ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 16, 1996 TAG: 9603180094
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JEFF STURGEON STAFF WRITER
Wanted: 10 to 15 entrepreneurs who run young companies or plan to launch new ventures within a few months.
Organizers of a proposed Roanoke business incubator said Friday they've begun searching for tenants and plan to open about May 15. An incubator is a place where people new to business or experienced business operators with plans for new companies operate under one roof in a kind of fraternity.
The Roanoke Regional Business Incubator is seeking tenants even though its location still is undetermined. A nonprofit corporation affiliated with the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, operating with $460,000 in tax-funded grants to pay start-up costs, has found a desirable building, but still is deciding whether to buy it. The chamber won't reveal the building's location, except to say it is in the city near downtown.
Despite this, project leaders have a good idea how the incubator will work. A three-person team consisting of an academic, an industry representative and a community leader will help each tenant ensure that his or her business runs smoothly. Each tenant will pay rent for space in the center. Included in the rental fee will be the services of a receptionist, janitor and security guard and access to a business library.
To help the businesses operate at the lowest cost, the incubator will buy a copier, fax machine and computer for tenants to use for a fee. The incubator will have a secretary who will charge by the hour to type letters and do other tasks.
About 50 people have expressed interest in renting space, though some of the inquiries are as much as 3 years old, said the center's manager, Lisa Ison. Those people, if still interested, will be put on a list with anyone who calls Ison in the coming weeks. The incubator's first tenants will be chosen from that list, with preference given to those likely to be helped the most.
Ison can be reached at (540) 983-0717.
LENGTH: Short : 42 linesby CNB