The Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship

In spite of their crucial role, service-minded entrepreneurs often struggle to find support navigating the unique challenges of starting or growing a not-for-profit organization.  The Acceler8 NP (non-profit) and now SEED seek to bridge those gaps.

📅 Save the dates! We have two pitch events coming up. These events are an opportunity for entrepreneurs from Acceler8 and Acceler8 Non-Profit to showcase their organization and ask for support. Join us and cheer on these coastal changemakers. No fee to attend and open to the public. 💡 Tuesday, March 25, 5 PM – Acceler8 Pitch, Brunswick 💡 Friday, March 28, 10 AM – Acceler8 Non-Profit Pitch, Camden ⬇️ Leave a few words of encouragement for the organizations prepping their pitches. Both events will be hosted at the respective College of Coastal Georgia campus. #Entrepreneurship #LucasCenter #NonProfits #Georgia

On the 1st Wednesday of each month, our coastal community gathers to learn about 1-2 small businesses in the community. Known as the #LucasForum entrepreneurs have the opportunity to share their story and crowdsource solutions for their challenges. Next week, we are excited to introduce Danny Y. with Caliber Capital. Caliber Capital was founded by Danny York and a partner in 2008. The goal was the same then as it is now: source opportunistic real estate investments that exhibit fundamentally successful attributes, then develop and improve the property so those attributes are maximized. Join us March 5 to meet Danny and other entrepreneurs at our Historic Brunswick Offices - 209 Gloucester St, 9:00 AM. #Entrepreneurship #BrunswickGA College of Coastal Georgia

We are growing! Our team has two opportunities to support entrepreneurs in Coastal Georgia. ▶️ Program Facilitator - This position is responsible for delivering engaging and effective programs of the Lucas Center and manages sufficient mentor engagement across all programs and locations ▶️ Administrative Coordinator - This position is responsible for providing administrative support for the operations of the Lucas Center, including communication/marketing planning and implementation. Follow the link below or visit the careers page at College of Coastal Georgia. We can't wait to meet our future team members! #Entrepreneurship #Hiring #KeepGlynnRunning #brunswickga

🌟 Exciting Opportunities for Camden County Entrepreneurs and Change-Makers! 🌟 We’re thrilled to share that spots are still available for the Acceler8 Camden program, launching on January 24th, 2025, at the Lucas Center Camden (8001 Lakes Blvd, Kingsland, GA 31548). This is your chance to gain practical tools and fresh insights to take your organization or business to new heights! 🕙 For Nonprofits: 10 AM - 12 PM – Tailored for nonprofit leaders looking to strengthen their impact and streamline their operations. 🕐 For Businesses: 1 PM - 3 PM – Designed for entrepreneurs and business owners ready to scale up and unlock their potential. This free, 8-week program will help you refine your strategies, build resilience, and expand your reach. 📢 Seats are filling up fast – reserve yours today! Click here to sign up: | Non-Profit Link | https://lnkd.in/gh5ZHD7g | For-Profit Link | https://lnkd.in/guwyi-3C Let’s kick off 2025 by building stronger businesses and nonprofits in Camden County. Spread the word and help us make an impact! 🚀 #Acceler8Camden #LucasCenter #Entrepreneurship #LeadershipGrowth #CamdenCounty #GrantingImpact #NextChapterForTheLucasCenter #LucasCenterGrows

Kicking Off the New Year with Big News! We are thrilled to announce and reiterate that the Lucas Center is growing, thanks to a generous grant from the St. Mary’s Methodist Church Foundation! This award, part of their Fall 2024 Grant Cycle, marks the beginning of a three-year partnership that will help us expand the ACCELER8 NP program beyond Glynn County and into Camden County. The ACCELER8 NP program is a free, 8-week course designed for nonprofit executives and board chairs to strengthen organizational effectiveness. Participants gain invaluable skills in goal setting, communication strategies, marketing, financial management, strategic planning, board development, and fundraising. With this expansion, we are excited to bring these resources to more communities, empowering nonprofit leaders to make a lasting impact. Upcoming Opportunity Acceler8 Camden One of the first initiatives made possible by this grant is the Acceler8 Camden program, set to kick off on January 24th, 2025, from 10am-12pm (Non-Profit) 1-3 PM (For-Profit) at the Lucas Center Camden (8001 Lakes Blvd, Kingsland, GA 31548). This program offers local business owners and nonprofit leaders the tools they need to grow and thrive. Don’t miss this chance to elevate your organization, there are still many open spots available! Why This Grant Matters At the Lucas Center, we believe entrepreneurship is a powerful vehicle for economic empowerment. By breaking cycles of poverty, creating value, and solving community challenges, entrepreneurship transforms families and communities alike. This grant enables us to extend our mission to more people, making a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve. How You Can Help To fully realize the potential of this grant, we need your help to meet its matching requirements. Your support can enable further growth for entrepreneurs and small businesses across the coast. Interested in getting involved? Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gJivmc8A. Spotlighting Success The Lucas Center’s work has already impacted countless businesses and communities. In the coming months, we’ll share stories from those directly benefiting from this funding, starting with a success story from a Camden County business that helped inspire this grant award. Stay tuned for updates, including videos and interviews with people whose lives are being changed by the programs we offer. Together, we can make a difference. Join us in supporting entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders on the coast as they strive for growth, resilience, and success.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Looking forward to what 2025 brings, and we hope everyone can enjoy this Holiday season.

