WHO WE ARE ASKING
Accomplished professionals who got their start in Jackson County.
We are reaching out across the state, country and world to talented individuals who share Maquoketa and Jackson County as a hometown. You have achieved professional and personal accomplishments, we invite you to help us be a catalyst and support the growth of youth and adults in this community. This invitation is specifically extended to those living outside of Jackson County.​
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WHY WE ARE ASKING
Help us continue building success.
We have reimagined and invested in a state-of-the-art business and conference facility in the historic former bank on Maquoketa’s Main Street, which many of us knew as Jackson State Bank. We have created innovative programming to engage students and adults in envisioning a brighter future, view the list below.
Your donations enable us to ensure the delivery of our programming and to continue building a sustainable foundation for future growth. We have a proven positive impact over 4 years and are making this ask now to continue building on that success. 100% of this fundraising effort is dedicated to the delivery of programs.
Your partnership will help us create more success stories. ​
We are asking for a tax-deductible gift of $1000 from 120 individuals, which will help us raise operating funds to support and continue building and delivering programs for youth and adults.
Donate online:
Mail a check:
Innovate 120 Founder’s Campaign
120 S. Main Street, Maquoketa, IA 52060.
Please include your return address.
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Call us:
Call 614-886-4140. We can securely process credit card transactions over the phone.
Innovate 120 is a federally recognized 501(c)3, all contributions are tax-deductible.
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PROGRAMS WE ARE ALREADY DELIVERING
A few examples of our current programming include: ​
User Experience Design Internship
Focused on developing critical thinking and strong communication skills. Students gain real professional experience working with leading global companies including Google, John Deere, and Scotts Miracle-Gro.
Startup Bootcamp
Focused on providing participants with the frameworks for understanding, validating and developing viable business concepts. It concludes with a pitch competition. The second year included the development of a partnership with Maquoketa High School to include it as a semester class. The program concludes in a public Shark Tank-style pitch competition, showcasing the innovative business concepts the students have developed.
Wednesdays are Possible
A monthly community conversation to interview local founders and learn about their journeys toward business success. Modeled after One Million Cups, it helps drive conversations around entrepreneurship. Founders have included Maquoketa Brewing’s Mark Lyon, David Blake of nationally acclaimed pet products company Blue-9, and Bob Osterhaus of Osterhaus Pharmacy, 12 entrepreneurs in the community have been featured to date with more to come.
Summer Science Camp
We know that success begins early, so we launched a 3 week series of science camps for elementary and middle school students. Camp enrollment filled up quickly, with more demand for growth. The program was expanded in the second year with all camps filled.
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10X Ecommerce Accelerator
Focused on providing adults with the roadmap for building an online business through the Amazon platform, it is our effort to develop a program that fits the busy schedules of working professionals in our community. It quickly filled up with a cohort of 10 participants and businesses. ​​​
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ABOUT INNOVATE 120 ​
Founded by Maquoketa native Robert Abbott in 2021, Innovate 120 is a coworking hub, business event and innovation center in a newly renovated historic bank in the heart of Maquoketa’s Main Street district. The innovation mindset for success is inherent to rural communities: curiosity, creativity, risk-taking and collaboration. This 10,000 square foot center and its programming is designed to build on that mindset and drive engagement, learning and growth. Its focus is individual and collective success, measured by the energy, entrepreneurship and business growth it aims to bring to Jackson County. It will be a catalyst where the community can imagine and build their futures.
We feel that the time for growth in rural America is now. In the wake of the pandemic, so much about how we work, learn, build and connect has been disrupted. Across our Country, there is increased receptiveness to question established approaches and to consider new ideas. With geographic location now less of a determinant, the seeds for new ideas can take root anywhere, especially rural places like Jackson County, Iowa.
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Download the PDF overview of the Founders Campaign including a photo tour of the Innovate 120 facility.
Watch the overview video of the mission and facility below:​​