2021 Cohort, 2024-cohort-mentor
25
edits
Changes
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In September of 2016, the Reginald F. Lewis College of Business has established a VSU Center for Entrepreneurship as an education, research, and planning hub for budding entrepreneurs within not only the student body, but also the entirety of Central Virginia, including minorities and military veterans. This center also provides opportunities for innovation through bi-annual pitch competitions with a prize of $1000. To compound this, a 16 credit Minor in Entrepreneurship is also available for any undergraduate to pursue, along with a prospective certificate program. Additionally, in July of 2021, the VSU Center for Entrepreneurship received $453,000 from GO Virginia, a program funded by the Commonwealth of Virginia, for the creation of a Minority Small Business Leading Center to help early startup companies gain funding and assistance. This program is also targeted towards minority-led businesses.
[[File:VSU Business.png|thumb|An article detailing the grant given to VSU's Center for Entrepreneurship.|link=Special:FilePath/VSU_Business.png]]
***This course assists students (with a Business major or not) with the formation and implementation of products for customers. Students have the choice of for-profit or non-profit ventures with a value proposition. This course helps students market innovation for entrepreneurship.
**'''Small Business Finance'''
***[[File:VSUCenterForEntrepreneurship.png|thumb|A display of all educational programs provided for VSU students through the Center for Entrepreneurship.|link=Special:FilePath/VSUCenterForEntrepreneurship.png]]This course helps current or intending business owners to create a detailed proposal that includes a financial and action plan for their existing or prospective business. They will get direct learning from business owners and investors.
**'''Social Entrepreneurship & Sustainable Ventures'''
***This course explores entrepreneurship as it relates to changing social environments, developing the economy of a community, and sustaining society. The impact of social companies that are social responsible in their markets are explored.
='''[[File:Virgnia State University Multipurpose Center.jpg|frame|Virgnia State University Multipurpose Center.jpg]]Engaging with regional and local economic development efforts'''=
<div>[[File:F80d153c-2a3f-44c9-8dc6-e36b6aed5cea-VSUMPC.jpg|thumb|Fully constructed Virginia State University Multipurpose Center.]]Calling the new facility “a symbol of unity,” Virginia State University President Keith T. Miller led a delegation of state, local and University officials and construction partners in the official Groundbreaking on VSU’s long-anticipated, $84 million Multipurpose Center. VSU’s Multipurpose Center will serve as the anchor for the University’s and Chesterfield County’s partnership to revitalize the Ettrick area. A mixed-use residential and commercial corridor along Chesterfield Avenue will complement the new facility. The plans for growth are outlined in both VSU’s Master Plan and Chesterfield’s Comprehensive Plan. VSU anticipates the project taking 22 months to complete. VSU’s Multipurpose Center will be the only facility of its type between Richmond and Raleigh, NC and serve as a cultural hub for a wide swath of Southside Virginia.