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Who/What: Idaho Virtual Incubator
Where: Lewis-Clark State College, Administration Building, Room 8
When: August 3, 2001
Contact: Lou Ann Vanhorn, (208) 792-2097; Lvanhorn@lcsc.edu

Update on Idaho Virtual Incubator

The Idaho Virtual Incubator (IVI) project offers Idaho college students paid internships. Students have the opportunity to get 'real-time' experience while assisting businesses. The IVI creates opportunities to enhance curriculum and internship programs in Idaho Institutions of Higher Education.

Businesses are charged for the services on a sliding-fee scale. The IVI project enables participating businesses in developing and implementing e-commerce strategies, assists in creating and sustaining jobs by helping businesses succeed. Services include web page development, site maintenance, marketing, e-newsletters, site analysis and consulting. The IVI is funded by grants from the Economic Development Administration (EDA), Idaho State Board of Education (SBOE) and Housing & Urban Development (HUD).

Since its inception, the IVI has been working with the offices of Senator Michael Crapo and Senator Larry Craig to secure the needed funding to move the IVI to its next phase. The first phase enabled businesses to develop a basic web site or web brochure. Phase II focuses on enhancing the existing site to a more interactive site by adding a shopping system or database with additional marketing. Phase III concentrates on additional marketing techniques and more business-to-business (B2B) and database driven applications.

Recently, Senator Craig's office announced that the Idaho legislature has earmarked $500K additional funding for the continuation of the project. On July 23, 2001 the IVI team began deploying the project throughout the state with its first presentation at the Region V Idaho Small Business Development Center (ISBDC) in Pocatello. The IVI team will be presenting the project at the Region I ISBDC at Post Falls on Monday, August 6. Deployment of the project will continue to the other regions of the state over the next year.

On June 25 - 27, LCSC hosted an e-commerce event, "E-commerce 2001: Exploring the New Economy" was sponsored by the Region II Idaho Small Business Development Center, Idaho Virtual Incubator, Distance Learning Technologies, Institute for Community Development, Extended Programs, Technical and Sponsored Programs, and Workforce Training at LCSC. Community sponsors include Valley Vision 2001 and the Lewiston Chamber of Commerce.

More than 40 speakers presented at the conference which covered topics such as starting an e-business, how to build a database driven web page, developing manufacturing alliances and videoconferencing, how to start a dot.com business and succeed, international marketing, viral marketing, how to treat a virus, how to set up an affiliate marketing program, and government contracting, the basics of the Internet, teaching via interactive video conferencing, entrepreneurship, strategy and technology, and Internet business counseling.

The IVI is housed as part of the Region II Idaho Small Business Development Center at Lewis-Clark State College. Since its inception, the IVI has served over 35 businesses in Idaho with a variety of e-commerce applications. Idaho businesses may apply for e-commerce assistance with the IVI by submitting their application online at www.idahovirtualincubator.org. For additional information contact Lou Ann Vanhorn, Project Coordinator, (208) 792-2097 Lvanhorn@lcsc.edu.