Dominion Energy Innovation Center

10/07/2026

🍂 Fall mornings are better with coffee and connections!
Join us at DEIC for Coffee & Connect on Tuesday, October 13. Stop by for a cup of coffee, meet local entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community partners, and learn more about resources available to businesses in our region.

You’ll also have a chance to learn more about DEIC’s work supporting energy innovation, including our programs for energy startups and our growing network of industry and community partners.

It’s a casual morning to make new connections, catch up with familiar faces, and get to know the organizations working to support our business community.

Tuesday, October 13| Drop in 8:30am - 10am

DEIC | 201 Duncan Street | Ashland, VA

Learn more and RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/deic-coffee-connect-october-2026-tickets-2000262295371

Hanover County Economic Development Downtown Ashland Town of Ashland, Virginia

Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur, a seasoned business owner, or just want to learn more about DEIC, Coffee & Connect is for you.

10/06/2026

🎥 New Business Success Story Video!

When entrepreneur Nate Carroll identified a gap in the market for mission-critical power distribution equipment, he turned his idea into a business right here in Hanover County.

With support from the Dominion Energy Innovation Center located in Hanover County and the Town of Ashland, Nate launched his company in 2023. Two years after launching, the company was acquired by Accelevation (www.accelevation.com), continuing its growth with a manufacturing operation in Hanover County.

Today, Accelevation manufactures customized power distribution equipment for hospitals, government facilities and large technology operations—and has expanded its manufacturing footprint nationwide.

👉 Read the full story and watch the video: https://loom.ly/jXo2gGI

08/06/2026

Come see what’s brewing at the Dominion Energy Innovation Center!

Join us Tuesday, August 11 for Coffee & Connect — a casual morning to meet local entrepreneurs, business leaders, resource partners, and others from across our community.

Grab a cup of coffee, make a new connection, and hear what’s happening at DEIC and around the region.

📅 Tuesday, August 11
☕ Free and open to everyone
➡️ DEIC - 201 Duncan St., Ashland, VA 23005

Learn more: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/deic-coffee-connect-august-2026-tickets-1994307736124?aff=facebook

Hanover County Economic Development Town of Ashland, Virginia Downtown Ashland

07/13/2026

In case you missed it, our latest DEIC newsletter is packed with updates on upcoming events, startup news, funding opportunities, and resources for Virginia's innovation community.

➡️ Meet our 2026 DEIC Accelerate Cohort

➡️ Attend Coffee & Connect tomorrow, July 14th, at the DEIC in Ashland - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/deic-coffee-connect-july-2026-tickets-1991479888957?aff=facebook

➡️ Learn about Hanover Fields and Farms Tour on October 10th

Take a look and see what's happening at the Dominion Energy Innovation Center: https://mailchi.mp/aa908e08332e/2025-07-10generalnews?e=a16eb93650

Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur, a seasoned business owner, or just want to learn more about DEIC, Coffee & Connect is for you.

06/04/2026

Looking for a great way to start your Tuesday morning?

Join us for Coffee & Connect on June 9 from 8:30–10:00 AM at DEIC. Whether you're an entrepreneur, small business owner, community partner, or just looking to expand your network, stop by for coffee, conversation, and new connections.

No agenda. No presentations. Just good coffee and great people.

📍 DEIC | 201 Duncan Street, Ashland
☕ Free and open to all

Let us know you are coming: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/deic-coffee-connect-june-2026-tickets-1989395649942?aff=oddtdtcreator

Hanover County Economic Development Town of Ashland, Virginia SCORE Mentors

Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur, a seasoned business owner, or just want to learn more about DEIC, Coffee & Connect is for you.

05/11/2026

Join us for Coffee & Connect tomorrow morning at DEIC!
📅 May 12, 2026 | ⏰ 8:30–10:00 AM | 📍 201 Duncan St., Ashland, VA

The past few weeks have been busy across for DEIC!
⚡ The Center Street Pitch Competition brought local entrepreneurs to the stage last week
⚡ Applications just closed for DEIC Accelerate
⚡ Our team has been busy connecting with partners, entrepreneurs, and organizations at events and workshops

Now it’s time to reconnect locally.

