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Business Incubator

FMU Kelley Center For Economic Development

Francis Marion University’s Kelley Center for Economic Development has been dedicated to the economic growth of the Pee Dee Region through small business support, business incubation, and various regional economic development initiatives since 2016. Our goal is to provide small businesses and non-profits with support initiatives and educational services to help cultivate growth from the idea stage to opening day and beyond.  

Additional information about our incubator offices and assistance meetings can be found below. To stay updated on our upcoming workshops and seminars, make sure to subscribe to our free e-newsletter.

Business Incubation

The purpose of the incubator is to provide your business or non-profit a place to grow within a collective community of support and resources. Interested applicants can apply for a three-month, six-month, or one-year lease.

NOTE: There are certain types of professional service firms as well as traditional retail that are inappropriate for the facility and are not eligible for the incubator program. Competing businesses will not be accepted into the same incubator.

Incubation Program Acceptance Process
·Complete the Incubator Interest Form (located at the top left of the page)
·Formal Interview

Incubation Service Offerings
·Dedicated Small Business Technical Assistance Staff
·Referrals to program partners (Local, State, Federal, or Non-profit)
·Facility resources (office, copier, meeting space, etc…)
·Professional Development and Training opportunities

Incubation Client Requirements
·Monthly program fees – $300-$350 depending on lease term (plus ancillary fees such as copier usage)
·Facility usage - Must utilize the facility consistently and may only operate the approved business while being respectful to other incubator tenants and staff

Business Assistance

The staff at the Kelley Center for Economic Development provide free technical assistance to non-incubator clients in the area of business plan development, resource identification, and other business services.
Examples of assistance areas include:
·Business plan development
·Financial management
·Marketing plans
·Website development
·Social Media marketing
·Time management
·Proposal creation
·Branding or re-branding

Assistance meetings can take place at the business incubator, by phone, through email, or web conference during business hours. If you are interested in small business assistance, please complete appointment meeting form above or reach out to us at kelleycenter@fmarion.edu.