Mason Enterprise Center• Mission• Organization• Funding Sources• International

Programs & Services• Statewide Programs

& Services• Regional Programs

& Services• New Programs &

Services

Mission• Administered by George Mason

University’s School of Public Policy, The Mason Enterprise Center (MEC) is a university-based economic development knowledge center focusing the energy, skills and intellectual capital of George Mason University on entrepreneurship creation, business enterprise development, and economic expansion

• Specializing in the areas of small business startup and incubation, government contracting services, international business development, capitalization, training and consulting, entrepreneurship, and teleworking, the MEC offers a unique cluster of programs, services, and resources

Funding Sources

• DoD – Mentor-Protégé Program• DLA – VPTAP • SBA - VSBDC• GSA - Telework• City of Fairfax - FIC• George Mason University• Fee-based Services

International Programs/Services

• Incoming Business Development Program– Assist successful non-US companies forge

business partnerships with companies in Washington DC area

– International Business Accelerator (City of Fairfax)

– Incubator America (Arlington County)

• Outgoing Business Development Program– Assist US companies to successfully penetrate

targeted foreign markets– Assisted 500+ companies since 1999

International Programs/Servicescont.

• Consulting services include market research, industry analysis, local custom acclimation, strategic alliance, business logistics, and networking

• Entrepreneurship curriculum development for management institutes in India & China

• Enterprise development consulting for technology incubators in China and for IIMs and IITs in India

Statewide Programs & Services• Virginia Small Business Development Center

Network (VSBDC)– 29 community-based SBDCs spread across Virginia– Partnership program between the US Small

Business Administration, Virginia, local educational institutions, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, and private business

– VSBDC is a $4.8M program consisting of $1.9M SBA, $1.7M local cash, & $1.2M in-kind match

– Services include one-on-one counseling, business management training, information resources covering most key areas of business needs

– Assisted over 8,000 companies in Fiscal Year 2009

Statewide Programs & Servicescont.

• Virginia Procurement & Technical Assistance Program (VPTAP) – DLA– Since 1990, program has provided

assistance to small businesses to enable them to obtain contracts with federal, state, and local governments

– FY2006 MEC was accepted as statewide program with responsibility for Northern, Central, and Tidewater regions of Virginia

– Assisted over 1,250 client companies in FY2009

– Services include seminars, conferences, education, counseling, marketing, strategic partnering, bid-matching system, and reference library

Regional Programs & Services

• Mentor-Protégé Program (DOD)– Serves as a third party developmental assistance

provider to major prime contractors in support of their small disadvantaged businesses protégé firms

– Contracted assistance consists of general business management, engineering and training – including:

needs assessments, strategic & business plans, GSA Schedule support, marketing & business development support, financial systems review, SEI/CMM & CMMI certification, ISO 9000:2000 certification, promotional materials, and various types of technical training

– 20-35 concurrent contracts in place at any given time

Regional Programs & Servicescont.

• Telework Centers (GSA)– Provides fully functional

and supported office environment for teleworking professionals

– Part of an overall program of 13 centers in the Washington metro region

– MEC directly manages three of these centers (Fairfax, Herndon, and Prince William County)

– Additional facility use for Continuity of Operation Planning (COOP) in support of government agencies and private companies

Regional Programs & Servicescont.

• Community Business Partnership (CBP)– Since 1995 CBP is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax

exempt organization formed in response to an identified need for small business technical assistance and financing services, particularly to low-moderate income and disadvantaged individuals, including minorities, women and the disabled

– Seeks to provide a financing alternative to benefit those unable to attract a commercial loan or other traditional source of funds.

– Business Finance Center, Financial Education Center for Women Entrepreneurs, Business Incubation Center, Springfield SBDC, and Women’s Business Center

Regional Programs & Servicescont.

• Fairfax Innovation Center (City of Fairfax)– A mixed use business incubator and accelerator program– Offers professional shared facilities to small and start-up

businesses with strong leadership and high-growth potential

– Client companies graduate from the program in 24 months or less with a greater than 80% success rate

– Facility has 69 offices supporting 40 on-site companies– Support 41 “Virtual” clients– Celebrating 14th year of operation

MEC@Prince William

• Business assistance center at George Mason University’s campus in Prince William County, Virginia

• Flexible office space options for business incubation and business acceleration

• MEC program services include PTAP, Mentor-Protégé, telework, and business expansion space for short-term contracts and for disaster operations planning

Emerging Programs & Services

• International – Austria, Russia, Brazil, UK

• International Delegation Training• Corporate Program Expansion Services• Various Partnerships with Mason

Academic Units on Student, Faculty, and Staff Entrepreneurship

• Various Partnerships with Peer Academic Institutions – like the Virginia Community College System on Workforce Development

Think Entrepreneurship!!

• The Mason Enterprise Center @ George Mason University’s School of Public Policy– www.masonenterprisecenter.org

– Keith B. Segerson – Managing Director•segerson@gmu.edu / 703-277-7724