The Launch Christiansburg business program wrapped up its second year, offering an 11-week opportunity for local entrepreneurs and new business owners to sharpen their skills and expand their networks within the community.

The Downtown Lynchburg Association (DLA) has announced the return of Launch LYH, a program aimed at revitalizing the heart of Lynchburg by supporting entrepreneurs eager to start, relocate, or expand their businesses in the downtown area.

Douglas Pitzer specializes in finding ways to reach students who need different ways to learn, often leaning heavily on technology.

The center helps entrepreneurs in the early stages of their businesses

On Monday, 60 people representing dozens of restaurants across the Roanoke Valley participated in the first Foodiepreneur Symposium.

ROANOKE, Va. – “I thought I was going to play college basketball,” jokes Kevin Bloomfield, sitting on a stool at the RAMP Building in downtown Roanoke, his “sometimes” office. He said he didn’t have a plan for anything beyond basketball, noting that in hindsight, he had no idea how big college basketball players really are. His path to fortune clicked one day in college, when he heard about the then-new internet browser called Netscape, going public. And within two minutes he dropped a number on me.”At first, Bloomfield declined the offer as he had several others. If you do those three things and all the other things around those three things when you have a chance to be successful,” Bloomfield said.

NEW YORK – Jay-Z and Pharrell Williams have teamed up to release a new song about Black ambition titled “Entrepreneur." “Black Twitter, what’s that? When Jack gets paid, do you?” raps Jay-Z, referring to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. “For every one Gucci, support two FUBU’s.”On the track, Williams sings: “In this position with no choice/The system imprison young Black boys/Distract with white noise." Williams told TIME the song is “about how tough it is to be an entrepreneur in our country to begin with."