EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

DATE: Oct. 19-21, 2016

EVENT: The third annual Urban Entrepreneurship Symposium will convene entrepreneurs and thought leaders in business, academia, community organizations and government in order to promote and facilitate business innovation that improves the quality of life in urban communities.

The symposium will be held in Flint, Mich., as a call to action for entrepreneurs to focus on innovative business solutions to the challenges facing that historic city.

Features of this year’s symposium, co-sponsored by the University of Michigan, include:

Remarks from Flint Mayor Karen Weaver and a keynote interview with Andrew Highsmith, author of “Demolition Means Progress: Flint, Michigan, and the Fate of the American Metropolis.”

The Urban Infrastructure Challenge, designed to source ideas that will elevate Flint’s status to that of a “smart city” by applying for-profit business innovation. The contest, coordinated by U-M’s Center for Entrepreneurship, will award a $2,500 prize and advising sessions to the winning team.

David Tarver, founder of the Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative, will talk about the transformative power of entrepreneurship and what it means for Flint.

This event is open to the public. Follow along at #UES2016.

PLACE: Multiple locations throughout Flint. See agenda: myumi.ch/6veKr

SPONSORS: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, including the campuswide entrepreneurship effort, Innovate Blue; Center for Entrepreneurship at Michigan Engineering; Center for Social Impact at the Ross School of Business; and University of Michigan-Flint School of Management. Academic co-sponsors include Mott Community College, Kettering University and Michigan State University.

REGISTRATION: myumi.ch/abWx5

INFORMATION: See myumi.ch/LrAA4 or contact LaToniya Jones, jonesl@urbanei.org