Coffee & Connect brings together entrepreneurs, small businesses, startups, coworking members, and resource partners in a relaxed setting. Whether you’ve joined us before or are stopping by for the first time, we’d love to see you.

Hanover County Economic Development Town of Ashland, Virginia SCORE Mentors Downtown Ashland Market Ashland Partnership Hanover Chamber of Commerce VA

04/23/2026

The finalists are officially set for the Center Street Pitch Competition! Hosted by the Downtown Ashland and the Dominion Energy Innovation Center, this year’s competition brings together nine standout local businesses:

Center of the Universe (Town of Ashland):
Take Away LLC
Ashland Dance Academy
Immagine', LLC

Hanover County:
Hanover Mercantile
Shaken Not Spurred Mobile Bar
Sugar + Spruce

Agriculture & Forestry:
Hamlet Farming Initiative
Thistledew Fold LLC
Foliage LLC

Give these finalists a follow and help us celebrate the incredible work happening across Ashland, Hanover, and our regional ag community 🙌

Join us on May 7th at the Ashland Theatre! More details are available here: https://www.ashlandvirginia.com/pitch or https://dominnovation.com/agriculture/center-street-pitch-competition/

Local entrepreneurs are invited to share their next big business idea to compete for $20,000 in prizes on March 28, 2024 from 5:30-8pm at Ashland Theatre! Three prizes will be awarded to a Startup Business, a Business Expansion, and an Agriculture & Forestry Business in our local community. App

04/09/2026

A great way to wrap up our latest Ag-X program!

These participants just completed weeks of learning, collaboration, and growth—walking away with new tools, stronger businesses, and a supportive network behind them. We hope to see some of them pitch at the upcoming Center Street Pitch Competition!

Proud to celebrate this group and all they’ve accomplished. 👏

Ag-X was made possible in partnership with Hanover County Virginia Cooperative Extension and with support from Hanover County Economic Development , Colonial Farm Credit, and Studley Farms — thank you for helping make this program possible!

Learn more about Ag-X: https://dominnovation.com/agriculture/ag-x/

Apply to Center Street Pitch Competition by April 12: https://dominnovation.com/agriculture/center-street-pitch-competition/

04/08/2026

We’re back on Tuesday, April 14 from 8:30–10:00 AM at DEIC(201 Duncan St in Ashland)—a great chance to connect with the local business community, meet new faces, and tap into resources across the region.

We’re excited to have coffee provided by Bravo Bake Shop this month—come grab a cup and stay for the conversations!

Whether you’re a regular or it’s your first time, all are welcome.

Feel free to bring a colleague or share with your network—we’d love to see you there!

SCORE Mentors Hanover County Economic Development Town of Ashland, Virginia

04/08/2026

Don't miss your chance to apply to win up to $3K for your small business!

Learn more and apply here! https://dominnovation.com/agriculture/center-street-pitch-competition/

🚨 BIG NEWS, NEIGHBORS 🚨

If you’ve been sitting on a business idea, waiting for the *right time*… this is it.

The Center Street Pitch Competition just extended the deadline to **April 12**, and I need you to hear this: you are not too early, too late, or too “not ready.” You are exactly on time. 💛

This is your chance to pitch your dream, connect with real support through the Dominion Energy Innovation Center, and compete for funding that could truly change your trajectory. We’re talking visibility, mentorship, and a community that *wants you to win.*

And this year? You don’t have to figure it out alone. There’s a FREE pitch workshop with Dorian Cunion to help you feel confident and prepared. 🙌

✨ Ashland VA small business
✨ Hanover County entrepreneurs
✨ Richmond VA startups
✨ Agriculture & forestry innovators

There is a place for you here.

Apply now → AshlandVirginia.com/Pitch

Tag the friend who’s been dreaming out loud lately. Let’s go after it together. 💫