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Harrisonburg Today
By the People, for the People
Harrisonburg's Entrepreneurship Program Wins State Economic Development Award
The city's new initiative to support early-stage businesses earns recognition from the Virginia Economic Developers Association.
Apr. 11, 2026 at 12:23am
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A state award recognizes Harrisonburg's innovative program to provide crucial early-stage support for local entrepreneurs.Harrisonburg TodayThe City of Harrisonburg's Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (HEDI) has been awarded the Community Economic Development Award from the Virginia Economic Developers Association. The program, launched in 2025, focuses on providing coaching, research support, and mini-grants to local businesses in their first years of operation, a stage that is often overlooked by economic development efforts.
Why it matters
Supporting early-stage businesses is crucial for fostering entrepreneurship and economic growth in a community. Harrisonburg's targeted approach to nurturing new ventures through HEDI has been recognized as an innovative model that other cities may look to emulate.
The details
In its first round, the HEDI program worked with 29 local businesses, providing more than 175 hours of training and $72,000 in funding. The initiative has partnerships with consultants, James Madison University, and national organizations to help make it successful. Harrisonburg is now running a second round of the program and plans to continue it annually while refining the approach.
- The HEDI program was launched in January 2025.
- The first round of the program took place in 2025.
The players
Peirce MacGill
The deputy director of economic development for the City of Harrisonburg, who oversees the HEDI program.
Virginia Economic Developers Association
The statewide organization that awarded the Community Economic Development Award to Harrisonburg's HEDI program.
What they’re saying
“It's extremely competitive. All the local economic development agencies and even some of the nonprofits really covet these awards. It's nice recognition by your peers.”
— Peirce MacGill, Deputy Director of Economic Development, City of Harrisonburg
What’s next
The City of Harrisonburg plans to continue running the HEDI program annually, refining the approach based on feedback and lessons learned from the first two rounds.
The takeaway
Harrisonburg's innovative HEDI program demonstrates the value of targeted support for early-stage businesses, which can be a crucial but often overlooked component of economic development efforts. The program's recognition by the state's economic development association highlights its potential as a model for other communities seeking to foster entrepreneurship and small business growth.
