The City of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College, Siouxland Public Media and Iowa's West Coast Initiative are collaborating to create an Innovation Center in downtown Sioux City that will serve the tri-state region of Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota.
The facility will provide a physical location that brings people together to advance ideas and innovation through a combination of increased services including mentorship, networking opportunities, hands-on training, business support services, educational opportunities, and access to equipment.
A food hall will provide a lively environment within the Innovation Center. It will feature local cuisine that the region has to offer and provide an opportunity for aspiring culinary entrepreneurs to start their business with a low-cost of entry.
The Innovation Center will also build on our regional agricultural strength by supporting food innovation through a shared commercial kitchen for entrepreneurs interested in product development and food-based businesses.
Siouxland Public Media will co-locate in the Innovation Center. This new location will allow the station to be more integrated in the community and raise the profile of the station through related programming. The first floor will also include construction of a new performance space that will allow SPM to host live music and other programs. In addition, SPM will have a broadcasting studio and shared recording booths on the first floor, visible for all to see as they enter the building.
The second floor of the building will include a technology lab with equipment for startups to prototype ideas and entrepreneurs interested in software development, robotics and automation. The tech lab will create an ‘incubator’ environment where people, including children, are free to experiment which will inspire new thinking and accelerating innovation.
The second floor will also include a large conference room/classroom to host workshops, classes, trainings and events.
The Innovation Center will allow Western Iowa Tech Community College to have a downtown campus and bring students into the facility for classes, hands-on training and other educational programming within the facility. IWCI will also offer regular programming, business and technical assistance, networking opportunities and other relevant training to help entrepreneurs start their business.
The third floor of the Innovation Center will include additional amenities such as business coworking, rentable offices, conference rooms, and space to host workshops, trainings and events. The coworking space will provide entrepreneurs with the opportunity to work alongside other professionals with different specialties, expanding opportunities to collaborate and share ideas.
The property at 308 Iowa Street will also allow for an outdoor seating area, outdoor performance space, greenspace and a quarter block of parking which will greatly benefit the activities and tenants within the facility.