Holston Business Development Center opens amid much fanfare
10/30/2003
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KINGSPORT - Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen relived his days as an entrepreneur who once started a health care company from scratch during the grand opening of the Holston Business Development Center Thursday."Remember, I'm somebody who started making my way in the world by starting a business literally at my kitchen table," the governor told the crowd of more than 200 business and government leaders who stood outside the new business incubator in searing August morning heat."I think I would have been in an incubator had one been available," Bredesen said. "I grew it up ultimately from just myself to about 6,000 employees. I know in places like this there are success stories waiting to happen. ... I've got a real feeling for what these people are going through."It's a time that is full of promise, but it's also a high-anxiety time. I think one of the big things a well-run business incubator does is not just provide the space, but it's the mentoring and the chance to talk to other people who are going through the same kinds of things."The 13,000-square-foot, $1 million incubator - located next to Holston Army Ammunition Plant - represents "part of the new face" in Tennessee's economic development, Bredesen said.The HBDC is a partnership with BAE Systems, the city of Kingsport, Hawkins County, U.S. Economic Development Administration, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, and the U.S. Army Armament Retooling and Manufacturing Program."I think there is enormous power in these public-private partnerships," Bredesen said. "Sometimes we put way too much of a valley between the private sector and the public sector. There are so many things we can do together."When people talk about economic development, the talk tends to gravitate toward these big announcements, and we've had a couple of them. But even more so, economic development is about helping business that is already here to expand and grow."It's a lot easier to take a 100-employee business and take it to 200 than it is to take a 10,000-employee business and take it to 20,000. I really think efforts like this to invest in Tennessee ingenuity and Tennessee innovation through these kinds of centers is the key to growing our economy. On a broader scale, I want to begin looking at our entire state as a business incubator."Kingsport Mayor Jeanette Blazier said the idea to develop a small business incubator came out of the city's 1999 economic summit."We wanted a place where we could nurture our small business interests and create an entrepreneurial spirit," she told the crowd. "All the businesses that are birthed out of this business center not only are going to bring success to Kingsport and Hawkins County but to the entire region."U.S. Rep. Bill Jenkins, who hosted the grand opening, gave credit for the incubator's early success to HBDC General Manager Jim Anderson."From a standpoint of background and experience and ability, whoever made the selection of Jim Anderson as the general manager of this development center, you've got the right guy," Jenkins said of the veteran industry recruiter.Four companies are already located inside the facility, and five other firms are awaiting approval of their business plans.The HBDC has room for 24 technology-based and light manufacturing firms. Anderson is seeking non-retail entrepreneurs who are usually in their first year of business, have good credit, and can demonstrate they could move from the facility within three years. Afterward, the HBDC will help the businesses move into a permanent location.In addition to offering low-rent space, the incubator has a number of business support services including technical assistance and loan packaging."There have been many businesses started in backyard garages and basements," Hawkins County Mayor Crockett Lee said of the incubator. "We have in this incubator a state-of-the-art garage."