The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP) is located in the poorest county in the state and one of the poorest regions in the nation. The Thomas Family Center for Entrepreneurship (TFCE) was created to encourage innovation and business start-up and growth in the area. TFCE has developed academic entrepreneurship programs for almost all UNCP disciplines. The interest in entrepreneurship has produced new laboratories for innovative research. The TFCE has also developed counseling programs and summits for local entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship programs aimed at community colleges and high schools have been initiated. Financial resources are also being created in the area for small business development including a newly formed angel fund. The goals of these initiatives are to provide a basis for new business development and to persuade UNCP students to create new businesses here.