The Incubator without Walls project has been formulated to grow businesses and respond to the changing economic climate in the Derby-Newport area. Lyndon State College, Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC) and regional collaborative partners have joined together to identify the most effective ways to respond to the addition of big box stores in the area and other challenges.
The Incubator without Walls aims to improve emerging and existing businesses through:
• Hosting monthly workshops with cutting- edge business concepts that will be available to over 200 area businesses,
• Providing an “incubator experience” to 20 participating businesses,
• Coordinating Lyndon State faculty and student involvement in the business development activities,
• Access to the extended resources of VtSBDC and its state and national partners.
Incubator without Walls is a win-win opportunity for business and Lyndon State College. The program offers a creative solution to business problems that will benefit the small rural businesses in the area as well as give first-hand experience to students of Lyndon State College.
The project has been made possible by partial funding from the USDA Rural Development and has a two year timeline, ending in October 2009. The total cost of the project is $322,059
For more information, contact Director Ann Nygard at ann.nygard@lyndonstate.edu or (802) 626-4867.