About us.
We exist to connect students, innovators, and community members to economic and educational growth through programming, rentable spaces, and membership opportunities in the renovated SMART Center in downtown Greenville, Illinois.
Our Story:
Greenville University and the City of Greenville joined forces to create a robust, entrepreneur-friendly partnership to benefit students, community members, and business leaders. This partnership helps sustain and grow existing businesses and encourages the creation and growth of new enterprises.
The SMART Center is all about collaboration, connection, and community. We desire to offer a place for entrepreneurs to thrive, businesses to seek success, and patrons to revitalize and positively impact our community. Founded in 1815, Greenville boasts a history of ingenuity fueled by an enterprising spirit. Today Greenville is known for agri-entrepreneurs, a quaint town square, and the manufacturing of specialty goods like band uniforms, scoreboards, and artisan dairy products. Community. That’s the word that stands above all others as the City of Greenville, Greenville University, and the Greenville SMART Center, join together for growth. Won’t you join us?
The SMART Center
Floor 1: Toastiez Restaurant & Community Room
Toastiez offers gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, poutine, soups, and salads. Fresh and locally sourced. Come eat or just hang out. Board games, outdoor patio, wall screen TV and special events and entertainment.
Floor 2: Rentable Office & Podcasting Space
Launch or expand your business and then tell the world about it in this hub of innovation and productivity. Varying levels of access based on membership - from day use to a private furnished cubical office space.
Floor 3: Test Kitchen and Conference Space
Large, gorgeous rentable space for your event. Features include access to a video wall. Catering available.
Basement
Greenville University’s Esports studio.
The Greenville University Connection
A long-neglected building in the heart of the town used to fulfill a vision for community good, growth, and entrepreneurship. That’s smart… Greenville SMART.
SMART Goals:
To cultivate economic development
To provide high impact educational opportunities for university students and community members alike
To create profitable connections in the City of Greenville and its surrounding region
To provide curated programming and events for professional and personal development, and enriched community life
To provide engaging and interactive learning for students of all ages
To support local entrepreneurs with business services, membership, and amenities through a coworking space.