Envisioning Pop-up West

Last Updated 7/24/2024

"When I first unlocked the door to our office space in 2021, I knew that I wanted to try to organize a pop-up shop," said Lauren Kemp, Executive Director of RenewAll Inc.

In 2023, Kemp started Pop-up West with an emerging business, Joe Public Press, and a collaborative partnership with the Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI) and Huntington Area Development Council (HADCO). As this edition of the pop-up shop closes, it becomes a new opportunity for a business to test out their ideas and make new connections in the community.

"I first learned about Pop-up Shop programming at the Main Street America conference in 2019," Kemp said. During the session, Kemp said that Megan Tsui from Red Wing, MN, shared the value add of low-cost spaces for their efforts to support new businesses and help them locate in their main street district. Tsui said they were able to amplify their impact by pairing the winner of a business plan competition with landlords looking for tenants.

"I was instantly interested in this concept for the Central City District, and now that the resources are aligned, it's been so exciting to see the Pop-up West opportunity come to life," Kemp said.

The Pop-up West Program is possible because of a regional partnership with ECDI, which hosts the Central Appalachian Women's Business Center and local partner, HADCO. Together the three organizations have collaborated on the Ignite Business Boot Camp and Pop-Up West with the support of an ARC POWER Grant awarded to ECDI. The Business plan competition awards cash prizes in multiple counties and then brings the winners together for a regional competition. In March 2023, RenewAll and HADCO organized a networking event, specifically for future entrepreneurs and future Ignite WV applicants.

Pop-up West will have two rounds of applications this year. The first will close on April 30th for activation between June and August, and the second on July 30th for activation from September to December. Applications will be accepted online, and a form with a one-page concept paper attachment will be included that describes how the pop-up will accelerate the business concept.

For more information, visit the Pop-up West information page.