WHEELING, W.Va. — March 30, 2026 — Wheeling Heritage and the Regional Economic Development Partnership (RED) are now accepting applications for the Spring 2026 CO.STARTERS cohort, a 10-week program designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners turn ideas into actionable business plans.
The cohort is expected to begin on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Sessions will be held Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Wheeling Artisan Center, 1400 Main St., in downtown Wheeling.
CO.STARTERS is designed for aspiring and established entrepreneurs looking to launch or refine products, services, or business concepts. Over the 10-week program, participants receive structured guidance and real-time peer feedback as they explore key topics such as self-assessment, customer discovery, solution development, marketing, distribution, business structure, financial modeling, growth planning, and storytelling. The program concludes with a community celebration where participants share their refined business concepts.
The cost to participate is $200, which includes all program materials. Payment plans are available upon request, and a limited number of scholarships are available. Applications will be accepted through April 17, or until the cohort reaches capacity, which is limited to 12 participants.
This spring, the cohort will be led by facilitator Lara Graves, a local business owner of Avenue Eats (The Ave.), and Elle & Jack’s. Many past participants may already recognize Graves from her previous appearances as a guest speaker in the program. Her expanded role brings a consistent presence to the cohort, offering weekly guidance, insight, and support drawn from her firsthand entrepreneurial experience.
“As a small business owner myself, I know the importance of small businesses in building a community’s economy,” said Graves. “CO.STARTERS provides the valuable tools to help support and grow the exciting concepts of our community members while on their entrepreneurial journey.”
“With each new cohort, I’m always excited to see who is stepping into entrepreneurship in our beautiful city,” said Riley Carpenter, director of programming at Wheeling Heritage. “Hearing the ideas and visions participants bring to the table is something I truly look forward to. Whether you’re starting with just a dream or already running a full-fledged business, this program is designed to meet you where you are. With Lara joining us in a more consistent role this spring, we’re especially excited for the level of expertise, guidance, and support participants will receive throughout the cohort.”
The cohort is ideal for creative, community-minded individuals who have an idea they are ready to pursue and are open to refining it through a collaborative process. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to build a sustainable business and the tools they can apply to future ventures.
For more information or to apply, visit redp.org/costarters. Questions may be directed to Valerie Piko at vpiko@redp.org. Confirmed participants will be contacted by the RED team with payment details.