🌟 Lucas Center Wrapped 2024 🌟 As Spotify unveils their “Wrapped,” we decided to join the fun by reflecting on an incredible year at the Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship! Here’s a look at what we’ve accomplished together in 2024: 🚀 Kicking off with a bang: We started the year with an impactful workshop on Scaling Your Business with Government Contracting hosted by Alfreda Boney. Held in the Correll Center on the College of Coastal Georgia campus, this event set the tone for an extraordinary year ahead. 🤝 The Lucas Forum: Every first Wednesday of the month, the Lucas Forum brought together local entrepreneurs in the Golden Isles. From networking to knowledge-sharing, it’s been an inspiring series. Our final session of the year welcomed 48 attendees, one of our biggest turnouts yet! Here’s to even more connections and collaborations in 2025. 🌟 Acceler8 Success: Our Acceler8 program, held in both the spring and fall, continued to spark entrepreneurial growth. With over 50 participants and numerous mentors contributing their time and expertise, the impact has been amazing. We look forward to seeing growth within the Acceler8 program, and what is to come for 2025. 💡 Idea Accelerator Bootcamp: This year, we hosted a bootcamp in McIntosh County and two in Glynn county, helping turn innovative ideas into actionable startup plans. From our first event at the Correll Center to closing the year with another successful bootcamp in the same location, it’s been a full-circle moment. 🙏 Grants and Partnerships: We are incredibly grateful to the St. Mary’s Methodist Church Foundation for selecting us for their Fall 2024 Grant Cycle. This generous grant kicks off a three-year partnership that will expand our Acceler8 NP program into Glynn and Camden Counties. This free, 8-week course is designed to empower nonprofit executives and board chairs with essential tools for success, including strategic planning, financial management, and fundraising. 📈 Looking Ahead: 2024 has been an inspiring year of growth, collaboration, and impact. As we prepare for 2025, we are excited to continue fostering an entrepreneurial spirit in our community. To everyone who has supported us this year—thank you. Whether you attended an event, mentored a participant, or cheered from the sidelines, you made this year truly special. Here’s to building even bigger dreams in 2025! 💼✨ Photo Credits: PM Cinematography Pryce May #LucasCenter #Entrepreneurship #GoldenIsles #Acceler8Program #LucasForum #CommunityImpact #EntrepreneurialSpirit

Are you ready for Global Entrepreneurship Week? The College of Coastal Georgia is! We have a full calendar of events to celebrate our region's entrepreneurs, innovators, and job creators who start businesses and drive economic growth. 💡MON: GEW Kick-Office Trivia | Campus Crosswalk | 11 am 💡TUE: Acceler8 Investor Pitch | Stembler Theatre | 5 pm 💡WED: Student Business Pitch Competition | Stembler Theatre | 4 pm 💡THUR: Acceler8 NP Investor Pitch | Stembler Theatre | 5 pm 💡FRI: Lucas Brainstorming Session for Students | Correll 112 | 1 pm Comment below to let us know which event you're excited to join ⬇ #LucasCenter #GEW #Entrepreneurship

There are still seats remaining for our Business Idea Bootcamp in Camden, GA. The Idea Bootcamp is designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs develop their business idea. • Participation is free, fun, and could change your life. • Open to the public (you don’t have to live in Camden to join!) • Lunch is included. Sign up today using the link below. If you missed the chance to register for the upcoming bootcamp that sold-out for Brunswick, consider joining us in Camden. #DreamBig #Entrepeneurship #CamdenGA