| North Carolina A&T State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro are partnering with HQ Greensboro to establish a satellite University Engagement Office in downtown Greensboro.
HQ Greensboro, scheduled to open in July, is a workspace for startup businesses. It will have 15 private office suites, a co-working space, outdoor terrace, four conference rooms and a classroom with full technology amenities. The multi-purpose common space will provide room for shared workspace, classes, workshops, and events.
N.C. A&T and UNCG are creating their joint office to increase the visibility and accessibility of university initiatives in entrepreneurship, innovation and engagement and provide to better connectivity to a broad array university resources in Greensboro and throughout the UNC system.
“Our presence at HQ Greensboro provides a gateway for A&T students and faculty to pursue their entrepreneurial interests, and it acts as a conduit for local businesses to access university resources,” says Wayne Szafranski, assistant vice chancellor for outreach and economic development at A&T.
“Our partnership with HQ Greensboro and UNCG will permit N.C. A&T to enhance its role as a driver in of regional revitalization and economic development, one of the major goals of our strategic plan, Preeminence 2020.”
The office will be operated by a rotating team of existing staff from A&T and UNCG, who will provide regular office hours accessible to HQ Greensboro members and visitors. To provide easier access, many university events that are open to the general public will be held in HQ Greensboro’s event space instead of on campuses.
HQ Greensboro co-founder Andy Zimmerman sees great synergy between the universities, HQ Greensboro, and other area projects.
“The expertise and programs of the University Engagement Office will greatly enhance the success of local startups at HQ Greensboro,” he says. “With The Forge right next door and the Union Square Campus just a block away, I see amazing potential for this area as a hub for innovation.”
The University Engagement Office at HQ Greensboro complements other initiatives in which both A&T and UNCG are already participating at Co//ab, a new downtown Greensboro entrepreneurial and higher education workspace; the Forge, a downtown makerspace that includes a workshop area and a collaborative space; the Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship, the state’s largest business incubator; and the multi-campus Union Square development. |
