Midway Business Center - Chapel Hill-Carrboro Business Incubation Center

"Business incubators are programs designed to accelerate the successful development of entrepreneurial companies through and array of business support resources and services, developed and orchestrated by incubator management and offered both in the incubator and through its network of contacts. Successful completion of a business incubation program increases the likelihood that a start-up company will stay in business for the long term." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_incubator)

Business incubators like the Midway Business Center do require and application and do not just accept anyone. In Midway's case they require that eligble applicants live or work in Orange County and at least 51% of employees of each business must be of households earning less than 80% of the median area income. This business incubator program is aimed at helping new businesses become strong local employers. It serves a range of businesses including retail, office-based companies, service-based companies, etc. It is of special interest to our project because it is aimed at the promotion of redeveloping the Midway Business District which is a historically black business district in Orange County.

Public records show that on February 28, 1998, the Town of Chapel Hill entered into a Performance Agreement with emPOWERment in which they could use $150,000 of Community Development funds to purchase the property where the Midway Business Center is now located. On February 28, 2000 the Town of Chapel Hill Council authorized an additional $60,120 of Community Development funds to assist with the construction of the Midway Business Center. The center opened in 2000.

The Midway Business District is a historically black business district connecting Chapel Hill and Carrboro. It is located on North Graham Street.

The Midway Business Center is Chapel Hill- Carrboro's first business incubator and it is a part of EmPOWERment Inc. (an organization that promotes community development through affordable housing, advocacy, community development and grassroots economic development). EmPOWERment has established 3 primary goals for the Midway Business Center:

1. Revitalize the Midway Business District
2. Promote entrepreneurship in economically disadvantaged communities

3. Create quality jobs for Orange County residents

According to EmPOWERment, the center targets women and minority owned businesses and other new start up companies with growth potential.

Sources:

http://townhall.townofchapelhill.org/agendas/ca050228/4d-Request%20from%20EmPOWERment,%20Inc.%20to%20Modify%20its%20Performance%20Agreement%20Regarding%20Operation%20of%20the%20Midway%20Business%20Center.htm