JMU alum brings successful innovation space to Harrisonburg

A community work-sharing space coming to Harrisonburg aims to reduce barriers to innovation. 

The Harrisonburg Innovation Hub, part of the Innovation Hubs family of coworking locations in the Shenandoah Valley, will occupy a 25,000-square-foot space at 128 W. Market St. It is tentatively scheduled to open in early November, said Innovation Hubs founder and CEO Peter Denbigh (’02, ’11M). Prospective members can join the waitlist at https://ihubs.work/harrisonburghub.

Inspired by feedback from area residents and professionals, Denbigh says he’s bringing his vision to Harrisonburg as a way of fostering more conversation and collaboration among business leaders in the Valley. Having creative, intentional spaces where entrepreneurs can network close to home is “powerful” and “hard to quantify,” he said. 

“There are many shared resources here. When you walk into our facility, they look good, they sound good and they smell good. You don’t have to worry about, ‘Is the internet working? Is the electricity paid? Is the coffee hot?’ We have infinite coffee. The goal is for you to walk in, open your laptop and get to work. You don’t have to worry about anything else.”

Director Hannah Cooper said she expects an abundance of remote workers, entrepreneurs and nonprofits to seek space in the HIH. “The core of what we do is really ecosystem-building within these walls and community-building, relationship-building between a diverse range of businesses and people,” Cooper said.

The HIH will feature private offices, open workspaces and three anchor spaces of about 1,000 square feet each for businesses that have a bigger footprint in the community but are looking to collaborate in shared spaces.

Collaborating to offer programming at the HIH, Keith Holland, associate vice provost for Research and Economic Development in the division of Research, Economic Development and Innovation said the opportunity will allow JMU to reach more people around the community.

"JMU is excited to collaborate with Peter and the HIH team to foster connections and spark innovative collisions among students, faculty and regional ecosystem builders around the Harrisonburg area," Holland said.

“It took a good vision for JMU to step into this world, and we’re really excited to see how that benefits the university,” Denbigh said. “That symbiotic partnership, I think, is a testament to some of the magic of this Valley as well.” 

Denbigh and Cooper anticipate more than 150 businesses working from the building, with at least 300 members among them. Additionally, individuals who are passing through the area, working remotely or needing a place to hold an occasional meeting can purchase day passes or consider other options, such as month-to-month memberships.

“There’s a beautiful support system that organically happens when you have a space like this with so many businesses,” Cooper said. “We’re excited to see the vibe that the people bring in.”

A self-starter, Denbigh was inspired to launch a hub in Harrisonburg after experiencing the success of the Staunton location. “We just saw an opportunity to bring that vibrancy and that opportunity to Harrisonburg in such a way that we complement what’s already here,” he said. They’ve also been eyeing the Virginia Metalcrafters Building in Waynesboro as a third location.

“Our mission with these hubs is to reduce barriers to innovation,” Denbigh said. “And that was kind of inspired by the rollercoaster journey I’ve had as a small-business person.” 

At JMU, Denbigh, a Spencer, West Virginia, native, earned his bachelor’s degree in ISAT with a concentration in Manufacturing and Engineering. He later returned for a Master of Business Administration, which he completed in 2011.

Denbigh’s first venture in Harrisonburg did well for a while before it struggled. He had to learn more about the local market and when to take risks. 

“It’s a hard journey to take, and there are some really low moments, and then there are, hopefully, some really good moments as well,” Denbigh said. “Through [Innovation Hubs’] mission, if we can lessen those lows and accelerate the highs for our members, that’s when we’re really doing our job."

Cooper, who studied Marketing and Business Administration at Blue Ridge Community College, will direct all three innovation hubs. Through each location, she and Denbigh hope to foster a unique vibe and personality encouraged by its surrounding community. Additionally, the hubs can provide collaborative spaces for those who haven’t felt supported or productive in more traditional workplace settings.

“It’s sincere, and people can lift each other up; they can help each other, they can offer perspective, they can commiserate,” Denbigh said. “The more people who come through these doors, the more opportunities that open up for everyone.”