Eastern WV Community and Technical College is proud to announce that it is the recipient of a $50,000 grant for its student run store and new business incubator called the New Biz Launchpad at Eastern WV Community and Technical College.
Last week the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) awarded Eastern WV Community and Technical College’s New Biz Launchpad one of only 68 annual Growth Accelerator Fund Competition awards.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled for our students, businesses and region for this award and national recognition,” said Dr. Chuck Terrell Eastern President. “This award recognizes the opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship at rural community colleges.”
The New Biz Launchpad, started in May of 2015 as the first of its kind at a rural community college incubator was created to serve as a local and regional entrepreneurship catalyst and collaborator for economic diversification and development.
“As one of the smallest colleges across the US with limited resources, this award is as much about our partners and collaborators as it is about us,” said Joe Kapp Entrepreneur-In-Residence at Eastern. “In rural communities, incubators are more than just a physical location. Vast distances and sparse populations mean that rural incubators need to be mobile, nimble and flexible to meet the needs of the community and engage in a continual path of discovery to spur entrepreneurship. The New Biz Launchpad offers opportunities to better standards of living and excites students of all ages about the entrepreneurial opportunities that exist in their own backyard.”
By creating the New Biz Launchpad, Eastern has added entrepreneurship to the core mission of community and Technical College including academics and workforce development. The New Biz Launchpad has enabled Eastern to increase learning about entrepreneurship and starting small businesses. With outreach to over 3,000 people last year, Eastern has found that by supporting students and community with the tools and opportunities along with providing resources from partners, the college can help transform a community’s economic development outcomes.
“We developed the New Biz Launchpad to be collaborative and supportive for all types of businesses,” said New Biz Launchpad Program Director, Tina Metzer. “Growing up in a rural community I know firsthand the challenges rural and farming communities face. The New Biz Launchpad works to educate the community on how small businesses can make a big impact. We work to empower these entrepreneurs with the tools and information necessary to successfully begin their startups.
The New Biz Launchpad has offered open and accessible programs available to anyone who wants to start a business. After help launching a successful soap manufacturer, Redwood & Co., the New Biz Launchpad started Skybrook, a student run store to help students learn entrepreneurial skills and product making skills.
“Our latest venture, Skybrook is a student run store which teaches area high and middle school students entrepreneurial skills on how to run a business,” said Joe Kapp. “We believe that infusing entrepreneurial education and mindsets in younger generation can increase opportunities for future innovators.”
In addition to assisting with the launch of new businesses, the New Biz Launchpad has spurred students and community members to think about agricultural innovation, introduced new farming technologies and conducted seminars workshops and conferences with hundreds of attendees bringing international speakers. The New Biz Launchpad is also starting a new focus on the creation of biochar from biomass.
“From agricultural innovation to working with students, farmers and growers, our programs have reached over 3,000 people within our six county footprint to inspire entrepreneurship,” said Metzer.
For more information about the New Biz Launchpad contact Tina Metzer at www.facebook.com/NewBizLaunchpad
For more information about Eastern’s financial aid opportunities, programs of study, workforce training and community education and events, call toll free: 877-982-2322; or check the College’s website: “www.easternwv.edu”. Serving the residents of Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Mineral, Pendleton and Tucker counties, and fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College is a comprehensive and equal opportunity community and technical college bringing the resources and assets of Education That Works to the families, communities and employers of the Potomac Highlands.
Eastern’s service district comprises 3,200 square miles over six counties in the rural Potomac Highlands of eastern West Virginia. Eastern is dedicated to the mission of providing accessible and affordable educational opportunities for academic as well as entrepreneur education and assistance for the Potomac Highlands Regional community.
For more information about accelerators and the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition, visit: https://www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/ooi/resources/1428931