Morningside College’s student Entrepreneurship Group received $15,000 in grants from the Siouxland Economic Development Corporation to renovate the lobby of the Lincoln Center.

Morningside College’s student Entrepreneurship Group (E-Group) received $15,000 in grants from the Siouxland Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) to renovate the lobby of the Lincoln Center on the college’s campus.

E-Group is an organization for students to share and develop entrepreneurial ideas and skills. Three years ago, the group started plans to renovate the lobby of Lincoln Center, where its weekly meetings are held.

Sean Richardson and Reid Rosen, 2012 graduates, originally led the designing and planning for the renovations. The group applied for the grants from the SEDC – one $5,000 grant each year for the past three years.

The grants paid for all of the renovations, which included new chairs, carpet, upholstery, mounted television, Apple TV, lighting, ceiling and wall color.

“One of the E-Group’s activities is talking with entrepreneurs and startups throughout the nation. Some of the new technologies installed in the Lincoln Center lobby allow the E-Group members easier collaboration with these entrepreneurs and startups,” Richardson said.

The SEDC primarily focuses on financial packages for small businesses and entrepreneurial startups. Five years ago, they started a grant program for local colleges to help fund their entrepreneurial efforts in the community and on their campuses.

“We are very pleased with the efforts of the grantees and their contributions to the entrepreneurial efforts in the Siouxland area,” said Kenneth Beekley, vice president of SEDC.

E-Group is advised by two faculty members, Dr. Pam Mickelson and Mary Zink.

“The SEDC’s support gives our entrepreneurial students opportunities they would not have had,” said Mickelson.