See full story at ABC13...On Tuesday, Go Virginia Region 2 awarded $240,192 to the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance to stand up the center for entrepreneurship, according to the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance.The Center for Entrepreneurship (C.Entr) is a new program that will bring regional entrepreneurial support under one roof at the Alliance’s facility at 300 Lucado Place in Downtown Lynchburg, the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance said.

The Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance also said in addition to Go Virginia Region 2 funds, $187,035 of matching funds have been provided by participating localities: Amherst, Bedford, and Campbell Counties, the City of Lynchburg, and the Towns of Altavista, Amherst, and Appomattox.

“This is a great opportunity to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in our region. Bringing a lot of expertise and access to one centralized resource,” said Stephanie Keener, Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship. Stephanie is expanding her role and will continue to serve as the leader of the Small Business Development Center - Lynchburg Region (SBDC), according to the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance.

Entrepreneurs at the future Center for Entrepreneurship will benefit from a physical connection between the Small Business Development Center – Lynchburg Region, for free and confidential advising and coaching programs, as well as the resources of the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance, the regional chamber of commerce and economic development organization, the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance said.

“The Center for Entrepreneurship will be a great addition to the programs and services provided at 300 Lucado Place by both the Alliance and the SBDC - Lynchburg Region,” said Megan Lucas, CEO & Chief Economic Development Officer of the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance. “By pouring into our region’s talented entrepreneurs, and giving them the tools they need, we project that this new program will create 42 new jobs and $400,000 of new capital investments for the Lynchburg region over the next several years.”