IOWA CITY (AP) -- The University of Iowa will bring together six of its business enterprise centers in one location to more easily share information and promote economic development.

The Iowa Centers for Enterprise will serve as a one-stop shop for venture capitalists, researchers with innovative ideas, startup businesses and existing businesses who want to expand, said Meredith Hay, the university's vice president for research.

In an effort to promote economic development, the central location will allow the centers to more easily work together to help businesses who want to form public-private partnerships with the university, she said.

"It will serve as a first contact for businesses interested in accessing university marketable resources," she said.

Hay said the centers can help with business development, university licensing opportunities and entrepreneurship education.

Previously, they had been scattered across campus, but the university will bring them to one central campus location at Old Capitol Mall, she said.

For entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, the move will provide more access to the business community, Hay said.

Having the centers in one location also allows for easier technology transfer - getting a product from its creation to market, she said.

The Iowa Centers for Enterprise include the University of Iowa Research Foundation, the Office of Corporate Relations, the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, Small Business Development Center, the Technology Innovation Center business incubator and Oakdale Research Park. The center also includes liaisons from several colleges at the university, according to a news release.

The state, which set a goal of encouraging more economic development through its public universities, approved funding for such efforts.

In all, the Iowa Board of Regents approved 10 economic development initiatives at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa through an economic development fund created by the Legislature last year. The universities will get $5 million annually through fiscal 2015 through the Grow Iowa Values Fund.

Hay said the center is open to anyone in need of the university's resources.

"We really want to maximize and be engaged in developing the Iowa economy," she said.