Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into contract with the Greater Linden Development Corporation (GLDC) for the development of the “All Things Linden” business incubator to be located at the Clarence D. Lumpkin Point of Pride Building. GLDC is a nonprofit community development corporation that has been serving the Linden area since 1994. GLDC’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Linden, with one of the primary objectives being community revitalization through economic development. The “All Things Linden” business incubator is being developed to provide an affordable, high-tech gallery retail incubator for Linden entrepreneurs to market their products and services in a highly-visible and easily accessible location, thus providing an innovative economic development opportunity without requiring a large initial investment of capital from the business participants. Additionally, business incubator support services such as training, business resource referrals, and ancillary office services will be provided to entrepreneurs participating in the “All Things Linden” business incubator.
The “All Things Linden” business incubator will be designed to meet the needs of local entrepreneurs as well as to create a needed service and retail venue within the Linden area. An Advisory Council of business professionals will provide expertise and assistance, and prospective business participants will provide input guiding the incubator’s structure and operations through a series of directed focus groups. The integration of technology and the incubator’s creative brand and design theme of Linden’s history will create a destination point for consumers from both within and outside the Linden community while stimulating economic development opportunities for Linden residents.
FISCAL IMPACT: $75,000.00 has been allocated from the 2013 Jobs Growth Fund for this initiative.
Title
To authorize the Director of Developmen...
Click here for full text