LAUNCH LYH

LAUNCH LYH is sponsored by City of Lynchburg. This program supports entrepreneurs ready to start, relocate, or expand their existing business in a Downtown Lynchburg storefront. Selected applicants participate in an eight-week education course culminating in a pitch competition.

Launch LYH: Bring your unique business vision to the heart of downtown Lynchburg Download the App Get your news faster with our mobile experience Launch LYH: Bring your unique business vision to the heart of downtown Lynchburg Wed, January 8, 2025 at 7:55 PM Aerial view of Downtown Lynchburg (Photo: City of Lynchburg) LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) — If you're dreaming of starting a business, you're in luck.

The Downtown Lynchburg Association is now accepting applications for their Launch LYH program. They take in applicants who want to open a business and put them in eight weeks of classes to learn the tricks of the trade. Then, those applicants pitch their ideas for the chance to win one of five $20,000 grants to help them get started.

At the end of the program we offer $20,000 in funding to small businesses that are willing to open, expand, or relocate to downtown Lynchburg," Kelvin Whitehurst, Business Development Coordinator for the DLA, said. "This year we have $100,000 in funding that we are going to be giving away to small businesses. The program began in 2023, working to fill a 23 percent vacancy downtown.

The DLA has helped 10 businesses so far, and 8 of those are currently open downtown. Super Rad Arcade Bar : 58 Ninth St. PREAM : 409 5th St.

, Suite A Mosaic Collective & Threaded : 1212 Main St. Easy Speak Dance Hall & Events : 409 5th St. , Suite E Wolfbane Productions : 723 Jefferson St.

FrostFire Sauna and Cold Plunge : 1337 Main St. Squared Biscuit Co. : Not yet open The Yard on 5th Street : 801 Fifth St.

Firebrick Pottery : Not yet open This will be the third, and final, run of the program. By the end of Launch LYH, Whitehurst said they hope to have 15 vacancies filled downtown. A lot of these places where businesses are now were vacant at one point and now they are fully thriving businesses," Whitehurst said.

"It helps downtown Lynchburg look a little bit more lively and it also provides one more amenity to the folks that live here. Launch LYH has boosted many businesses to success, including 2023 winners, Super Rad Arcade Bar, who found their home on Ninth St. last April.

Super Rad Arcade Bar is open on Ninth St. (Credit: Rachel Branning/WSET) RELATED: Downtown Lynchburg business owners highlight success of Launch LYH "We offer unlimited games for $10 a person, all you can play, all day, Wednesdays through Sundays. We offer two floors, over 80 arcade games.

We've got drinks, we've got food, entertainment, all sorts of fun things," co-owner Calvin Hoskins, said. "We started off with 30 arcade cabinets and now we're almost to 100. We've got a stage downstairs.

Like, we've been growing." The owners of Super Rad, Cullen Jennings and Calvin Hoskins, said Launch LYH was instrumental in opening their business. Their grant, their knowledge, their help.

Everyone through that program really got us to where we wanted to be, and now, here we are," Jennings said. One of the 2024 winners, FrostFire Sauna and Cold Plunge, opened on Main St. in November.

"We have an opportunity for people to come and enjoy our two cold plunges, both are set at 42 and 50 degrees, and then we have a sauna. Both are amazing for rehabilitation and relaxation, and to get your day started or end your day," owner, Robb Foster, said. Frostfire Sauna and Cold Plunge owners Robb and Samantha Foster won a grant from Launch LYH.

(Credit: Downtown Lynchburg Association) Robb and Sam Foster made their dream a reality by opening FrostFire. Foster said Launch LYH taught them what they needed to know to run a business. My wife, she made a vision board to start a business and Launch Lynchburg was really the catalyst for us getting started, which was fantastic," Foster said.

"It really felt like Shark Tank. You go in and at first you pitch your idea, and then after we got accepted, there's an eight week business course, which was fantastic... They really taught us how to create our mission, our vision, and really how to plan out our business.

After those eight weeks we really felt, had we not won the grant, we could've done it ourselves. They really set a great path for us. Both Super Rad and FrostFire said the program was lifechanging.

If you're interested in applying, they have a few tips. "If there's something telling you to start a business, I'd say go out there and do it. You've got great support with the city and Launch LYH, I can't praise it enough.

I wish this program would go on for years, but here's your last opportunity to do it. If you're thinking about it, you know what, put yourself out there and see what you can do. You might amaze yourself," Foster said.

"Be prepared to do the work because nobody's going to give you anything. It's a matter of how much work you put into it." They said unique ideas are always welcome downtown.

Know your plan. Come up with an idea that you think is unique enough of a footprint to this downtown location, that's going to drive people here. That's the most important part of all of this," Jennings said.

Be different, be something that'll stand out," Hoskins added. If you'd like to apply, click here . Applications are open through Jan.

31 at 11:30 p. m. Application interviews will take place the week of Feb.

10; then if you're accepted, you'll find out on Feb. 21. Classes begin in March and grants will be given out in June.

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