The dayton metro plan for economic diversity phase II will continue to build on the success of phase i in building a successful entrepreneurial and commercialization ecosystem in the dayton area

This ecosystem provides direct benefits to wright patterson air force base the air force research lab the department of defense and the broader community through the commercialization and development of products with a military application. Many of these technologies and entrepreneurs will have the ability to leverage both defense and commercial markets. By building a robust ecosystem to support these dual track opportunities non defense technologies markets are also better supported which provides economic diversification and resiliency to the community. The focus of phase II is on expanding and piloting efforts developed in phase i including: expanding the reach of efforts to new groups through outreach to neighborhoods and suburbs currently unengaged students and veteran DOD personnel. Efforts will reach at least 225 entrepreneurs in the community with a specific emphasis on inclusion and diversity. Expanded programming to help first time entrepreneurs validate their ideas including those looking to support DOD veterans. Efforts will allow 100 entrepreneurs or potential entrepreneurs to test their ideas. Creating a regional sprint process to solve technological problems including DOD problems. Efforts will allow 10 ideas to be tested prototyped and or validated. Piloting of the acceleration process developed in phase i to a specific DOD problem. Efforts will allow 10 ideas to be accelerated to market and follow on capital from graduates will be tracked although may not be finalized during the grant period of performance. Ensuring local companies and defense installations have a cyber security workforce. Efforts will lead to 20 courses run with an average attendance of 15 students or up to a total of 300 students trained not accounting for students taking multiple courses. The target audience will be veterans current IT workers and people new to and transitioning into the IT workforce.