Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship

08/27/2026

Brunswick's harbor sits at the westernmost point on the entire Eastern Seaboard, the deepest reach any port on this coast makes toward open water. Our Idea Bootcamp is coming to Brunswick, and it's built for the same kind of reach: turning what you've got into something that can actually go the distance.

💡Our Idea Bootcamp program is a one-day intensive that takes you from an idea to a real startup plan. This program is ideal for you if:

- You have a business idea
- You don't know where to start
- You want to test your idea
- You want to get connected to your entrepreneurial community

Plus it includes free registration and lunch!

Friday, September 5 | 9AM to 4PM
Lucas Center Downtown Brunswick Workspace | 209 Gloucester Street, Suite 211, Brunswick, GA 31520

👉 Your next move starts here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1992132293316

08/20/2026

💡 Vidalia, Georgia grows the only onion with its own state law protecting the name. Our Idea Bootcamp is headed there next, and we're glad to bring it to a place that already knows how to build something the rest of the state can't copy.

Our Idea Bootcamp program is a one-day intensive that takes you from an idea to a real startup plan. This program is ideal for you if:

- You have a business idea
- You don't know where to start
- You want to test your idea
- You want to get connected to your entrepreneurial community

Plus it includes free registration and lunch!

This program is sponsored by The Parlor Company and Toombs County Development Authority.

Friday, August 28 | 9AM to 4PM

Dot Foods Business Hub, Greater Vidalia® Center for Rural Entrepreneurship | 208 East First Street, Vidalia, GA 30474

Your next move starts here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fall-2026-idea-bootcamp-vidalia-ga-tickets-1985464939080

08/10/2026

💡 Did you know Darien, Georgia is the state's second oldest city? Our Idea Bootcamp is headed back to McIntosh County, and we can't think of a better place for it.

Our Idea Bootcamp program is a one-day intensive that takes you from an idea to a real startup plan. This program is ideal for you if:

- You have a business idea
- You don’t know where to start
- You want to test your idea
- You want to get connected to your entrepreneurial community

Plus it includes free registration and lunch!

This program is sponsored by the Darien-McIntosh County Chamber of Commerce and McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority.

📆 Friday, August 21 | 9AM to 4PM

📍 Coastal Regional Commission | 1181 Coastal Drive SW Darien, GA 31305

Your next move starts here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fall-2026-idea-bootcamp-mcintosh-ga-tickets-1990097504207

07/29/2026

💡 In just one week, our Idea Bootcamp returns to Camden County!

Do you have an idea for a business but are not sure where to start? Join us for the Idea Bootcamp: Camden, GA where you will start the day with just your idea, and leave with a startup plan.

Competing across the entire Americas region, our Idea Bootcamp program placed 5th in the category of EDI Community Engagement Initiative of the Year, a distinction that recognizes initiatives breaking from standard practice to deliver exceptional, far-reaching results for the wider community.

It's free to register, lunch is included, and this program could change your life.

👉 Your next move starts here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fall-2026-idea-bootcamp-camden-tickets-1990097223367

07/13/2026

A new team member has joined the Lucas Center Family!

Meet Dr. Skip Mounts, the Director of Business and Resource Development for the Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship. He is the Dean Emeritus of the School of Business and Public Management at the College of Coastal Georgia located in Brunswick, GA. Dr. Mounts was one of the founders of the entrepreneurial ecosystem including the Lucas Center of Entrepreneurship, now found in the Golden Isles of Georgia. He is also an economist.

Please help us in welcoming Dr. Skip Mounts to the team 🎉

07/08/2026

Most small businesses are not ready for a bank loan. They still need capital to grow.

That gap is exactly what Elevate Glynn, a new initiative from the Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship and the Golden Isles Development Authority, was built for. The $1 million program combines microloans up to $25,000, a revolving loan fund for expansion projects, and matching grants for placemaking and equipment, all paired with mentorship and business education to help entrepreneurs get bankable.

Nine out of ten businesses in the Golden Isles employ fewer than 50 people. This is an investment in them.

Read the full article here: https://www.lucascenter.com/newsroom/elevate-glynn-seeks-to-help-small-businesses-grow

Learn about The Elevate Glynn Initiative here: https://goldenislesdev.com/elevate-glynn-initiative/

07/06/2026

06/17/2026

In observance of Juneteenth, the Lucas Center will be closed Friday, June 19th, and will reopen Monday, June 22nd.

This Juneteenth, we pause to reflect on the meaning of freedom and the progress still ahead. Our team will use the day to rest and reconnect with loved ones.

Wishing you a safe and meaningful holiday!

06/08/2026

Kari Morris, Executive Director and Stephanie Conti, Program Manager completed the Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship’s 8-week Acceler8 Nonprofit course, an intense dive into how to sustain our organization for years to come. At the culminating pitch, GVA took home a $1,000 donation in support of our planning process and mission!

Thank you to The Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship for this wonderful learning experience! Check out what Stephanie had to say about the program here: https://www.lucascenter.com
center

05/22/2026

🇺🇸 In observance of Memorial Day, the Lucas Center will be closed beginning Monday, May 25th, and will reopen Monday, June 1st.

This Memorial Day, we pause to honor and remember those who gave their lives in service to our country. During the week, our team will be recharging and spending time with loved ones.

Wishing you a safe and meaningful holiday!