Northern Neck Small Business Incubator
The Northern Neck Small Business Incubator is a collaborative effort that crosses county lines. Pictured above, left to right, is Cynthia Rioland, Macedonia Baptist Church co-pastor; Kenneth Rioland, Macedonia Baptist Church pastor and MACorp chairman; Lisa Hull, Northern Neck Planning District Commission economic development and tourism coordinator; and LaTilda “Tilly” Owens, MACorp program manager.
Most people in the Northern Neck think of Horse Head as just one of the many small communities that dot the landscape amid the farms and woodlands that stretch across Northumberland County. That’s all about to change, as the crossroads community on Route 360 is now home to the Northern Neck Small Business Incubator (NNSBI), the latest initiative sponsored by MACorp (Macedonia Community Development Corporation), a nonprofit established by the congregation of Macedonia Baptist Church in Heathsville.
“Locating a business incubator in the northeast quadrant of the Northern Neck made good sense to our board of directors,” says Kenneth Rioland, pastor at Macedonia Baptist, who also serves as chairman of the MACorp board. He says that while the community development nonprofit is strongly supported by his congregation, the two are separate entities. At the same time, MACorp’s founders believe they are doing the Lord’s work by establishing a facility to help neighbors achieve economic independence.
“We feel that, to be good Christians, we cannot stay within the four walls of our church. It’s part of our mission to help those who experience economic challenges, especially in this area where jobs are scarce,” Rioland says.
Typically, business incubators are designed to assist start-up companies by providing an array of services including training, assistance with business planning and marketing, access to technology, and links to advisors and potential investors. The idea of establishing a local incubator began to take shape three years ago. In 2013 MACorp rented the two-story building at 10919 Northumberland Highway between Burgess and Heathsville. The NNSBI opened in May 2014.
MACorp hasn’t entered this venture solo. Its partners include the Northern Neck Planning District Commission, the Northern Neck Chesapeake Bay Region Partnership, the University of Mary Washington Small Business Development Center, and the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development’s Building Collaborative Communities Program.
LaTilda Owens, NNSBI program manager, says, “Our role is to help the local entrepreneurs start and grow a successful business. We provide training and resources to our clients and help them get the advice and services they need to make a go of their great ideas.”
Currently, the Incubator consists of four office spaces available for rent at a modest monthly rate, a conference room, workroom, and training center. A copier, computer, and printer are located onsite, and free Internet access is provided. In the future, Owens says, light refreshments will be available as well since people are likely to use the facility both early and late.
Rioland says, “Working adults or single moms or dads who are trying to start their own businesses may have to come in during the evening or on weekends. Our target market is the individual who has already done some real work in preparing to launch a new business, or someone who is operating a business out of the family home.”
Some renovations to the facility that houses the Incubator have already been made, but Rioland says it was important to open as soon as possible so people could start benefiting from NNSBI’s services. At present, the Incubator is offering workshops in topics such as marketing, communications, effective use of technology, business plan development, and financial forecasting. Courses are offered through the University of Mary Washington. Those who rent space in the Incubator can attend classes as part of their monthly rental fee. Others pay $20 per course.
To date, courses have been well attended. While open to the public, Rioland says, these training sessions are not designed to develop basic business skills. Instead, they are targeted to serve those who are serious about starting their own businesses. Additionally, offices at the Incubator are not intended as permanent homes for businesses. “We want to bring in people and help them get a healthy start toward prosperity and then have them move out to make way for others who need a boost,” he explains.
Daniel Forrest, an entrepreneur in Lancaster County, has signed a six-month lease for office space in the Incubator. He goes in regularly to use the Internet connection to conduct research for a business he plans to get up and running in the near future. He recognizes that work remains to get the building fully equipped to serve the community’s needs, but so far, he has nothing but praise for the operation. “I’m very impressed with what the organizers have been able to accomplish in such a short time,” he says.
Rioland is quick to point out that the Incubator is not in competition with the Virginia Employment Commission’s Workforce Development office in Warsaw or Rappahannock Community College. He notes that RCC president Elizabeth Crowther is on the MACorp board of directors.
“We want to complement offerings by other organizations by providing training and workspace for entrepreneurs who might have trouble getting to other locations,” Rioland says. Transportation is a major problem for many people living in the area, and those who must depend on public transport such as Bay Transit can spend hours in transit between home and work or training sites. The closer people are to an education center or workplace, the more efficient they can be.
The Incubator has been underwritten by individuals and organizations that have seen the wisdom of providing assistance to local entrepreneurs. As any nonprofit is, the NNSBI is always concerned about cash flow, but Rioland is convinced that the Incubator will prove to be a winner and community members will be forthcoming with financial assistance.
“The Incubator is one way we can help people take the skills and provisions God has given them and make them work for everyone in the community,” he explains. “So often we operate below our potential. We want people to realize just how successful they can be if they are willing to do the work necessary to succeed.” It is likely that some budding entrepreneurs will realize that potential by availing themselves of the services at the NNSBI, and the community will be stronger as a result.
This article appeared in the Fall 2014 issue of The Local Scoop Magazine, pgs. 57-59.