A cohort of 22 creative entrepreneurs have been selected into a new program to help grow their businesses, access studio and retail space, and build relationships in the community. The cohort is part of a new initiative to support creative entrepreneurs by partners Main Street Morgantown, the Monongalia Arts Center (MAC) and Bridgeway Capital.
Chosen from a competitive pool of nearly 50 applicants, the first cohort for Monongalia County’s Artisan Entrepreneurship Program (AEP) will spend a year developing a business plan, setting financial goals, meeting with business coaches, and utilizing spaces to design, showcase and sell their work, all while making local connections. Among the cohort are ceramicists, textile artists, printmakers, and sellers of natural products and other creative works.
Main Street Morgantown’s Executive Director Amy Loomis explained that new partnerships are the foundation for a comprehensive program. “Supporting the growth of creative small businesses is important to our local economy. The AEP initiative promotes their long-term business success,” Loomis said. “The new partnership with MAC and Bridgeway Capital is key, and our first step is launching the AEP cohort in the Morgantown area.”
Mentoring the cohort is Bridgeway Capital’s Alliance for Creative Rural Economies (ACRE) business curriculum which has been successfully adopted in four regions in West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. The ACRE curriculum is a rigorous four-month program to help each entrepreneur strategize for lasting business success and stability. ACRE pairs a local business coach with each cohort member to build a sustainable business plan, recommend best marketing practices, and offer financial and legal assistance.
“We’re excited about the 22 selectees for ACRE Morgantown and look forward to working with our partners to help these creative entrepreneurs realize their goals for growth and impact,” said Adam Kenney, managing director of programs at Bridgeway Capital.
The Monongalia Arts Center is a key player in the local cohort’s success, offering low-cost studio space to participants who need a place to create their work. MAC Programming Coordinator Aldona Bird said “This program is a great opportunity to bring together different artists and designers who share a passion for building their businesses and showcasing their trade with our community,” Bird said. “As the MAC continues to enhance our class and event offerings, we look forward to program participants teaching their craft at the MAC and displaying their work during our public studio space tours.”
Another pillar of the AEP initiative is the conversion of the former Main Street Morgantown office into a dynamic retail accelerator. WVU’s Community Engagement Lab and Main Street Morgantown are working to secure funding to transform the prime location along High Street.
Called “The Retail Lab,” the renovated space will offer valuable opportunities for cohort members to showcase and sell their work. With a strong focus on hands-on learning, particularly for students in WVU’s Fashion, Design, and Merchandising Program, the Retail Lab promises to provide real-world experience in various aspects of retail operations. The activation of a downtown location contributes to the economic and cultural revitalization of the community while nurturing entrepreneurship and preparing the next generation of retail leaders.
Learn more about the Artisan Entrepreneurship Program and the ACRE Morgantown cohort at https://downtownmorgantown.com/initiatives/artisan-entrepreneurship/.
Learn more about Bridgeway Capital’s Alliance for Creative Rural Economies program at https://www.acrepartners.org/.
