College named one of three Entrepreneurial Colleges of the Year in 2026
(UCBJ) – Roane State Community College (RSCC), home to the Cumberland Business Incubator (CBI) in Crossville, has been named a 2026 Entrepreneurial College of the Year by the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE).
The honor recognizes efforts to create opportunities for:
- Students
- Entrepreneurs
- Businesses throughout East Tennessee
Roane State, Houston Community College and Seminole State College were all announced as honorees during NACCE’s 2026 Annual Conference in Boston on Nov. 3.
“Roane State is well known for its student involvement and the momentum behind its growing entrepreneurship initiatives,” NACCE President and CEO Rebecca Corbin, Ed.D., said in announcing the award. “By expanding engagement, the college demonstrates how entrepreneurship can take hold and grow within a college community.”
RSCC President Chris Whaley accepted the award on behalf of the college.
“We are honored to receive this recognition, which reflects the excellent work of our faculty and staff and their commitment to our students and communities,” Dr. Whaley said. “At Roane State, entrepreneurship is about creating opportunities for students and aspiring business owners to turn promising ideas into action. Through strong partnerships, innovative programs, and access to resources, we are helping those ideas grow while strengthening the communities we serve.”
The college offers associate degree programs in business administration and management, and a certificate in business ownership, “designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs apply classroom lessons to their businesses.”
In Crossville, the Cumberland Business Incubator helps entrepreneurs develop and test business concepts by providing:
- Coaching
- Mentoring
- Marketing assistance
- Access to capital
- Office and coworking space
According to a release, the college provides free, confidential business consulting, counseling, workshops and seminars through its Tennessee Small Business Development Center.
“The NACCE award comes shortly after Roane State received additional national recognition for its broader commitment to student success. The Aspen Institute named Roane State one of the 200 colleges eligible to compete for the 2027 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence,” according to the release.
Whaley says the honors reflects a commitment to students, businesses and community.
“Whether that means helping a student prepare to launch a business, assisting an entrepreneur in bringing an idea to market, helping an existing small business grow, or providing employers with the training needed to strengthen their workforce, Roane State will be there every step of the way.”
The college’s Workforce Development division provides:
- Industry-focused training
- Professional development
- Continuing education in manufacturing, healthcare, safety and technology
- Customized training to employers
“More than 100,000 hours of continuing education were provided by Roane State last year, serving clients from small local businesses and solo entrepreneurs to major employers such as Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12,” according to the release.
For more information, visit nacce.com/news, roanestate.edu/BUSNprograms or roanestate.edu/workforce.
Copyright 2026 The Upper Cumberland Business Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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