SCC and OPO Startups form partnership

Published: 12/08/2016

St. Charles Community College has joined forces with OPO Startups as a sponsor to bring its students and alumni access to the co-working center from noon-8 p.m. on Wednesdays.

There will be a table with SCC signage for students and alumni to provide a work space for startup companies of their own. “Membership is typically $75 per person per month, but our students and alumni will have free access,” said Rex McKanry, SCC assistant professor of computer science.

A space dedication ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, at OPO Startups, 119 South Main St. in St. Charles. 

“One of my classes required students to complete a major computer science related project which they presented to their peers and business leaders from our advisory committee at the end of the semester,” McKanry said. “Some students expressed an interest in using their project as a seed for a startup, which is how this sponsorship idea was born.”

OPO is a co-working center for digital startups. Its mission is to promote and grow the regional digital startup community in St. Charles.  

Located in the newly renovated Old Post Office (OPO) building in St. Charles, the 10,000-square-foot facility provides regional startups with affordable workspace and access to mentors, potential investors, programming, educational resources and a community of local entrepreneurs. SCC students will benefit from access to these resources, McKanry said.

“We are excited about the opportunity this partnership will bring our students, alumni and community,” said Barbara Kavalier, Ph.D., SCC president. “This dedicated space will provide SCC students and alumni the freedom to explore startup business endeavors in a supportive and creative environment."

The OPO Startups is a joint venture between the Economic Development Center and private investor Randy Shilling. For more information, visit opostartups.com or contact Rex McKanry at rmckanry@stchas.edu.  The college offers 26 credit and non-credit options in computer science. To learn more, visit https://www.stchas.edu/academics/departments/Computer-Science.

St. Charles Community College is a public, comprehensive two-year community college with associate degrees and certificate programs in the arts, business, sciences and career-technical fields. SCC provides workforce training and community-based personal and professional development as well as cultural, recreational and entertainment opportunities. For more information, visit stchas.edu.