Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC)

This program is designed to develop socio-economic areas with utilization exposure of higher education for students, families, and to our community. We are focused on building relationships by using collaboration inside and outside of our rurally located institutions to network evidence-based programs into economic development.  

The National Science Foundation (NSF) granted Independence Community College (ICC) the opportunity to introduce Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC) with our project title “Raising Rual Economic Development and Innovation (RREDI)”. Our goal is to impact students, families, and community members with “best practices” for advancing knowledge and understanding through higher education to increase economic development and innovation in rural areas. Incorporating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) curriculum with the Kansas Educational Standards positions our program to pave the pathway for individuals' education involving hands on learning.

This experience is adding initiatives to expand the education of individuals to succeed in college, in their future careers, and other job opportunities. Our focus for collaboration with inside institutions is to strengthen communication and sustain facilitation. Collaboration with outside institutions is to connect with industries and individual entrepreneurs to show growth outside of the norm of one's community. Our project “RREDI” aims to help one rural area(s) to another to innovate and build socio-economic development through strategic academics and industry partnerships. ICC serves the best interests of students and the community by providing academic excellence while promoting cultural enrichment and economic development.

In essence, the RREDI program at ICC is more than just about education; it's about using education as a catalyst for socio-economic transformation. As we build strong partnerships, foster collaboration, and integrate evidence-based practices, RREDI strives to empower rural communities and innovate diversity for sustained prosperity through higher education.

HELPFUL LINKS

• Fab Lab ICC
• EPIIC School Services Form

The Epiic Grant is funded by the National Science Foundation under DUE Epiic #2331474. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.