CLINTON, Iowa — The Grow Clinton group is igniting a new era of entrepreneurship and business development by partnering with NewBoCo, Iowa’s leading entrepreneurial coaching nonprofit, to steer the EntreFuel initiative for two years.
EntreFuel is a comprehensive initiative designed to support startups, small businesses, and established companies looking to grow.
The concept behind EntreFuel is everyone in business has a growth idea, and everyone not yet in business has a startup dream. EntreFuel serves as a testing ground for those ideas—whether it’s a first-time founder exploring a concept or a fifth-generation business expanding into new markets.
“Clinton has always had entrepreneurial spirit, but we lacked a centralized hub for training, mentorship, and business development,” said Andy Sokovolich, president of Grow Clinton. “EntreFuel fills that gap by providing the tools, connections, and confidence needed to turn ideas into successful business models.”
Building an entrepreneurial ecosystem
Grow Clinton created EntreFuel in response to a common refrain from local business owners: the need for accessible classes, mentors, and networking opportunities. Grow Clinton initially partnered with the Rural Ideas Network and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to launch early programming while also rebranding their existing workshops and coffee talks under the EntreFuel umbrella.
Today, EntreFuel offers a holistic approach to entrepreneurship, blending leadership development, customer discovery, business skills, and peer-to-peer learning. Programs like Leadership Unlocked and hands-on startup sessions are designed to complement each other, creating a well-rounded pathway for business growth.
To expand its impact, Grow Clinton has partnered with NewBoCo and entrepreneur Alex Taylor. “I am in the Grow Clinton offices twice a month, with all day office hours on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. I am helping establish a structured framework of resources, mentorship, and programming for local startups. I am excited for our kickoff event April 28 to tell the community all we have planned,” said Alex Taylor, director of entrepreneurship for NewBoCo.
Measurable momentum
Since its launch, EntreFuel has demonstrated community engagement and tangible results:
- Over 500 participants have engaged in EntreFuel programming.
- 151 individuals registered for Leadership Unlocked courses.
- New businesses and pop-up shops are emerging throughout the community.
- Flight Deck Aviation has taken advantage of all of Grow Clinton’s EntreFuel programs.
- Existing businesses are refining marketing strategies and exploring operational improvements.
- Since February. NewBoCo has met with 17 businesses.
Additionally, the program has uncovered broader economic development needs—such as a shortage of legal services—prompting Grow Clinton to begin targeted recruitment efforts.
EntreFuel has navigated several challenges, including identifying hidden growth opportunities within existing businesses and building a network of professional service providers. Grow Clinton is actively developing a “rolodex” of accessible experts in areas like business law, accounting, marketing, and design—many of whom are willing to offer discounted or introductory guidance to early-stage entrepreneurs.
The addition of NewBoCo combined with Conor Flaherty from the SBDC and the success of Leadership Unlocked have significantly strengthened the program’s reach and credibility.
Grow Clinton with NewBoCo will officially launch the next phase of EntreFuel on April 28, unveiling:
- A full calendar of recurring programming.
- A Startup Weekend experience.
- High school pitch competitions.
- A long-term entrepreneurial pitch contest.
The event will set the tone for a sustained, community-wide focus on innovation and business growth. The event is at 7 Hills South, April 28. It starts with a social hour at 4:30 and then the panel at 5:30pm. It is a free event. Register at growclinton.com.
Grow Clinton’s long-term vision is to create a self-sustaining entrepreneurial ecosystem supported by a lean team and strong community partnerships. Within two years, the organization aims to establish a model that is both scalable and self-replicating.
