Center for Innovation
Katz School of Business

Activate your business

Make your business idea a reality leveraging the expertise of the Four Corners’ economic hub. Find mentorship from a successful business leader or put your experience to service mentoring a new entrepreneur. Collaborate with businesses and innovators from across the region, including FLC, Durango, and the Southern Ute Tribe.

Visit the Center for Innovation

Support innovation in your community

Multiply your philanthropic dollars by investing in your community’s economic growth. Building on the work of FLC’s Katz School of Business and the Southwest Colorado Small Business Development Center, the Innovation Center will develop local businesses and entrepreneurship through incubation, business acceleration, and workforce training.

Innovation Center has been created through the collaboration of the following partners:

• FLC’s Katz School of Business, including the new Entrepreneurship & Small Business Development major. We develop career-ready students in an inclusive, experiential, and student-focused environment. We facilitate and strengthen our commitment to innovative business education and diverse scholarship by faculty members’ engagement in our community.
• Southwest Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The SBDC combines information and resources from federal, state, and local governments with those of the education system and private sector to meet the specialized and complex needs of the small business community.
• Hawk Tank business plan competitions for FLC students and alumni, as well as regional high school students. While relying on professional development and local mentors, Hawk Tank provides an opportunity for students and recent alumni to present new business plans to Durango (Four Corner) area venture capitalists, financial institutions, and business leaders and win start-up money.
• Southern Ute Indian Tribe Entrepreneurs’ Resource Center (SERC), which is currently in development. The SERC is expected to be a non-profit 501(c)3 bringing together several resources that enhance the “entrepreneurial mindset” of the community and increase the odds of success for small business owners.
• New Mexico State University (Arrowhead Center and Studio G). Studio G’s mission is to help students start and grow businesses. Studio G builds a community of support for student entrepreneurs and assists to make entrepreneurship a viable and sustainable career path. Founded in 2011, Arrowhead Center’s Studio G has worked with more than 3,300 student entrepreneurs. Studio G ventures have raised more than $9.8 million in investments and grants, and in the last year, those entrepreneurs hired more than 300 people. Studio G is available to students and recent alumni at 18 colleges and universities in New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado and one national laboratory. Apply here to become a member of Studio G.