Ribbon cut on VGCC’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center
Vance-Granville Community College’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center (EIC) is open for business. Students and community members attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Granville County Chamber of Commerce on November 9 to mark this momentous occasion. The event coincided with Global Entrepreneurship Week. The EIC is located at VGCC’s South Campus in Creedmoor. While housed at the South Campus, the Center serves those located in Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren Counties.
The EIC furthers VGCC’s mission of strengthening the economy of North Carolina by helping rural NC young adult/adult students and clients achieve their entrepreneurial potential by exposing them to entrepreneurial thinking and entrepreneurial opportunities by connecting them with local mentors and entrepreneurial ecosystem partners. The outcomes directly relate to the College’s mission of educating, inspiring, and supporting a diverse community of learners to achieve professional and personal success. The EIC will help NC entrepreneurs succeed by offering them the training and learning opportunities that prepare them to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams and ideas. This effort enhances VGCC’s Small Business Center offerings of Ice House, Kauffman FastTrack and NC REAL Entrepreneurship training and others. It is also in keeping with VGCC’s signing of the NACCE Presidents for Entrepreneurship Pledge.
“I think that the Center is a great opportunity for networking, gaining business skills, and preparing for the future in business,” Tanya Weary, Dean of Business & Industry Solutions said. “I am really excited for VGCC. This is the start of something that will grow and develop. The opportunities this innovation environment will create are endless.”
Serena Aycock, one of the members of the newly formed Vanguard Entrepreneurship Club was on hand to take part in the ribbon cutting said, “I am absolutely inspired, and honored to attend this great community college. I will graduate in the spring of 2022. The teacher and faculty at VGCC are fantastic. I feel the energy of success in this room during this unforgettable ribbon-cutting event.”
The Center has had support from NC IDEA. NC IDEA is an independent private, 501(c)(3) foundation whose vision is to help North Carolinians achieve their entrepreneurial ambition to start and grow high potential companies. NC IDEA fosters sustainable economic development with competitive grants and programs for entrepreneurs and funding to strengthen the North Carolina entrepreneurial ecosystem. Thom Ruhe, President & CEO was present to support VGCC’s continued entrepreneurial efforts. Also present were Dr. Rebecca Corbin, President & CEO of the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship; Alyssa Martina, Director of Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation & Entrepreneurship for Elon University; and Dr. Rudi Colloredo-Mansfeld, Senior Associate Dean for Social Sciences and Global Programs, UNC Chapel Hill were present to support VGCC’s entrepreneurial efforts; and members of the local 4-county communities.
For more information about VGCC’s entrepreneurial endeavors, contact Tanya Weary at wearyt@vgcc.edu or 252-738-3521.
