ORLANDO, Fla. — The National Entrepreneur Center is moving from Orlando Fashion Square Mall to Creative Village in downtown Orlando, a change its president says will expand services for small business owners and entrepreneurs.
The center, which has operated for years on East Colonial, offers classes, coaching and resources for people launching or growing companies. NEC President Belinda O. Kirkegard said the center helped 27,000 small business owners with classes, coaching and resources in 2025.
The new downtown space will offer more resource partners and live-streaming virtual classes for the first time, Kirkegard said.
“We can have instructors anywhere in the world teach a class to individuals in person, in addition to individuals that are learning online,” Kirkegard said.
The center also plans to offer instruction on how business owners can use artificial intelligence to expand. It will partner with the Association of Builders and Contractors to help apprentices launch their own small businesses.
The new location will include a business incubator, meeting areas and co-working spaces. It will also be near the UCF and Valencia downtown campuses, and SunRail, making it easier for entrepreneurs to access the center.
“We have the ability to provide more services, more efficiently, more effectively,” Kirkegard said.
Andrew Bekemeyer, a small business owner, said the center helped him prepare to launch his mental health counseling practice after working for 20 years with the Orlando Magic, where he rose to assistant director of innovation. Bekemeyer says launching his business was a bit intimidating.
“What’s needed to make sure I’m in proper position to get things started out on the right foot,” Bekemeyer said. “You know, that can be a bit nerve-wracking.”
Bekemeyer said he used the center’s website, resources and advice from counselors while getting his business started.
“I was able to better understand, receive a little more clarity about what’s needed to get this venture underway properly,” Bekemeyer said.
Orlando Commissioner Shan Rose, who represents the district where the new NEC office is located, said she is excited about the new business incubator, co-working spaces and meeting spaces, and believes they will inspire innovation and cooperation and help small businesses thrive.
According to the National Entrepreneur Center’s website, the center has coached or trained 330,000 entrepreneurs since it opened in 2003.