N.C. University to Debut Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub

Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, N.C., recently announced that it will open a new Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub aimed at connecting learning communities with businesses to reimagine and invigorate the workforce. The facility is the first of its kind in the region and is supported by investments from both the City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

Housed in a 6,500-square-foot space that formerly served as the university's bookstore, the hub will feature open workspaces for students and community members, conference rooms, technology resources such as laptops and 3D printers, faculty consultations, business skills workshops, entrepreneurial summits, experiential learning opportunities for students and more, FSU explained in a news announcement. The university expects the hub to generate at least 30 new jobs or business within two years.

"Entrepreneurship is the heartbeat of our new economy," said Fayetteville city Mayor Mitch Colvin, in a statement. "The City of Fayetteville now has a centrally located one-stop-shop for small businesses to get the support they need. We are stronger together and are excited to partner with FSU to strengthen our workforce in an innovative way."

"FSU has embarked upon a new era of grooming business leaders of tomorrow with our state-of-the art Innovation Hub," said Chancellor Darrell T. Allison. "We are thankful to the City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County for supporting this vision and investing in the future economic engine."

"The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub represents our commitment to be a resource to the city, county and region," added Wesley Fountain, associate vice chancellor for Community Relations and Economic Partnerships at the university.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.

  • NWEA Report Recommends K–12 Natural Disaster Recovery Strategies

    The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), a K–12 assessment and research organization, recently announced the release of a new playbook for schools and communities recovering from extreme weather events, according to a news release.

  • Chartwells Launches Campus Dining Evaluation Framework

    Contract food-service management provider Chartwells Higher Education recently announced the launch of BLUEPRINT, according to a news release. The evaluation framework was designed to provide a data-driven and customizable roadmap towards optimizing campus dining services and, by extension, the student experience.

  • Illinois State University Breaks Ground on College of Fine Arts Transformation

    Illinois State University in Normal, Ill., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts transformation project, according to university news. The series of new constructions and renovations will upgrade spaces in Centennial East, the Center for the Visual Arts, and the Center for the Performing Arts, as well as replace the existing Centennial West facility with a new Commons Building.