Ohio University Southern will have an open house for its new business incubator, called The Southern Launch, on Wednesday.

Nicole Pennington, Interim Executive Dean for OHIO Higher Education and dean of Southern, said the project will work with entrepreneurs by providing responsive services. “The Southern Launch will have the strength of the LIGHTS Regional Innovation network as a resource for local business start-ups,” Pennington said. LIGHTS is a 28-incubator network in Appalachian Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.

The incubator can house up to six new businesses in a co-working space,” explained Sarah Diamond Burroway, director of External Relations and Workforce Success. The Southern Launch will also serve virtual members, or, those who are only seeking services without occupying a space at the incubator. All Southern Launch members will have access to business coaching, custom training, workshops, access to Southern’s workforce partnerships and other services.

The new resource for business start-ups is housed in Room 125 of the Dingus Technology Center.

The project was undertaken in response to a 2018 survey, which indicated a community need for supportive services and a dedicated physical space in which area residents could develop new business concepts.

The Southern Launch will operate as part of Workforce Success, an initiative of the campus, which provides workforce trainings to the community.

The day’s events include “Incubation 101” workshops at 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., which will be led by Jennifer Simon, Executive Director of LIGHTS.

Members of the community may drop by the Southern Launch to learn more about small business incubation between 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at 1804 Liberty Avenue in Ironton.

For more information, please call 740-533-4593 or email workforcesuccess@ohio.edu.