An effort to encourage new business is still struggling after opening its doors more than four years ago.
The business incubator, formally known as the Leflore County Business Manufacturing Development Center, was built to provide start-up businesses a location to kick off their operations at little cost.
However, only a fraction of the building is being utilized and only four businesses are currently located in the incubator: Southern Christian Services, Enterprise Corporation of the Delta, Central Mississippi Inc. and IT Professional.
The area is intended to serve as a temporary office location while a business gets on its feet. So far, there has not been a business that started in the incubator and later became a standalone business, Chancery Clerk Sam Abraham said.
The $1.7 million incubator, was first proposed in 1995 by Mississippi Valley State University's Center for Economic Development. It includes about 23,520 square feet of space with twin bays on both sides of the incubator, with 7,000 square feet of space for a manufacturing or small distribution company.
Rent costs about $200 per month for each business, Abraham said. He said that includes access to all utilities, a copy machine, conference room and other business amenities.
“We’re going to have some people come in and help you show you how to set up your business, business plan, finances and show you how to keep up your books, all of that,” Abraham said.
He said the problem right now is likely the economy.
“The economy right now — businesses don’t want to go out there,” Abraham said. “There’s not a lot of businesses opening up anywhere.”
He said that the building could probably be better utilized if there was a board appointed to operate it. A previous board assigned to the task has since dissolved.
“If we had a real manager, I think they might be able to sell that place and get people in there,” Abraham said.
He said that he frequently gets requests for space in the building, but they often do not fit the criteria of a “new and emerging” business. If businesses are approved and don’t fit the criteria, the county could face issues with grants that had been provided to them.
“I could go out there and rent it out and probably be making money tomorrow, but that’s now what it was built for,“ Abraham said.
He said for now, the incubator is good for show, but it will take aggressive management to get businesses interested in filling the space.
“It’s a nice avenue for extending economic development in the area, but it’s just not returning right now,” Abraham said.
• Contact Taylor Kuykendall at tkuykendall@gwcommonwealth.com.
