- Date published
A Commitment to Entrepreneurship
The efactory is excited to announce that Great Southern Bank has made a naming commitment in support of the efactory and our expansion project. This generous gift will support the efactory’s ongoing efforts to foster innovation, support entrepreneurship, and grow businesses in southwest Missouri.
The physical space to be dedicated is located on the first floor of the Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center. The room houses the efactory accelerator for thirteen weeks each summer and two strands of the GO CAPS program during the school year.
“The efactory is a vital resource for the growth and development of entrepreneurs and business owners in Southwest Missouri,” said Great Southern Bank President and CEO, Joe Turner. “We are proud to support their continued efforts in driving entrepreneurship and workforce development in our region.”
Great Southern Bank has a rich history of supporting the Springfield community and Missouri State University. The bank has been a member of the efactory’s partner program since 2015 and has assisted dozens of client companies through programs and services.
A Home for Growth & Innovation
The efactory accelerator program was launched in 2016. The program is designed to provide early-stage companies with capital, specialized programming, and introductions to follow-on funding. The program has invested in 17 portfolio companies, with applications for Cohort 5 opening December 1. Great Southern Bank has also made recent investments in the seed capital fund that invests in efactory accelerator portfolio companies.
The efactory also serves as the host location for two strands of the GO CAPS program. Students in the Business & Entrepreneurship and IT & Software Solutions strands work on real-world projects and job shadow with professionals at the efactory.
“Great Southern Bank is a great example of a Springfield success story. They have been amazing partners to work with and we truly value everything they do to assist startup companies. Our community is better because of Great Southern Bank. We are honored by their commitment to entrepreneurship and workforce development.” Rachel Anderson, efactory Director
About Great Southern Bank
Great Southern Bank was started in 1923 with a $5,000 investment. Today the bank has more than $4.9 billion in total assets and serves more than 150,000 households.
Headquartered here in Springfield, Missouri, Great Southern Bank has more than 1,200 dedicated associates and operates 100+ offices in eleven states across the country.
Great Southern is committed to helping make the communities they serve better places to live, work, and do business. The bank takes seriously their privilege and responsibility to provide services and capital to help communities grow.
About the efactory
It’s our mission to make Springfield, Missouri the best place in the country to start and grow a business. We serve entrepreneurs through office space, coworking, training events, business consulting, and more.
We believe in hard work, determination, and good ideas. Since opening our doors, efactory programs have:
- Assisted over 970 companies
- Created over 1,700 jobs
- Helped clients secure more than $78 million in capital and equity
- Helped clients secure more than $20 million in research and grant support
- Graduated 17 companies from the accelerator program
- Maintained a full lease occupancy rate with 45+ clients and 140+ employees since 2017
The efactory is proud to be part of IDEA Commons, Missouri State University’s vision to create an urban innovation park that includes residential, retail, commercial, and entertainment facilities supported by multidisciplinary university programs.
