Small Business Incubator is an Asset

By G. Michael Dobbs
Staff Writer

Springfield- If it weren't for the Springfield Technical Community College Student Business Incubator Center, Laura Merwin's business, M-Teks, may never have gotten off the ground.

"I had attempted to do this on my own out of my home," Merwin said last week at a reception to note that her business has gone from the Student Incubator program to Springfield Enterprise Center's Small Business Incubator. What Merwin has received from being in both programs is the support and advice that she needed to successfully launch her business.

M-Teks specializes in web page design, database systems and custom programming. It has a staff of three full-time people, including Merwin, and hires consultants to assist on projects. Those consultants are mostly STCC students and Merwin said the experience has helped three students find full-time jobs.

Merwin's business was in the Student Incubator for only eight months before she made the move to the Small Business Incubator. Located in one of the former Armory buildings on Federal Street opposite the STCC campus, the Small Business Incubator charges Merwin rent for the office space, but provides her with an advisory team which provides guidance on business issues.

For instance, Merwin needed marketing advice and received it through consultants at the Incubator. She said that one advantage of being at the Incubator is the networking and support between the various businesses there. "Everyone's at the same spot and we are all up against the same odds," she said "we help each other out."

M-Teks' focus is to fulfill the needs of other small businesses in the area, Merwin said that "business has been very, very, good."