RED and Wheeling Heritage Launch Fall 2026 CO.STARTERS Cohort for Entrepreneurs

WHEELING, W.Va. – September 10, 2026 – The Regional Economic Development Partnership (RED) and Wheeling Heritage are now accepting applications for the Fall 2026 CO.STARTERS cohort, a 10-week program designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners turn their ideas into actionable business plans.

The program begins Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, and will meet Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Wheeling Artisan Center, 1400 Main St., in downtown Wheeling. Space is limited.

CO.STARTERS is designed for aspiring and established entrepreneurs looking to launch or grow a business, product, or service. Participants will explore topics including customer discovery, marketing, business structures, financial modeling, growth planning, and storytelling while receiving feedback and support from the group. The program concludes with a community celebration where participants present their business plans.

The Fall 2026 cohort is ideal for creative, community-minded individuals ready to pursue an idea in a collaborative setting. Participants will leave with practical tools and a stronger foundation for building a sustainable business.

For more information or to apply, visit redp.org/costarters. For questions, contact Valerie Piko at vpiko@redp.org.

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.