A rendering of the new location for HT’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation on Springdale Rd. at the Center for Social Innovation
AUSTIN — Each day that passes, Huston-Tillotson University (HT) gets closer to one of many milestones to come, an expanded Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI). This fall (official date to be announced), located at the Center for Social Innovation (CSI) on Springdale Road in East Austin, HT’s Center for Entrepreneurship will make dreams of starting a new business come true for more women and minority students and the community at large through education and partnerships.
“We are going to make some millionaires out there!” said an excited Dr. Steven Edmond, Dean of the School for Business and Technology.
In March 2018, HT announced its plans to expand to an off-campus site to speed up its “intellectual heartbeat” in East Austin in the area of entrepreneurship. President and CEO Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette noted that the Center for Social Innovation campus is an ideal location for the HT Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
“It is in historic East Austin and will provide space for non- and for profits. And, just like HT, each organization will be exploring solutions to social issues, including education, access to health care, and poverty.”
Currently, the Center is located in a small room on the first floor of the Agard-Lovinggood Building at HT’s main campus, 900 Chicon Street. The new 6,600-square-foot building will be just five minutes from HT’s main campus and 10 minutes from downtown Austin.
Just as Dr. Burnette repeatedly states, “Austin is a magical place,” the magic is happening every day as business startups pop up in numbers all over town. Now, HT will have an even bigger hand in helping those startup numbers grow faster.
“CEI will offer entrepreneurial education, provide incubator services, and help women and minorities launch new ventures through classroom instructions, experiential learning, and on-campus incubation,” Dr. Edmond said. “CEI is designed to be a one-stop destination for entrepreneurs looking to take their business concepts from idea to launch to success.”
GIFTS TO THE EXPANSION
The most recent updates on the progress include gifts to ease the costs associated with the relocation and naming of a director to lead the Center. One of the early gifts included a $15,000 check from Frost Bank. Another gift came recently; it was an almost $100,000 gift of furniture to the Center.
The Bread of Life, a Houston, Texas non-profit, generously donated more than 350 pieces of office furniture to the School of Business and Technology’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The gift of furniture, estimated to be worth nearly $100,000, became a reality when the Community Development and Social Responsibility unit of Texas Capital Bank introduced the CEO of the Bread of Life to Dr. Edmond; Texas Capital Bank is an HT corporate partner.
Founded in 1992, the Bread of Life began modestly by serving impoveri
