During its inaugural meeting, the Hillsborough County Economic Development Innovation Initiative (EDI2) Advisory Group reviewed submittals and recommended 23 of the applicants receive a total of $300,837 in funding.

The Economic Development Department launched the EDI2 program this past June, the first of its kind in the State of Florida. It is focused on building a vibrant and sustainable startup community and is centered on the use of technology and innovation. This is a significant step to building a community in Hillsborough County that promotes a startup culture that retains and attracts individuals and companies.

Many of the events or programs selected help accomplish the goals of EDI2 including effective mentoring and skills for startup endeavors as well as building a greater capacity and depth for the established business incubators in our community. Several of the programs are designed to build better community forums for exchange of ideas and increase connections between established businesses and startups.

The upcoming programs that were funded include:

• Technova Florida, Inc. was awarded $25,000 for Barcamp Tampa/Tampa Code Camp in September 2013
• Learning is for Everyone, Inc. was awarded $18,250 for Robocon Tampa Bay 2013 in October
• OneBay Tech was awarded $10,300 for One Bay Tech, a regional showcase in September 2013
• New Market Partners was awarded $4,150 for its Grow the Bay event in October 2013
• Tampa Bay Technology Forum was awarded $2,000 for the Engine Peer Network event in October 2013
• Startup Weekend Tampa Bay was awarded $9,437 for Startup Weekend Tampa Bay 2013 in November
• MOSI was awarded $4,500 for STEAM Professional Leadership Forum in October 2013
• Startup Grind, Inc. was awarded $3,000 for its Startup Grind – Tampa Chapter in September 2013

EDI2 is a comprehensive program created through Hillsborough County's Economic Development Department. The program helps support the technology entrepreneurship ecosystem in Hillsborough County and addresses the desire of the County Commission and the business community to support and build entrepreneurship.

The $2 million in funding that has been made available for the program will be distributed over three years. The second funding cycle application deadline is November 15, 2013. 

For more information about EDI2, contact Stephanie Cvetetic with the Economic Development Department at 813-272-6217.