According to the International Business Innovation Association, (InBIA) “Business incubators nurture the development of entrepreneurial companies, helping them survive and grow during the start-up period, when they are most vulnerable. These programs provide their client companies with business support services and resources tailored to young firms. The most common goals of incubation programs are creating jobs in a community, enhancing a community’s entrepreneurial climate, retaining businesses in a community, building or accelerating growth in a local industry, and diversifying local economies.”
CREATE Opportunity stands for Creating Resilient Economies by Assisting Transforming Entrepreneurs. The initiative includes a network of strategic partners working together to create jobs and to help diversify our local economy.
The Commercialization Station, located at 1642 Bluefield Avenue, is a 60,000 SF mixed-use incubator focusing on manufacturing. In 2016, the City applied for and received a $2.04 million POWER grant from the EDA matched with a $510,000 grant from the Shott Foundation to renovate a 60,000 SF former freight station and develop a mixed-use incubator which focuses on manufacturing. The Bluefield Commercialization Station is located at 1642 Bluefield Avenue. Construction began on August 20, 2018 and was completed in September 2019. There are currently three tenants; FedEx, Center for Applied Research and Technology (CART, Inc.), and Bluefield's new makerspace, the Crea Company.
Click Here if you would like to apply as an incubator business.
To learn more about the Commercialization Station and what services are available to help grow your business, please contact: Jim Spencer, Community & Economic Development Director, at (304) 327-2401 ext. 2405 or jspencer [at] cityofbluefield.com
