James City County, York County and the City of Williamsburg are pleased to announce that Launchpad, the Greater Williamsburg Business Incubator, will relocate to Tribe Square, located at 249 Richmond Road, this fall. Launchpad will become part of William & Mary’s (W&M) new entrepreneurship hub supported by the Alan B. Miller Entrepreneurship Center.
Tribe Square is a mixed-use property owned by the W&M Real Estate Foundation that includes a Chick-Fil-A and residential student housing. Renovations of Tribe Square for the hub and Launchpad are being funded in large part from the President’s Strategic Investment Fund.
The move will strengthen Launchpad’s partnership with W&M and allow for synergy between the two entities. Students and Launchpad clients can collaborate on ideas and businesses while sharing mentor resources and participating in each other’s events and programming.
“We are excited to embark on a stronger partnership with W&M and look forward to the improved connectivity between early stage businesses and W&M students,” said Julie G. Summs, chair of the Launchpad Board of Directors.
Launchpad has been in its current space above Paul’s Deli in New Town since 2016 and currently has 16 clients.
Launchpad began as the James City County Technology Incubator in 2006 and has evolved over the years. Launchpad became a limited liability company in Oct. 2016 and is funded by the Economic Development Authorities of the City of Williamsburg and the Counties of James City and York with support from W&M.
For more information about Launchpad visit their website or on Facebook.
Media Contact:
Christopher Johnson, Director of Economic Development
757-253-6607; christopher.johnson@jamescitycountyva.gov