Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship Receives $30,000 Grant from the Terry Thomas Foundation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2026
Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship Receives $30,000 Grant from the Terry Thomas Foundation
Award eliminates a critical access barrier for coastal Georgia entrepreneurs
BRUNSWICK, GA — The Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship is proud to announce a $30,000 capital grant from the Terry Thomas Foundation, awarded in the first quarter of 2026. The grant will fund dedicated workstations at three Lucas Center locations, putting the tools of business formation directly in the hands of entrepreneurs who need them most.
The barrier this grant removes is simple. Registering a business entity, filing for an EIN, obtaining a business license: these are foundational steps every entrepreneur must take, and nearly all of them happen online. For too many of the people they serve, not having reliable access to a computer is the wall between an idea and a business.
Starting in late March 2026, each Lucas Center location will be equipped with computers, a printer/scanner, and full connectivity infrastructure, a complete, professional workspace available to any entrepreneur who needs it. No device required and no barrier to entry.
This investment also carries broader significance. The Lucas Center has been working toward a $300,000 match commitment tied to a three-year, $150,000 grant from the St. Marys Methodist Church Foundation. This award from the Terry Thomas Foundation brings us over the finish line on that goal, doubling the impact of the grant.
"Terry Thomas believed in this community deeply," said Ande Noktes, CEO of the Lucas Center. "Her foundation's investment reflects exactly what we believe at the Lucas Center: that opportunity shouldn't be contingent on what you already have. We are honored to carry that spirit forward."
The Lucas Center has served over 1,250 entrepreneurs to date through programs including Idea Bootcamp, ACCELER8, 6SEED, and an active mentoring network. The new workstations will be available to Lucas Center entrepreneurs across all three locations beginning March 30, 2026.
Brunswick News Article: Read here
About the Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship The Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Brunswick, Georgia, dedicated to creating economic opportunity through entrepreneurship education and resources. The Lucas Center connects founders with the mentors, tools, capital, and networks they need to build thriving businesses on the Georgia coast and beyond. To learn more or connect with the Lucas Center, visit www.lucascenter.com.
Contact: Ande Noktes, CEO at ande@lucascenter.com | (912) 254-7340
