“Acceptance into the program was very competitive–and that’s just the beginning of the competition,” said mySWVAopportunity Steering Committee member Shannon Blevins, U-VA Wise Director of Economic Development . “There are some exciting business ideas and viable growth areas for the existing businesses that applied. We expect that there will be some tough decisions made by the judges come December, but the hard work that each participant undertakes will pay off—for their business and the region.”
The Challengers will participate in a Core Four business preparation training provided by People, Inc., networking activities, and mentorship opportunities. The Entrepreneur Challenge was designed to raise awareness of Southwest Virginia entrepreneurial opportunities and provide potential and emerging entrepreneurs with training, mentorship, and an improved level of coordinated resources and community support.
For more information on the Entrepreneur Challenge, to receive information about participating in a future round, or to connect with some of the region’s many resources for business support, contact Brandi Hall at 276-889-8188 or bhall@uvawise.edu.