Elgin Tech Center receives $10,000 from Motorola
Elgin Technology Center has been pushing its goal to make Elgin the best place in the country for startup tech companies since it opened in January. The Motorola Mobility Foundation has pledged its support of ETC’s latest venture, the ETC Academy, with a $10,000 empowerment grant.#147;It was that endorsement, the thumbs-up about what we#146;re doing, that was really the biggest bonus out of it all,#148; said Lasse Ingebretsen, founder and executive director of the Elgin Technology Center.Ingebretsen said the money will go toward buying tech equipment for the ETC Academy, a program that gives participants the guidance to create and run their own tech startup companies.Motorola Mobility became a separate entity from Motorola Solutions in January. This is the first time the Motorola Mobility Foundation has given out empowerment grants, focusing on education, health and wellness and community by awarding $500,000 to 51 recipients. #147;This is our new grant program to support programs that leverage technology to build stronger communities,#148; said Sheila Voth, with Motorola Mobility external communications. The Elgin Technology Center received the maximum amount in the grant program. The average recipient got $7,500 and the minimum award was $2,500.Ingebretsen said the support of Motorola Mobility after ETC has only been open nine months was an honor. The first classes for ETC Academy will start at the end of the month. Existing tech business owners will be able to choose from any of the classes offered, but those with no experience are invited to enroll in a 10-class program that will teach the skills needed to build a tech company piece by piece. Each class is $990. For more information about the curriculum visit elgintechnologycenter.com.