The Copperas Cove business community and regional workforce received a significant technology investment last week as American Veterans Mission donated 28 Lenovo ThinkPad laptops to the Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) in support of the new Business and Education Center, a collaborative initiative between CCEDC and the Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce.
The donated laptops will equip the Business and Education Center, a reimagined workforce hub and business incubator located in the former Chamber building. This joint initiative reflects a unified strategy between the EDC and Chamber to strengthen the local talent pipeline, accelerate entrepreneurship, and expand access to modern business resources.
Anthony Martinez, Executive Director and Founder of American Veterans Mission, presented the laptops as an investment in community growth and economic resilience. The contribution ensures that program participants have immediate access to professional grade technology for training, planning, and business development activities.
Martinez said, "American Veterans Mission (AVM) values strong local partnerships, and this refurbished laptop donation reflects our ongoing collaboration with the Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) and the Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce. By working together, we can support shared community spaces like the Business & Education Center and help ensure residents, entrepreneurs, and students have the resources they need to learn, work, and grow here in Copperas Cove."
A Strategic Workforce and Business Development Hub
The Business and Education Center is designed to serve as a comprehensive support system for both job seekers and small businesses. Core objectives include:
Workforce upskilling and reskilling
Career readiness and direct job placement support
Entrepreneurial incubation and mentorship
Professional networking and collaborative workspace access
By providing shared technology resources and structured programming, the Center reduces barriers to entry for aspiring entrepreneurs and offers established businesses a platform for growth and modernization.
Brittany Sanders, CCEDC Workforce Development Specialist, said, “We are excited to see how the HireCove program has grown over the past three years. These opportunities provide the Copperas Cove labor force with meaningful resources to build new skills, strengthen existing ones, and enhance overall employability. Through continued collaboration with our community partners, we look forward to expanding this program into a regional initiative.”
Launch of Entrepreneurial Resources
The laptops will be utilized in future Entrepreneurial training and will also serve as accessible tech in the center. Entrepreneurial development opportunities will be led by Anne Seneca, CCEDC Business Support Director, and Matthew Coolman, CC Chamber Membership & Marketing Director. Future planned sessions will be led by experienced local industry professionals and will cover critical growth stage topics, including (but not limited to):
SizeUp Your Business Plan
AI in Business
Service Marketing
Commercial and Small Business Lending
HR Best Practices: Hiring the Team You Need
Philanthropic Focus for Your Small Business
How to Retire as an Entrepreneur
These planned training opportunities reflect a practical, growth oriented approach that focuses not just on startup fundamentals, but on sustainability, operational excellence, and long term exit strategy planning.
Strengthening Copperas Cove’s Economic Ecosystem
The collaboration between the EDC and Chamber demonstrates a unified commitment to economic development that goes beyond recruitment and prioritizes local capacity building, small business retention, and workforce competitiveness. Involving local organizations strengthens the resource network and expands the capacity of benefits serving entrepreneurs and workforce members.
With access to modern technology and structured business programming, local entrepreneurs will be better positioned to expand operations, increase revenue, create jobs, and contribute to the broader tax base. At the same time, residents seeking new skills or career advancement will gain direct access to tools that align with today’s digital workforce demands.
The donation from American Veterans Mission serves as a catalyst for this next phase of economic investment in Copperas Cove and reinforces the community’s commitment to innovation, partnership, and long term prosperity.
“We want to sincerely thank Anthony Martinez and American Veterans Mission for this generous donation, which is truly transformational for our Business and Education Center. As we build this initiative from the ground up, these 28 laptops immediately expand what is possible for local entrepreneurs, job seekers, and small business owners who need access to technology to grow and compete. This is also a powerful example of what true partnership looks like. We are deeply grateful to the Copperas Cove EDC for their collaboration, vision, and connections that helped make this possible. Together, we are creating meaningful workforce and business development opportunities that will strengthen our community for years to come,” said Beth Galick-Carney, Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce President & CEO.
For more information about the Business and Education Center or the Entrepreneurial opportunities, contact the Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation (254-547-7874) or the Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce (254-547-7571.)
For more information about American Veterans Mission visit https://americanveteransmission.org/