FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
7/22/2026 - MARTINSVILLE, VA - The Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) is launching its application process for the Fall 2026 round of StartUp Martinsville-Henry County. StartUp Martinsville-Henry County is an 8-week boot-camp for new companies who have been in business for 2 years or less. The application process is competitive, and applicants must comply with the program guidelines. Applications are due by noon on Friday, August 14, 2026.
Partners include C-PEG, City of Martinsville, Henry County, Community Investment Collaborative, and the Campbell Family Group. Since 2015, when the initiative originally began as Startup Martinsville in the Uptown Martinsville area with a Community Business Launch grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, the geographic area has grown to include the entire footprint in the City of Martinsville and Henry County thanks to support from both locales and private sector funding. C-PEG received additional grant funding from the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission which awards a dollar-for-dollar match to businesses from the targeted sectors including agribusiness, technology, small-scale production, manufacturing, and health care businesses.
To date, the initiative has successfully graduated 395 individuals from its training programs, awarded 142 businesses with over $879,228 in cash and in-kind funding.
C-PEG partners with Patrick & Henry Community College to deliver the entrepreneurial boot camp sessions as well as Longwood’s Small Business Development Center, and a host of staff from the City and County, local entrepreneurs and business experts.
All interested participants are encouraged to complete the online application located at the link labeled Boot Camp Application by the deadline of August 14, 2026. Applications are being accepted for the StartUp MHC boot camp only. More details can be found in Guidelines for Start Up MHC and Grow MHC link below. https://forms.gle/Ca37VfZNURy9Y4Y97
Please contact the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce with any questions at 276.632.6401 or mhccoc@mhcchamber.com.
Martinsville-Henry County Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth (C-PEG) is an independent, yet closely aligned, charitable affiliate of the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce. C-PEG is charged with funding and supporting the area's efforts to improve economic growth. ?
