{"id":15090,"date":"2026-05-28T18:25:57","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T18:25:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wdcsd.com\/staged\/?page_id=15090"},"modified":"2026-05-28T18:36:45","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T18:36:45","slug":"startup-watertown","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wdcsd.com\/staged\/startup-watertown\/","title":{"rendered":"StartUp Watertown"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"15090\" class=\"elementor elementor-15090\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-484406d elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"484406d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e39e290 top column-style-top\" data-id=\"e39e290\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-98140d4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"98140d4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a7c6b84 top column-style-top\" data-id=\"a7c6b84\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4de8ec7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4de8ec7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">StartUP Watertown: Collaboration &amp; Partnerships<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-da0dee8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"da0dee8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>StartUP Watertown: Collaboration &amp; Partnerships<\/strong><\/p><p>StartUP Watertown is a community\u2011driven initiative designed to strengthen Watertown\u2019s entrepreneurial ecosystem and support long\u2011term economic resilience. Through collaboration among public, private, nonprofit, and educational partners, StartUP Watertown provides a centralized hub for business education, technical assistance, mentorship, and coordinated access to capital for entrepreneurs and small businesses.<\/p><p><strong>Why StartUP Watertown<\/strong><\/p><p>Watertown has a strong business climate, a diverse workforce, and growing economic momentum. However, local business surveys and economic development data identified a gap in <strong>centralized, ongoing support for entrepreneurs and early\u2011stage businesses<\/strong>, particularly after initial business formation. Many entrepreneurs need continued guidance in operations, leadership development, financial readiness, and growth planning as they move from idea to execution.<\/p><p>StartUP Watertown was created to fill this gap by offering structured, professional, and locally driven support that complements \u2014 rather than duplicates \u2014 existing resources such as lenders, workforce partners, and business support organizations.<\/p><p><strong>A Coordinated Community Approach<\/strong><\/p><p>StartUP Watertown is intentionally designed as a <strong>collaborative component of Watertown\u2019s broader economic development strategy<\/strong>. The initiative was formed through a partnership between the Watertown Development Company and the Mother of God Monastery, with strong alignment across housing, workforce development, education, and business retention efforts.<\/p><p>While the Watertown Development Company continues to lead business retention, recruitment, infrastructure investment, workforce initiatives, and housing efforts, StartUP Watertown focuses specifically on:<\/p><ul><li>Idea\u2011stage and early\u2011growth businesses<\/li><li>Microenterprises and sole proprietors<\/li><li>Entrepreneurs seeking structured education, mentorship, and accountability<\/li><li>Businesses preparing for responsible access to capital<\/li><\/ul><p>This coordinated approach maximizes limited community resources, reduces duplication, and creates a stronger pipeline from startup to sustainable operation.<\/p><p><strong>What StartUP Watertown Provides<\/strong><\/p><p>StartUP Watertown delivers practical, market\u2011responsive programming tailored to Watertown\u2019s size, workforce, and regional rural context. Core services include:<\/p><ul><li>Entrepreneur education cohorts focused on business fundamentals<\/li><li>Monthly business self\u2011help groups that address real\u2011world operational challenges<\/li><li>One\u2011on\u2011one technical assistance, including business planning and financial readiness<\/li><li>Workshops and speaker series on leadership, hiring, marketing, compliance, and growth<\/li><li>Peer and mentor networks connecting entrepreneurs with experienced professionals<\/li><\/ul><p>Programming is offered both in person and remotely to ensure accessibility for surrounding rural counties.<\/p><p><strong>Supporting Jobs, Workforce, and Economic Diversity<\/strong><\/p><p>StartUP Watertown is not only about new startups \u2014 it is about <strong>job creation, workforce retention, and economic diversification<\/strong>. Entrepreneurship provides alternative career pathways, stabilizes existing businesses, and strengthens Watertown\u2019s ability to compete in a tight labor market.<\/p><p>Through supporting small businesses and early\u2011stage growth, StartUP Watertown helps:<\/p><ul><li>Create and retain local jobs<\/li><li>Improve business survival rates<\/li><li>Encourage reinvestment in the local economy<\/li><li>Expand opportunities in service, professional, creative, food, and home\u2011based industries that complement Watertown\u2019s manufacturing and healthcare strengths<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Preparing Businesses for Capital \u2014 Not Lending Directly<\/strong><\/p><p>StartUP Watertown does <strong>not provide direct loans<\/strong>. Instead, it prepares entrepreneurs to become capital\u2011ready and connects them to trusted regional lending partners, including a Revolving Loan Fund administered by Dakota Resources. This approach ensures businesses are financially prepared before accessing capital, improves long\u2011term outcomes, and reduces risk for both entrepreneurs and lenders.<\/p><p><strong>A Platform for Ongoing Collaboration<\/strong><\/p><p>StartUP Watertown serves as a platform for collaboration across sectors, connecting entrepreneurship with workforce development, housing stability, education, and community investment. Support from employers, nonprofits, educational institutions, and community partners reflects shared recognition that entrepreneurship is a critical pillar of Watertown\u2019s future.<\/p><p>By working together, Watertown\u2019s partners are creating an environment where entrepreneurs can launch, grow, and stay \u2014 building businesses that strengthen neighborhoods, support families, and contribute to long\u2011term economic health.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>StartUP Watertown is where collaboration turns ideas into sustainable businesses \u2014 and where entrepreneurs become long\u2011term contributors to Watertown\u2019s future.<\/strong><\/p><p>Collaborating partners include Mother of God Monastery, Watertown Development Company, Small Business Development Center, First Bank &amp; Trust.<\/p><p>Want to get involved? Reach out to Angie Yahne at the Watertown Development Company for more information on how to get involved with StartUp Watertown.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-27ed086 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"27ed086\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"mailto:ayahne@wdcsd.com\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Email Angie<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab360b1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ab360b1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Learn More On:\u00a0 \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61577511847529\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">FACEBOOK<\/span><\/a> and<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> <a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/people\/StartUp-Watertown\/61577511847529\/\">LINKEDIN<\/a><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>StartUP Watertown: Collaboration &amp; Partnerships StartUP Watertown: Collaboration &amp; Partnerships StartUP Watertown is a community\u2011driven initiative designed to strengthen Watertown\u2019s entrepreneurial ecosystem and support long\u2011term economic resilience. Through collaboration among [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"rs_blank_template":"","rs_page_bg_color":"","slide_template_v7":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-15090","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>StartUp Watertown | Watertown Development Company<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/wdcsd.com\/staged\/startup-watertown\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"StartUp Watertown | Watertown Development Company\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"StartUP Watertown: Collaboration &amp; Partnerships StartUP Watertown: Collaboration &amp; Partnerships StartUP Watertown is a community\u2011driven initiative designed to strengthen Watertown\u2019s entrepreneurial ecosystem and support long\u2011term economic resilience. 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