Tietz Entrepreneurial Center
Are you looking to sharpen your business knowledge or perhaps start your own business? The Tietz Entrepreneurial Center is here to help.
Created through the vision and generosity of Algona entrepreneur Don Tietz and the Donald R. Tietz Foundation, the Tietz Entrepreneurial Center provides aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners with educational and training opportunities to help prepare, launch, and expand business development and growth.
Our staff is dedicated to working with professionals to facilitate seminars in business marketing and management, social media, technology, communication, financials, and more.
Whether you are looking for a collaborative experience or individual coaching, we offer the tools needed to help drive your success.
Services provided include:
Classes and workshops on a broad range of critical business topics to support individuals contemplating starting a business or those planning grow their business.
Specialized training sessions can be designed to suit your customized needs. Click here for current class offerings.
Entrepreneur education introducing entrepreneurial concepts to individuals of all ages is part of our core business. Entrepreneur for a Day (E4D) introduces students (grades 5 & 6) to the essential concepts of problem solving, product development and basic economics through an interactive two-part program. The E4D program is available to all schools in the Iowa Lakes Community College five county region. Click here for more information about E4D.
Tietz Entrepreneurial Center Offers Entrepreneur For A Day Program
The Tietz Entrepreneurial Center staff collaborates with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). SBDC provides confidential, complimentary business consulting services including business plan development, market research, marketing strategies and cash flow projections.
Contribute to Local Scholarship Opportunities
Join the Tietz Entrepreneurial Center in supporting entrepreneurs’ dreams and growing economic development in Kossuth County through scholarship opportunities. Your investment in the Entrepreneurial Experience Scholarship and/or the Business Skill-Up Training Scholarship will help make a direct impact on our community by building and sustaining a vibrant, progressive workforce, inspiring entrepreneurial start-ups, and strengthening our business economy.
Invest in future entrepreneurs! Area high school students (nominated by their high school business instructor) will participate in a robust program to learn about business start-up and operations; together with their peers, they will create a business plan. The program will culminate with student teams pitching their business idea in a simulation competition to a panel of judges. The winning team of students will receive a $1000 scholarship. Invest in youth entrepreneurship to retain them in our communities and workforce!
Kossuth county businesses* can pursue employee/employer education and training through Iowa Lakes Community College Continuing Education. Businesses may apply for funding to be used toward continuing education classes that will enhance their employees’ knowledge and skills, and enable employers to retain and grow a diverse, skilled workforce.
*Businesses who are not eligible for 260F grant funds may apply for this scholarship. The number of scholarships available is dependent upon funds contributed.
Donate! Show your commitment to Kossuth County’s continued economic development and growth while receiving a tax advantage for your contribution.
Shelly Brown
sbrown@iowalakes.edu
515.295.8531
Iowa Lakes Entrepreneur Testimonial
“At Iowa Lakes Community College, I have had several opportunities to learn about business and entrepreneurship outside of my classes. Last year I started working with Tietz Entrepreneurial Center Coordinator Shelly Brown at the Algona campus. This has been tremendously helpful for me because Shelly is always there to bounce ideas off, ask me questions, and offer different viewpoints to consider. She provided me with helpful information and invited me to attend the Young Entrepreneur Convention along with several other students. She also invited me to speak to high school students taking part in the Tietz Center’s ‘Entrepreneurial Experience.’ Shelly Brown and the Tietz Entrepreneurial Center are a huge asset to Iowa Lakes students interested in entrepreneurship. Those who don’t have a Shelly in their life are missing out! Contact Shelly at the Tietz Entrepreneurial Center.”
Zoey Zeller, 2022 Iowa Lakes graduate & owner of Rural Creations, LLC