Boost for small businesses

Saturday, August 18, 2007

By MARIAN ACCARDI

Times Business Writer marian.accardi@htimes.com

New incubator in northwest offers office space, advice

At first, William Smothers, founder and publisher of Speakin' Out News, leased space to entrepreneurs in a warehouse behind the newspaper's offices that had been converted to an office center.

Now the 4,000-square-foot converted warehouse and a 3,500-square-foot building next door on Wholesale Avenue that Smothers bought several years ago have been transformed into the Huntsville Small Business Incubator. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house were held Friday afternoon at the new incubator that's designed to help businesses grow and succeed.

"We saw a need in the community," said Smothers, whose partner in Huntsville Small Business Incubator LLC is Richard Gaines.

Besides providing office space, the incubator will offer seminars on management and other topics.

"We're collaborating with the North Alabama African American Chamber of Commerce to help with business plans," Smothers said.

"This is very important for northwest Huntsville," he added. "This is historic."

Smothers first started a general-interest monthly magazine, Speakin' Out Magazine, in September 1980. He moved to a semi-monthly, then weekly newspaper with Speakin' Out News, geared to black residents.

The incubator has 12 clients, with 16 suites leased out of the 23 available, said Smothers, who obtained a loan from Regions Bank to help with the project's construction costs.

"This is the perfect networking environment to share ideas," he said. Of the clients, there are event planning, janitorial and insurance businesses, a psychologist, two information technology firms, a music promoter and the Alabama A&M University Community Development Corp.

Premier Analysis, a woman-owned small business based in Springfield, Va., that provides information technology services, opened a Huntsville office in the incubator in June.

The facility provided "a strategic opportunity to open an office here in advance of BRAC relocations," said Jon Payne, Premier's vice president and regional manager. "We have an existing relationship with the MDA in Washington."

The 2005 BRAC decision includes transferring some 2,500 Missile Defense Agency jobs to Redstone Arsenal.

"I'm in a one-man office," Payne said, but he's able to use the incubator's conference room and kitchen, and a receptionist is available to assist all the clients.

"We're starting to get people networking within the offices. As (the incubator) fills up, it will increase the networking opportunities."



Boost for small businesses Saturday, August 18, 2007 By MARIAN ACCARDI Times Business Writer marian.accardi@htimes.com New incubator in northwest offers office space, advice At first, William Smothers, founder and publisher of Speakin' Out News, leased space to entrepreneurs in a warehouse behind the newspaper's offices that had been converted to an office center. Now the 4,000-square-foot converted warehouse and a 3,500-square-foot building next door on Wholesale Avenue that Smothers bought several years ago have been transformed into the Huntsville Small Business Incubator. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house were held Friday afternoon at the new incubator that's designed to help businesses grow and succeed. "We saw a need in the community," said Smothers, whose partner in Huntsville Small Business Incubator LLC is Richard Gaines. Besides providing office space, the incubator will offer seminars on management and other topics. "We're collaborating with the North Alabama African American Chamber of Commerce to help with business plans," Smothers said. "This is very important for northwest Huntsville," he added. "This is historic." Smothers first started a general-interest monthly magazine, Speakin' Out Magazine, in September 1980. He moved to a semi-monthly, then weekly newspaper with Speakin' Out News, geared to black residents. The incubator has 12 clients, with 16 suites leased out of the 23 available, said Smothers, who obtained a loan from Regions Bank to help with the project's construction costs. "This is the perfect networking environment to share ideas," he said. Of the clients, there are event planning, janitorial and insurance businesses, a psychologist, two information technology firms, a music promoter and the Alabama A&M University Community Development Corp. Premier Analysis, a woman-owned small business based in Springfield, Va., that provides information technology services, opened a Huntsville office in the incubator in June. The facility provided "a strategic opportunity to open an office here in advance of BRAC relocations," said Jon Payne, Premier's vice president and regional manager. "We have an existing relationship with the MDA in Washington." The 2005 BRAC decision includes transferring some 2,500 Missile Defense Agency jobs to Redstone Arsenal. "I'm in a one-man office," Payne said, but he's able to use the incubator's conference room and kitchen, and a receptionist is available to assist all the clients. "We're starting to get people networking within the offices. As (the incubator) fills up, it will increase the networking opportunities." © 2007 The Huntsville Times © 2007 al.com All Rights Reserved.