EXCEL Center hopes to grow Monticello


This is one of the many rooms within the Monticello EXCEL Center. There are rooms of various sizes to cater to the needs of co-workers, groups, and entrepreneurs.

The main open space inside the EXCEL Center in Monticello offers room for group meetings. The furniture is mobile so people and rearrange to suit their needs. The facility would like to encourage entrepreneurship in Jones County. (Photos by Kim Brooks)
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

     There is a new entrepreneurial center in Monticello.

     The EXCEL Center stands for Envision, eXplore, Collaborate, Enrich, and Learn.

     Thanks to the efforts of Cammie Greif and Lisa Stadtmueller, as well as others, the EXCEL center opened at 139 S. Main St. Ste. B (between Family Insurance and The Dental Center).

     The ball started rolling, according to Greif, two years ago when they were approached by Dean Cox Jr. to spur economic development and entrepreneurship in Monticello. It was at that initial meeting that the concept of co-working space came up.

     Charged with the co-working idea, Greif and Stadtmueller brought in Kelly Smith, Amie Stadtmueller, Heather McDonald, and Andrea Chapman to brainstorm ideas off one another. The foundation of the EXCEL Center was established.

     Greif said she felt there was a need in Jones County. So, without a clear plan, which Greif would not suggest to any new start-up, they put the cart before the horse and found space in Monticello.

     “We wanted to get the space and make it available and see what happened,” explained Greif. “It’s all about helping entrepreneurs and helping Monticello grow. The EXCEL Center is a bit of an experiment to see what works in growing small-town entrepreneurship.”

     Aside from providing co-working and entrepreneurial space, the EXCEL Center also offers enrichment programs for people of all ages. Already since the beginning of the year, they’ve established Coder Dojo and Girls With Ideas.

     Coder Dojo is a coding club for kids ages 4 and up. Already this year, the club filled up with 20 members.

     Working with the Friends of the Monticello Public Library, they were able to obtain a collaborative grant from the Jones County Community Foundation to purchase laptops for the program, as well as the library to utilize.

     Stadtmueller, who is quite passionate about technology and its availability, said she’s seen how much fun the kids are having at coding. She said it could be discouraging not knowing what’s available for kids to get involved with in a community like Monticello.

     “We can help supplement what they’re learning in school, provide after-school programs to help expose kids to so much more,” she said. “We need more opportunities for youth, more than just a few choices.” Stadtmueller admitted it can seem as though rural communities are behind the times when it comes to technology offerings.

     “We need to make Monticello more welcoming with technology,” concluded Stadtmueller.

     Girls With Ideas is for middle school girls, and helps them with their leadership skills, encouraging them to stand up for themselves as leaders.

     The pilot class maxed out with 11 girls this year, and Greif said they hope to offer it again. It was taught by Jen Jaeger.

     “It teaches where ideas come from,” explained Stadtmueller of the program. “And the girls choose which idea to implement.”

     The first group of girls is working on raising money through a scooter party to purchase games and crafts for the residents at the Monticello Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The girls also spent time volunteering at the center.

     “They came with that idea all on their own,” praised Stadtmueller. “They are learning about what type of leader they are, and what skills are applicable to life.”

     The EXCEL Center also hopes to partner and work with other like-minded groups throughout the county, such as Jones County Economic Development, ISU Extension and Outreach, Kirkwood, the library, and the schools, just to name a few. The idea is to come together for grant opportunities and strategic planning for the future of the community.

     The concept for EXCEL actually stems from the NewBoCo’s Startup Accelerator in Cedar Rapids. Greif, who regularly mentors start-ups at the organization, plans to continue that partnership and bring elements of the NewBoCo offerings to Monticello.

     “We need to keep current on new and innovative endeavors,” she said.

     As for how they chose the S. Main Street location, Greif said it had so many opportunities: close to the middle school for those students involved in programs at the center, close to the downtown, close to restaurants for those co-working there, and close to the disc golf park and green space for those who just need to get out and take a break.

     “We’ve been able to utilize the space very well,” said Stadtmueller.

     Inside the center there are several areas of space in which people can work either alone, with another person, or with a group of people. The space also includes a mini kitchen as well.

     “We wanted to create individual offices and creative spaces,” said Greif, who also has an office of her own at the center.

     “We wanted to design it to be open and give people a chance to collaborate and network,” added Stadtmueller.

     Really wanting to cater to entrepreneurs, Stadtmueller said it’s a hot topic right now.

     “There is potential for change here,” she said.

     Stadtmueller said spaces like the EXCEL Center are popping up in big cities all over the country; there is no reason it can’t happen in rural Jones County, Iowa.

     “Everything is still in the idea stage,” she said, “the make-it-happen stage.”

     Both Greif and Stadtmueller hope to see people of all ages utilize the center, no matter their passion.

     “At some point,” said Greif, “we want to collaborate with the community leaders here.”

     Stadtmueller said that also includes business owners, the chamber, and more.

     “The concept of this place is very organic,” explained Stadtmueller. “It’s about change.”

     “The bottom line is we want to instill an entrepreneurial spirit in the community and help the economy grow,” added Greif who has experience mentoring entrepreneurs and start-up businesses. “We want to be a sound board for them, a hub of information to help people.”

     For more information on all that the EXCEL Center has to offer, visit their website www.excelmonticello.com.

     

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