Purpose: To identify business incubators which may or may not be associated with community/technical colleges. Ideally, we would like to find business incubators working closely with postsecondary institutions, but this is not essential. Focus groups will be conducted with managers and tenants in incubators which emphasize service to minority/female entrepreneurs and provide systematic education and training services. We are particularly interested in incubators offering entrepreneurial education/programs as a major component of incubation.
Incubator:
Address:
Contact Person: _______________________ Phone #: _________________ Title: ________________________________ Fax #: _________________Incubator description: Include information on sponsorship and whether the incubators have a systematic approach to delivery of education and training services, including a component on entrepreneurial skills, preferably. Attach any relevant materials (e.g., news release, journal article, and brochures).
Stability: Include length of operation, funding commitment, and utilization of business space.
Start-up assistance: Indicate whether the incubator provides systematic assistance to start-up a business; include financial, management, marketing, and organizational issues.
Entrepreneurial environment: Describe if incubator is providing a nurturing environment to develop entrepreneurial skills--for example, awareness of current issues in global competition; understanding of changes in the workplace, management styles, and the national market and the economy; and availability of current information related to area of business.
Linkages with community/technical colleges: Identify links with postsecondary institutions--for example, participation in internships, co-op programs, education and training services, technical assistance, entrepreneurial development, and other connections with educational institutions or agencies to provide for education and training services to tenants.
Tenant composition: Describe the composition of tenants in terms of gender and ethnicity.
Location: Include a variety of locations, including urban, suburban, rural, and geographical distribution.
Sources of information: Incorporate journals, nominations, personal consultations, phone consultations, brochures, and so on.