by Ashley Cotton

FRANKLIN
STARTUP Downtown Franklin has created quite the buzz in Franklin, Southampton and even greater Hampton Roads.

Not only were we impressed to see the number of applications come in, 39 to be exact, but we were also happy to see people from all over Hampton Roads interested in starting their businesses in Downtown Franklin.

If that is not enough excitement, the wide range of businesses that will be pitched should excite everyone. We have restaurants, fitness facilities, retail outlets, entertainment studios, banquet hall and so much more.

At this point in the program, applicants have one final business course, of the six required courses, being taught at the Franklin Business Center. J.C. Brinker with Old Dominion University has been teaching the courses since February.

The topics have ranged from marketing and branding to accounting and business planning. These courses are preparing the applicants to complete a business plan and to develop a business pitch that will be presented to a panel of judges on Wednesday, May 31.

The judges include Chuck Bradshaw, Angela Reddix, Dr. Daniel Lufkin and Cheryl Tan.

The contagious spirit of entrepreneurship is evident in the STARTUP Downtown Franklin classes and we want you to catch the bug. Join us on Wednesday, June 14, for the STARTUP Downtown Franklin Awards Night to see who wins and will be making an investment in Downtown Franklin.

Awards night is just the beginning of the journey for these business owners and it is critical that the community as a whole rally around those taking the leap to invest in our community.

Interested in learning more? Follow the Facebook page STARTUP Downtown Franklin and mark your calendar for Awards Night. We hope to see you there.