Bethune-Cookman University, the historically Black educational institution in Daytona Beach, Florida, has established the Venture Incubation Program at its Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development. The program will provide free services, such as marketing, financing, strategic planning, and business development, to area start-up firms and small businesses. There is no cost for businesses to participate in the program. Students and faculty at the university will benefit by real-world experience in business start-up enterprises.
Aubrey E. Long, vice president in the Division of Business and Community Development at Bethune-Cookman University, notes that “small businesses are the lifeblood of Central Florida. We know that six out of 10 are created by small businesses. We want to create those jobs here, in our own backyard.”