HEDI Spring 2026 Impact at a Glance
Harrisonburg Economic Development is thrilled to release the participant survey data from our second cohort of the Harrisonburg Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (HEDI). On a scale of 1-5, all 19 participants gave a score of 5 to the program and to the business advisor. All 19 would recommend the program and 95% of participants met or exceeded their goals set during the program. Participants raved about HEDI.
“I got months of coaching and received money at the end? It is too good to be true. This program should be advertised heavily," said Gus Fitgerald of Redemption Athletics. Gabrielle Koontz owner of Rendered Homes shared, “Sometimes you don't know what you don't know. HEDI allowed that space to feel confident in learning and to ask questions without judgment.”
About HEDI
Harrisonburg has selected EQALL as our partner to provide business consulting services to participants on behalf of HEDI. The services begin with participants meeting with an on-boarding coach to discuss the business, and to identify an area in which the business owner would like to enhance their skills. These areas may include subject matters such as marketing, sales, financial management, bookkeeping, etc.
Participants are then paired with a dedicated subject matter expert, set meaningful goals, and track their growth. As each business has different needs, the number of training hours with the subject matter expert will vary by participant. However, each participant will have a minimum of 4 hours and a maximum of 8 hours of one-on-one training with their subject matter expert. All meetings are conducted virtually (through Zoom, Teams, etc.)
Plus, once participants hit their mutually identified goals, they will qualify for a one-time grant of $2,500!
Eligibility
Businesses eligible for the Harrisonburg Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (HEDI) must meet all the following requirements:
Must be a for-profit business entity with a place of business located in the City of Harrisonburg (home based businesses in the city are eligible)
Must have a current city business license
Must have at least $5,000, but no more than $200,000 in annual gross revenues
Must be able to provide proof of revenue through a 2024 federal tax return or 2025 year-to-date income statements
The business is locally owned, or locally operated with headquarters in Virginia
No late/delinquent taxes are owed to the City of Harrisonburg
Stay tuned...the application window for the 2027 cohort will open in October (it will be here before you know it).
Bookmark www.harrisonburgdevelopment.com to stay up to date on all the news and updates!
