News Release MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY Contact: Jessica Novak Office of Marketing and Communications
Lakeland Workforce Development Date Posted: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 Topic: Lakeland’s “elevator pitch” secures funding for new entrepreneurship initiatives
Business entrepreneurs are not the only ones honing their skills on the perfect “elevator pitch” these days. Lakeland was one of 16 national finalists invited to “pitch” at the Elevator Grants competition funded by the Coleman Foundation held recently in Chicago.
The three-minute “elevator pitch” was presented by Gretchen Skok-DiSanto, director of the Entrepreneurship Center at Lakeland, in support of the college’s Small Business Symposium (SBS) and development plans for entrepreneurship initiatives secured the college a grant.
“Out of the 16 community colleges invited to pitch only 10 were awarded grants,” said Pat Hoyt, dean of Workforce Development and Continuing Education. “We are honored that Lakeland was the only college in Ohio to receive funding at this competition.”
The $7500 grant will be used for marketing and production costs for the SBS, curriculum development, speakers, and entrepreneurship initiatives.
Community colleges from across the country were awarded a total of $70,000 in the Elevator Grants competition at the seventh annual National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE).
The Elevator Grant program employs small investments in four categories of work to introduce or expand self-employment education on campus: curriculum expansion, community outreach, faculty development and linkage activities between community colleges and secondary and post-secondary institutions. Lakeland’s grant will be used in the community outreach category.
The method of awarding the grants is based on the business planning skill of describing a new business venture in a three-minute pitch given to a potential investor during an elevator ride.
Printer Friendly Version: 
