The Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship in the Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University was created in 2006 in order to support an incredible, burgeoning group of student entrepreneurs. Programs created in recent years have already greatly enhanced entrepreneurship opportunities for students and faculty at Appalachian State and we've helped strengthen the broader community by supporting entrepreneurs throughout the region. Approximately 200 students have declared the Entrepreneurship Concentration in the Management Major and more than 1,000 alumni from Appalachian State's Walker College of Business are active entrepreneurs. In a recent survey of students from all across campus, 28% said their primary career aspiration was to own their own business.

In 2011, the Center was named the Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship, after a $1 million gift by Transportation Insight, a company nationally recognized by Inc. Magazine for its entrepreneurial excellence.

But we want to do even more. The Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship is expanding existing initiatives and offering new programs to reach more people. Because of the increasing demands and necessities that come with growth, we need to add resources so that we can supply entrepreneurs with the tools and skills they need to shape the world around us.

The Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship supports the objectives of Appalachian State and the entire University of North Carolina system. Entrepreneurship is a crucial economic development tool, especially in western North Carolina, where many traditional industries have declined in recent years. The future economic development of western North Carolina is critically related to the region's ability to grow from within.

The Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship intends to significantly expand offerings, bringing faculty, students, businesses and community partners together to:

• Engage more students in practical educational experiences with regional, national and international entrepreneurs.
• Promote education, research and service collaborations with other organizations involved in entrepreneurship and economic development.
• Increase the visibility of Appalachian's entrepreneurship career opportunities and educational offerings both internally and externally.
• Enhance undergraduate and graduate educational opportunities in areas related to entrepreneurship by providing support for new workshops, programs, research initiatives and service opportunities.

Too many student entrepreneurs are waiting to begin. It's time to show them how much we believe in them.