The Innovation Resource Center

Promoting economic solutions through innovative entrepreneurship

The Innovation Resource Center (IRC) was established by the Northwest Economic Council to connect innovative start-up businesses to resources that will help them to grow and thrive in Whatcom County. The goal of the IRC is to create 1,131 new jobs in its first five years.

The IRC goes beyond the role traditionally assigned to business development organizations in that it develops innovative business climates and identifies entrepreneurs who will thrive in that climate. The IRC creates a home in Whatcom County for innovative new enterprises to start up and grow.

Identifying economic opportunities in Whatcom County is the starting point for the IRC's activities. Structures are then established to support the development of the opportunity. These structures include:

• Accelerators

◦  Physical accelerators: facilitating interaction and idea sharing by providing start-up business with office space and common resources in one building

◦  Virtual accelerators: connecting start-ups to each other and to the resources they need when a physical connection is not necessary

◦  Services and expertise:  the IRC will utilize community-wide connections to help entrepreneurs access expertise required to establish their business

• Community-wide connections

◦  Network of business leaders and specialists to provide assistance to start-ups

◦  Direct start-ups to appropriate business services through area service organizations and government

◦  Partnering with educational institutions to provide training and internship support

• Entrepreneurial training
• Leadership guidance
• Transition assistance as start-ups grow out of the IRC's programs

The initial industry focuses of the IRC are the renewable energy and the over 55 population.

Renewable energy has been identified as an economic opportunity for Whatcom County. The IRC is developing a renewable energy accelerator as a physical accelerator with a location for innovative start-ups with products and services focused on the production, transmission, storage and management of renewable energy and sustainable water usage. This accelerator has a business advisory group in place and educational opportunities are established at Western Washington University and Bellingham Technical College.

The IRC has been awarded a grant of $99,000 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to work with the Whatcom Opportunities Regional Center, Whatcom Community College and Bellingham Technical College in assisting innovative entrepreneurs in creating businesses in support of the growing active adult living communities.  Startups in such areas as technology assistance, home management, health care applications will be part of a virtual accelerator for our area.

IRC Actively Seeks Executive Director
The Innovation Resource Center is seeking an energetic, results oriented Executive Director to work with the successful executives on their Board of Directors. See www.nwirc.com for complete job description and details about how to apply. 

August 6, 2010:
The Innovation Resource Center (IRC) is pleased to announce the formation of the Renewable Resource Technologies Accelerator, a business accelerator for entrepreneurial companies with products and services focused on the production, transmission, storage and management of renewable energy and sustainable water usage. Read More...

August 6, 2010:
The Innovation Resource Center (IRC) has appointed a Board of Directors consisting of business leaders from throughout Whatcom County. The board will be responsible for the governance and strategic direction of the organization. Read More...

June 30, 2010:
The Northwest Economic Council has received a grant from USDA for $99,000 to develop some of the initial programs and materials to support entrepreneurs and their startup businesses.  For additional details please click here.

January 25, 2010:
Whatcom County was recently granted $35,000 in WA State CERB funding to further develop the NWEC's Innovation Resource Center!  For additional details please click here.