Entrepreneurs Wanted: CO.STARTERS Program in Wheeling Now Accepting Applications
WHEELING, W.Va. – Sept. 11, 2024 – Wheeling Heritage and The Regional Economic Development Partnership (RED) are now accepting applications for the next cohort of CO.STARTERS, a dynamic program designed for entrepreneurs and small business owners. The program provides the insights, relationships, and tools needed to transform business ideas into actionable plans.
Interested individuals can apply at redp.org/costarters. The program will be held for ten weeks on Monday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Wheeling Artisan Center, beginning Monday, Oct. 7. Applications are due by Sept. 23. The participation fee is $200, which includes materials, with payment plans available upon request.
“We’ve seen tremendous success with this program in the past and I am excited to be able to offer it again. The graduates from this program have the tools necessary to turn their dream into reality. We also strive for this program to serve as a resource for existing business owners who feel stuck. No matter how long you’ve been in business, sometimes it’s important to step back and take some time to work on your business, rather than in your business,” said Valerie Piko, Program Development Manager at RED.
Riley Carpenter, Director of Programming at Wheeling Heritage, added, “We are so lucky to have a program like CO-STARTERS in our area! I was fortunate enough to participate in the program myself, and I can truly say it was a game-changer for me during 2020, especially navigating the challenges of COVID. As someone with no formal background in finance or business planning, the program broke down the complexities of entrepreneurship and helped me understand the crucial financial aspects that are often tricky for beginners. Now, as the Director of Programming at Wheeling Heritage, I’m proud to be helping oversee a program that equips aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools they need for success.”
CO.STARTERS draws on the expertise of experienced entrepreneurs and startup veterans from around the world to guide creative small-business owners through practical, streamlined business modeling methods. Instead of developing a traditional, detailed business plan, participants are encouraged to build and test small models early on. This approach allows them to gather real-time customer feedback, refine their ideas to meet market needs, and avoid building businesses on flawed assumptions. The program also provides participants with a supportive community to help them along the way.
To date, more than 80 entrepreneurs have completed CO.STARTERS in Wheeling, each at different stages of their business journey. Most participants had no prior business training or experience.
RED and Wheeling Heritage will continue accepting applications through Sept. 23 or until 12 participants are enrolled. For more information and to apply, visit redp.org/costarters.
About Wheeling Heritage:
Wheeling Heritage is a catalyst for the revitalization of Wheeling. Through historic preservation, community development, and the arts, we help to tell Wheeling’s story and shape its future. We seek to improve the quality of life in Wheeling by preserving and investing in our city, collaborating with others, and engaging the citizens of Wheeling in our work.
About The Regional Economic Development Partnership (RED):
Regional Economic Development Partnership (RED) is a private, nonprofit development corporation that serves Ohio, Marshall and Wetzel Counties in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, with emphasis on creating jobs and stimulating the local economy through assisting with local business expansion, recruiting new business investment, and encouraging small business development through entrepreneurial activity. RED was established as Ohio Valley Industrial Corporation in 1926 and incorporated as OVIBDC in 1961.
