Changes

<span style="font-size:small;">While surveying, students informed us that they didn’t believe their majors needed entrepreneurship or innovation, because it wasn’t a business department and they didn’t want to own a business. First, we had to change the verbiage to get students to understand that this topic is not only relevant, but absolutely VITAL for their majors, departments, and careers, community and the university.</span>

<span style="font-size:small;">-Lack of resources (technology): Due to a lacking technological presence, we are behind other large cities in the form of technology, which can hinder our innovation. We need the &nbsp;skills in order to become a greater university.&nbsp;</span>

<span style="font-size:small;">The backing of the faculty at UNA is very prevalent. The faculty and staff are the whole reason we are able to have the limited amount of innovation and entrepreneurship that we do have. They are working hand and hand with us to increase the amount of innovation and entrepreneurship that is on our campus. They are bringing in different start-ups and programs to help increase the awareness of the importance. The faculty are deep in planning to implement STEM on our campus. They are also trying to involve innovation and entrepreneurship into all majors, internships, and careers. The staff and faculty here at UNA are very supportive and understand the importance of having innovation and entrepreneurship on campus and the positive impact it can have on the student’s life and careers.</span>

<span style="font-size:small;">Sadly, this is a section that we are missing ENTIRELY. However, our team and the faculty recognizes this, and we are on our way to bring in decision makers, innovators, idea makers, and funders into this.&nbsp;</span>

<span style="font-size:small;">With the help of the University of North Alabama and substantial leaders in the area, our community has been able to create and maintain key centers such as the Generator and the Entrepreneurial Center. The Generator is UNA’s very own student incubator center that will be used to assist aspiring students with business startups. The Entrepreneur Center will be used to further facilitate un-peraralled industry collaboration. With these resources combined we will have a full arsenal of resources at our fingertips to further promote the growth of UNA.</span>

<span style="font-size:small;"><span style="line-height: 28px;">Innovation Engineering is a groundbreaking program that provides a systematic approach to innovation. The department has worked dilligently to provide students with a business background every opportunity for internships and research in the fields of innovation and entreprenuership.&nbsp;</span></span>

<span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, serif; line-height: 19px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);">Our Chamber is the organization of influence that enables Shoals area citizens to achieve a higher standard of living and a better quality of life through the economic successes of its members. As a Chamber member, you will be associated with more than 1,000 other Shoals Area businesses employing more than 45,000 people. The Shoals Chamber is one of the TOP 10 largest Chambers of Commerce in Alabama. The majority of our membership is small business with approximately 90% having 50 or fewer employees - and nearly 67% with 15 employees or less. General direction and policy are set by a 31 member Board of Directors elected by, and responsible to, the membership. Day-to-day operations are carried out by a full-time staff of professionals. They coordinate the efforts of the many volunteer workers within the the Chamber. The volunteer members work through numerous committees in these major departments: Education and Workforce Readiness, Business Growth, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Public Policy, Advocacy and Activism and Investor Relations and Marketing.</span></span>

<span style="font-size:small;">[http://www.shoalschamber.com http://www.shoalschamber.com]</span>

<span style="font-size:small;">[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1A05FO9UYfI_I4n4rTW5I8IU7LIq-X3QXPkEChxm-5qo/edit#gid=1 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1A05FO9UYfI_I4n4rTW5I8IU7LIq-X3QXPkEChxm-5qo/edit#gid=1]</span>