A pair of Corner Brook post-secondary institutions will be the beneficiaries of some funding announcements Tuesday.
In the announcement, Grenfell Campus and the College of the North Atlantic will be the new homes for the Navigate Entrepreneurship Centre that is aimed at business diversification and developing a stronger culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Funding comes at the provincial and federal levels with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Centre earmarking some $874,000 for the project, while the provincial department of tourism, culture, industry and innovation, as well as the department of advanced education, skills and labour have committed over $1.4 million across two years.
A part of the Navigate Entrepreneurship Centre, the partnership will see Grenfell hosting the makerspace, while the college’s Corner Brook campus will host the incubator.
As the name suggests, a makerspace is a space where people are intended to create new things and expand on ideas.
The incubator is a place where business start-ups can see their ideas grow.
“The launch of a makerspace and incubator is a key component for network development on the west coast, and will benefit students, faculty, business and the economic community to help create and foster entrepreneurship through technology, innovation, marketing and research,” said minister of tourism, culture, industry and innovation Christopher Mitchelmore.
The spaces will have a pair of full-time employees who will work with students in their operations.