What is an Incubator?

An incubator is a business support process designed to assist start-up and emerging businesses.
While emphasis is on providing flexible space for tenants, business support via coaching, access
to financing and a host of other services are available. The SIUC Small Business Incubator
provides traditional incubation support services and now includes affiliate and shared equipment
lab support.
What is Incubation?
According to the National Business Incubation Association, business incubation is a dynamic
process of business enterprise development. An incubator is an organization that is set up to
help foster business enterprise development. Incubators help young firms get started and survive
at times when they are most vulnerable.
The primary goal of a business incubator is to produce successful businesses that graduate into
the region. They offer shared services, access to equipment, flexible leases, and expandable
space. Many incubators are located near other services that are valuable to an incubating
business. For example, the SIUC Business Incubator Program has the Office of Economic and
Regional Development, the Illinois Small Business Development and International Trade Center,
and the Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center housed in the Dunn-Richmond Economic
Development Center.
Why should I join the SIUC Small Business Incubator Program?
The SIUC Small Business Incubator Program is here to provide the guidance and consulting
necessary to make sure your start-up or expanding business has the right tools necessary to
succeed. As a member of the National Business Incubation Association, the SIUC Small
Business Incubation Program has the experience necessary to take your business under our
wing. With more than 50 successful graduates emerging from this program, we are one of the
most successful business incubation programs in southern Illinois.
Affiliate Incubator Program
The Affiliate Incubation Program is a new program of the SIU Carbondale Small Business
Incubator. It will allow entrepreneurs and small businesses to utilize all the resources available
within the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center without requiring tenancy. All affiliate
clients must submit an application and meet eligibility requirements. For more information, check
out our flyer.

Small Business Development Centers

Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) provide assistance to small
businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs throughout the United States and its
territories. SBDCs help entrepreneurs realize the dream of business ownership
and help existing businesses remain competitive in a complex, ever-changing
global marketplace. SBDCs are hosted by leading universities and state

economic development agencies, and funded in part through a partnership with

SBA.
SBDC advisors provide aspiring and current small business owners a variety of
free business consulting and low-cost training services including: business plan
development, manufacturing assistance, financial packaging and lending
assistance, exporting and importing support, disaster recovery assistance,
procurement and contracting aid, market research help, 8(a) program support,
and healthcare guidance.
With dozens of host networks branching out with hundreds of service delivery
points throughout the U.S., the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico,
American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands, SBDC assistance is available
virtually anywhere.