Standing in the lounge of the new Entrepreneurship and Innovation Learning Community, an observer might believe he or she is in a corporate boardroom rather than the newest learning community at Iowa State.

The learning community, located on the fifth floor of recently renovated Buchanan Hall, became the newest at Iowa State on Wednesday night at its grand opening and official ribbon cutting ceremony. The community will teach residents business skills and provide networking opportunities and exposure to other students who have similar interests.

The new learning community was first proposed in April 2003. Thomas Hill, vice president of student affairs and chairman of the learning community’s steering committee, said the community was “[ISU] President [Gregory] Geoffroy’s brainchild.”

In his remarks at the ribbon cutting ceremony, Geoffroy said the learning community should give business students an opportunity to network.

Neal Sneller, freshman in pre-business, said he hopes to take advantage of that opportunity by joining.

“I wanted to live here because I’ll be able to network and use the learning community’s resources to create a business,” Sneller said.

Students involved in the learning community will have opportunities to meet influential people in the technology world.

Hill said students will have the chance to meet David Kingland, president and founder of Kingland Systems, a business that markets software to banks.

Residents cited exposure to different aspects of business as a reason to join the new learning community.

“As my nonprofit expands, I need to learn new small business management skills,” said Angela Groh, junior in marketing.

Groh’s nonprofit organization, Tap In to the Future, which teaches senior citizens computer skills, already has locations in seven states.

“The students participating in this unique educational experience vary in terms of age and major, but they have one thing in common,” said Labh Hira, dean of the College of Business. “They already own a business, or dream of owning one.”

Geoffroy said this learning community is one step in a larger effort to promote entrepreneurship at Iowa State.

Hill said the community will also help Iowa retain young college graduates.

“Entrepreneurship is a big part of economic development in Iowa,” Hill said.