Jacobson Institute for Youth Entrepreneurship
The Jacobson Institute for Youth Entrepreneurship is part of a larger University of Iowa effort encouraging entrepreneurial engagement at all ages. In 1996, the University created the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC) through a generous gift from John and Mary Pappajohn. Through a strong commitment to engage people of all ages in entrepreneurship education, JPEC began offering youth entrepreneurship programs in 1999. In 2007, Richard Jacobson, founder and chairman of the board of the Jacobson Companies made the creation of the Jacobson Institute for Youth Entrepreneurship possible. The Jacobson Institute and JPEC work collectively to inspire the entrepreneurial spirit.