Georgia Tech Completes Business Incubator Assessment for Dalton-Whitfield County

Writer: Alex Stall, (706) 712-0953, stall@daltonchamber.org

Contact: Elyse Cochran-Davis, (706) 712-0956, cochran@daltonchamber.org  

Georgia Tech completes business incubator assessment for Dalton-Whitfield County

Chamber of Commerce and local public entities cited as possible funding sources

March 5, 2013 - Dalton, Ga --- Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute recently concluded a business incubator readiness assessment for Dalton and revealed the results to community leaders and interested citizens. A recommendation of the Archway Partnership Diverse, Forward-Thinking Economy Issue Work Group, the idea of a business start-up center has been discussed over the past few years as a way to assist aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Researchers from the Enterprise Innovation Institute spent part of last year studying Dalton’s economic trends and meeting with entrepreneurs, small businesses, community leaders and other citizens. Their research has concluded that the Dalton-Whitfield area would benefit from the introduction of a business incubation program, and that the community should move forward on its creation.

“Georgia Tech was commissioned to study our community’s readiness for an incubator after a recommendation of an Archway Partnership work group,” said Melissa Lu, Archway Professional for Whitfield County. “I’m pleased with the results of the study, and I am hopeful a strong community effort will result in the realization of this goal.”

The Georgia Tech researchers propose that the entity tasked with achieving this goal of an incubator move with patience and caution, as there are key factors that must be addressed before an incubation program can be up and running.

“Most importantly, an incubator requires local funding and a long-term commitment,” Lu added.

A consideration listed in Georgia Tech’s study was a “low desire for public (financial) support of private enterprises.” A follow up survey to the study results indicated otherwise, according to the Archway Partnership.

In the survey results, The Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce, Whitfield County, City of Dalton, Dalton State College and private industry (such as banks) were cited most often as possible funding partners to an incubator effort.

“Most incubation programs are private-public partnerships,” said Brian Anderson, president of Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce. “I think an incubator would be valuable for Greater Dalton, but we need to determine the appropriate financial partners to make this a long-term success.”

If the community elects to move forward with the incubator idea, Georgia Tech will provide additional research and recommendations about what type of incubator, services to offer and businesses to target for Dalton.