UC Opens Downtown Innovation Hub
The grand opening of the Downtown Innovation Hub (DIH) took place on Monday, July 10, with a ribbon cutting and celebration ceremony.
In an article in the Charleston Gazette-Mail, President Marty Roth stated, “We’re going to be working with existing businesses that have kind of plateaued in terms of their performance. Through training, workshops, networking, advising, coaching, co-working space, and community events we will give them the knowledge, tools, and network that they need to help them accelerate their growth, increase their revenues and create more jobs.”
WV Senator Shelley Moore Capito, a representative from Senator Joe Manchin’s office, Charleston Mayor Amy Goodwin, and local, regional, and state business and economic development leaders were in attendance.
Also in attendance were members of the eight businesses that are part of the inaugural cohort, who started their first training workshop that day. The businesses in that cohort range from three years to 100 years old.
“We’re looking for diversity among our clientele,” stated Dave Ramsburg, executive director of innovation for the DIH. “We are interested in helping any business experiencing barriers to its growth.”
The Downtown Innovation Hub will help small businesses in the Kanawha Valley scale up and grow. The UC DIH co-locates a business coworking space, business accelerator, coaching, advising, employee training, and community event space at the corner of Capitol and Lee Streets in the heart of downtown Charleston, West Virginia’s capital city. The services provided will assist small businesses in creating economic opportunities, creating and retaining jobs, and generating private investment.
Primary funding comes from a U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant award in the amount of $1,590,123. In addition, both the City of Charleston and Benedum Foundation provided matching funds to the University of Charleston of $247,531 and $150,000, respectively, to support entrepreneurial and innovation growth throughout the Charleston region.
The UC DIH location was formerly occupied by the Capitol Conference Center and the Chesapeake Bagel Shop at the corner of Capitol and Lee Streets.
For additional coverage, see the Charleston Gazette-Mail’s article here. More information about the DIH can be found on our website here.