ODU Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

November 21, 2024

2024 Governor’s Volunteerism & Community Service Award honoree the ODU Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is an entrepreneurial accelerator dedicated to providing economic development to veterans and underserved or disadvantaged individuals. Through its collective programs in the past year, the Institute provided 4,055 thirty-minute counseling sessions, created 498 new entrepreneurs, established 54 startup businesses, enabled 76 contracts totaling $13 million, and created 498 new jobs.

Despite a significant military footprint, Hampton Roads experiences significant challenges in social mobility and financial wellbeing. The Institute recognizes this and works to create grant strategies to assist these populations. These strategies include the Veterans Business Outreach Center and the Women’s Business Center as well as work to ensure that entrepreneurs are properly credentialed and positioned to compete for the abundant federal contracts in the region.

The majority of the Institute staff is minority and or former military and a gold-star wife is a program leader. Located in downtown Norfolk, the Institute provides underserved individuals with opportunity, education, training, respect, and sometimes just a hot coffee on a cold day. Though not everyone becomes a successful entrepreneur, the Institute works to direct clients to the resources they need to improve their lives.

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For many kids, high school and college is an exciting and memorable time in their lives. But imagine what it would be like to go through this challenging and important phase without family support, without the tools to learn, and without a place to sleep at night. Change the World RVA, winner of the 2016 Governor's Award for Outstanding Community Organization, is the only organization in Central Virginia specifically addressing the needs of high school and college students who face homelessness. An all-volunteer organization, Change the World saw an overwhelming need in the community – with nearly 1,800 homeless students...

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RICKETTSFRAN10131--C-CAP Director Fran Ricketts 10/24/2013 MATT ARMSTRONG PHOTO

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