportunity to advance Minnesota’s cleantech innovation ecosystem and create more equitable pathways for diverse founders in this sector.
