Schultz Discusses Effingham County Incubator Network at Chamber First Friday

(BOB SCHULTZ OF THE EFFINGHAM COUNTY INCUBATOR NETWORK TALKS WITH FLORA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR DAN SULSBERGER FOLLOWING TODAY'S CHAMBER FIRST FRIDAY LUNCHEON)

Many individuals have ideas for businesses they're sure will be a success, but they don't have the resources or the infrastructure in place to get those businesses into operation.

That's the purpose of the Effingham County Incubator Network, a group working to provide facilities to get those startup businesses in place.

Bob Schultz of Schultz Investment Company is chairing the network.  Schultz spoke to the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce First Friday Luncheon about the program.

Schultz said office space has been identified at the First National Bank of Dieterich corporate headquarters on North 3rd Street in Effingham, in a vacant building on North 4th Street in Altamont and in the EJ Water Corporation offices in Dieterich.

The Alliance, the county economic development group, will be the legal entity with the Incubator operating under the alliance.  A Board of Directors is in place consisting of Schultz, Chamber President Norma Lansing, Altamont Mayor Larry Taylor, Alliance Executive Director Dan Woods, local economic development specialist Hank Stephens, EJ Water Executive Director Bill Teichmiller, local newspaper publisher Steve Raymond, and Teutopolis Village Trustee Roger Henderson.

The Incubator Network is already expanding, as Newton is expressing interest in joining.  Newton has already identified a former hardware store on the southeast corner of the courthouse square as a site for incubator businesses.

Schultz said the Incubator Network's mission statement is basic: Incubate, Collaborate, Celebrate and Navigate.  He encouraged those gathered to have their ears to the ground, and to let Lansing know at the Chamber if they hear about fledgling businesses needing some help.