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June 18, 2008
Groundbreaking Ceremony in Kennesaw
Launches Visionary Commercial Kitchen Complex
and Business Incubator
Kennesaw, GA (June 18, 2008)
– The groundbreaking ceremony for The Edge Connection’s new
Enterprise Center, a visionary Commercial Kitchen Complex
and Business Incubator, is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Tuesday,
June 24, 2008. The venture is a city government, campus, and
community partnership between The Edge Connection, Kennesaw
State University, Kennesaw Development Authority, and the
City of Kennesaw. It will advance economic development for
the Northwest Region in Georgia and the broader community.
“This civic, academic and non-profit strategic partnership
will provide a tremendous resource in our community,” says
Patricia Harris, Executive Director and CEO of The Edge
Connection. “The ultimate goal is to provide an economic
development platform in the City of Kennesaw and surrounding
communities to enhance the growth of entrepreneurship and
job creation.”
The Enterprise Center, a sustainable 30,000 sq. ft. facility
will include:
• More than 25 mixed-use incubator offices targeting
service/product and light manufacturing ventures.
• Multi-stationed commercial kitchen complex with
state-of-the-art Energy Star stainless steel equipment.
Targeting food-related businesses, rural farmers, and
organic growers.
• Production Center: packaging, labeling, and sterilizing
food related products.
• Market Place: showcase for high-end products and food
related items.
• Event Space: host celebrations and catered events.
• Comprehensive Business Development: training, services,
coaching, networking opportunities, e-learning, and access
to business intelligence technology.
• Certificate Culinary Course: in partnership with Kennesaw
State University and the culinary industry.
The Enterprise Center will be a LEED™ Certified facility,
the premier certification for sustainable building design
and business practices to promote a "green and
environmentally conscious structure."
Initial funding support has come from the Marcus Foundation,
Nemchik Associates, Kennesaw Development Authority, City of
Kennesaw, and Hewlett Packard Foundation. Fundraising
activities are still underway.
The ceremony will be held at the Enterprise Center building
site located at the Southwest corner of Cobb Parkway
(Highway 41) and Kennesaw Due West Road in Kennesaw,
Georgia. Notable Metro Atlanta Area community leaders and
small business owners who will benefit from the space and
services the facility will provide will be in attendance;
many of whom are current students, alumni, or clients of The
Edge Connection.
The Edge Connection offers an award-winning and nationally
recognized program that delivers best-practices,
microenterprise and small business training, financial
literacy, entrepreneurially focused technology training, and
essential entrepreneurial support services to aid
entrepreneurs in their efforts to launch, sustain, or grow a
business.
The Edge Connection will host its 2008 Gala – Celebrating 10
Years of Accomplishment - on November 1, 2008 at the
Marriott Marquis in downtown Atlanta. This exciting event
will highlight the many companies that have grown from The
Edge Connection’s microenterprise and small business
development services.
The Edge Connection is a fully independent, non-profit 501
(c) (3) organization currently located on the campus of
Kennesaw State University within the Coles College of
Business. It provides services throughout metro Atlanta and
partners with agencies state wide. The Edge Connection
receives federal support from the U.S. Small Business
Administration (SBA) for its Women’s Business Center;
financial and in-kind support from Kennesaw State
University, Coles College of Business; and financial support
from Cobb County Board of Commissioners, Community
Development Block Grants, and the United Way of Greater
Metropolitan Atlanta.
The Edge Connection is a founding member of Georgia Micro
Enterprise Network and is a member of the national
microenterprise trade association, the Association for
Enterprise Opportunity (AEO).
Website: http://www.theedgeconnection.com
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