Hillsborough County’s Entrepreneur Collaborative Center (ECC) has been nationally recognized for its innovations and impact and serves as a satellite home for more than 85 nonprofits, government agencies and educational institutions that support entrepreneurs. Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library partners with the ECC to embed library services within the business community and to frame library resources and technology in a context that is meaningful for entrepreneurs and small business owners at all levels.

Since the ECC opened in 2014 as a program of Hillsborough County Economic Development, THPL has maintained a presence in its space to share information about library resources. In 2016, THPL established a monthly workshop at the ECC with a focus on business technology, and soon after added weekly office hours to connect entrepreneurs with tailored tools and training. The partnership expanded to include a full schedule of free business classes offered in library branches, including many led by the ECC’s expert presenters.

Working with the ECC to understand the needs of entrepreneurs and reach them where they are helps THPL establish a place in the local ecosystem of economic development and contribute to community prosperity. The interactive nature of its classes and one-on-one assistance encourage collaboration and networking while building essential skills. Since 2016, THPL has reached more than 1,000 people through 50 classes and 548 reference hours at the ECC, and thousands more through expert-led business classes in its branches.