Missouri State University’s efactory, in collaboration with codefi, has been selected by the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) to administer the new Missouri Technical Assistance (MOTA) grant program. This initiative, backed by $2.9 million in federal funding from the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), will expand technical services for small businesses and entrepreneurs across the state.
Building on the success of the Southern Missouri Innovation Network (Innovate SOMO), which serves 47 southern counties, the program will now scale its efforts statewide. Services will include enhanced technical assistance, connections to capital through programs like the Missouri Technology Corporation’s IDEA Funds and IgniteMO, and support tailored to startups and small businesses, including those in rural communities.
State and local leaders emphasized the importance of this investment in strengthening Missouri’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Leaders from efactory, codefi, and Missouri State University highlighted the expanded program’s potential to remove barriers, provide vital resources, and help business owners grow without needing to leave their communities.
This initiative reflects Missouri’s continued commitment to building a robust, inclusive economy by equipping entrepreneurs with the tools and funding needed to succeed.
