Launch Chapel Hill has undergone monumental changes, including a move into the new downtown Chapel Hill innovation hub, the Junction. The new building serves as a connection from East Franklin St. to East Rosemary St and is now open to the public. The small business accelerator nonprofit is the first organization to be operational in the new building, with others like Hutchinson to follow in the coming months.
Last week, Launch welcomed visitors from Nagoya University, a Japanese national research university. Nagoya is one of five national universities in the Tokai region that is part of a new entrepreneurship program, the Tongali Project. The visitors were here to learn about Launch’s programming and the support it receives from UNC-Chapel Hill and the Town. The Town’s new Economic Development Manager, Katie Bowden, had the opportunity to highlight innovation and collaboration to the visiting professionals. She focused on conveying that the innovation district is only made possible by long-term strategic planning by the Town and our community partners including UNC and the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership. Bowden noted the efforts and upcoming development projects on East Rosemary will contribute to the larger downtown ecosystem that promotes stability for our local businesses.
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