The Harrisonburg Economic Development Authority convened on June 10, 2025, to discuss the newly proposed Harrisonburg Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (HETI), aimed at supporting early-stage business owners in the city. The initiative is part of a broader effort to utilize a $100,000 budget allocation set aside by the city council last year to assist small businesses.

During the meeting, officials highlighted the importance of addressing the high failure rate of businesses within the first five years. HETI is designed to provide both technical training and small grants to entrepreneurs, with the goal of fostering sustainable business growth. The program will use the grants as an incentive for participants to engage in the technical training, which is expected to deliver significant benefits to their ventures.

The response to the program has been overwhelmingly positive, with 33 proposals submitted in response to the request for proposals (RFP). This marks the largest response to any RFP issued by the city, indicating strong interest and potential for the initiative.

The meeting underscored the city's commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship and supporting local economic development through targeted programs like HETI. As the initiative moves forward, it aims to equip early-stage entrepreneurs with the necessary tools and resources to thrive in a competitive business environment.