The St. Joseph Innovation Stockyard and the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, Buchanan County and Missouri Western’s Center for Entrepreneurship are partnering with Digital Sandbox KC and the Missouri Technology Corporation to drive new business growth in the St. Joseph area.

Digital Sandbox provides proof-of-concept resources to support the early-stage commercialization process. Up to $15,000 in project development funds will be awarded.

In addition to the cash grants, Innovation Stockyard will offer co-working space to proof-of-concept grant recipients. The new co-working center, located in the Christopher S. “Kit” Bond Incubator on Missouri Western, will open in July.

The types of companies best positioned to take advantage of the opportunity are those with a scaleable business idea seeking capital investment and job creation for rapid growth, business ideas featuring technology-driven design, and technology-oriented companies such as web-based, digital and information technologies companies.

Applications are due by Aug. 23, and applicants must plan to be in St. Joseph on Sept. 6.

Applicants must be located within the City of St. Joseph or willing to locate to St. Joseph for startup and scale-up development.

For details and application information, click here.

Information about the co-working space and the grant competition will be available at the public launch of the program on June 28 at 4 p.m., at Jake’s Restaurant, 620 Edmond Street, in downtown St. Joseph.