Washington & Jefferson College and the Observer-Reporter, the local paper in Washington County, Pa., are starting a $2.5 million incubator to support local businesses and fortify the university’s relationship with the city.
The county, situated on the Pennsylvania-Ohio border, is home to about 200,000 people and 5,000 businesses.
“There’s no real coworking spaces, so they miss out on that peer-to-peer learning,” says Max Miller, an assistant professor of entrepreneurship at Washington & Jefferson.
“Part of what we want to do is help create that culture.” The partners have so far raised 10% of the funds from the county, and the Observer-Reporter is committing vacant space in two buildings for the incubator.