By Kate Hill
Staff Writer
In 2019, the Partnership for Community Development (PCD) in Hamilton was awarded a $625,000 grant from Empire State Development’s New York State Business Incubator Program to help establish and direct startups and fledgling businesses in Madison County.
As a “New York State Certified Business Incubator,” PCD works in partnership with Colgate University’s Thought Into Action (TIA) entrepreneurship program to offer business support services out of the TIA/PCD Incubator at 20 Utica St., Hamilton.
The TIA program is a rigorous, yearlong commitment where students and local entrepreneurs launch ventures to solve problems in the for-profit, non-profit, or campus/community arena.
PCD is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that works to foster economic opportunity and community vitality in Hamilton and the surrounding areas.
According to PCD Executive Director Jennifer Marotto Lutter, the organization has distributed approximately $2 million in grants over the last four years to emerging and existing businesses.
“In doing so, we realized that the businesses needed training and other services that are just not available outside of more urbanized areas,” Lutter said. “We were partnering with Colgate’s TIA, [which] started letting local people in — not just students. We wanted to extend this [outreach] even further by sharing [the downtown] incubator and the services it offers . . . With this incubator, we are really able to serve the whole region.”
Last summer, PCD hired former TIA director Mary Galvez as its full-time incubator director.
In her role, Galvez works to build a network of local mentors; to facilitate connections with small businesses and start-ups throughout Madison County; and to organize workshops, training programs and networking events.
“We offer all kinds of different services here,” Galvez said. “If somebody walks in with an idea, we can help them put together a business plan; develop their idea and formulate goals; find space and funding; work with local banks; and really get them started — whatever it takes.”
Lutter added that all of the incubator services are available to farmers, and that PCD is currently working on a few farmer-specific projects.
“We want to reach out to the farm community and let them know that they are part of the small business community too, and that we are excited for them to take advantages of our services,” she said.
According to Galvez, the incubator’s marketing workshop last fall was a particularly popular offering.
Potential topics for upcoming workshops include student loan debt and “Ten Business Killers.”
Under Galvez’s direction, the incubator also offers one-on-one office hours, which connect local entrepreneurs, small business owners, and TIA students with subject matter experts such as accountants and lawyers, who provide personalized guidance and advice.
Previous office hour topics include QuickBooks, business finances, and HR. Upcoming topics include taxes, insurance, employee benefits, and social media marketing.
“What we are trying to do is offer a whole range of services to businesses and then partner those with the grants that we are able to provide,” Lutter said. “ . . . Over the past couple years, PCD has provided up to $35,000 to anyone starting a business . . . We have coached so many businesses all the way from the idea [stage] to the growth stage, where we are able to get them even more funding.”
Lutter pointed to Good Nature Farm Brewery & Tap Room, HeartStone Artisan Bakery, and Kriemhild Dairy Farms as examples of local businesses that have benefited from PCD’s services.
Recently, the organization secured a $100,000 state grant to assist the growing FoJo Beans coffee roasters and $186,000 for an expansion to Ray Brothers BBQ.
“We are trying to create an ecosystem where small businesses can really thrive and where they can find everything they need along the way,” Lutter said. “We hope to use this grassroots economic development model to improve life in Madison County.”
The downtown incubator also serves as a coworking space for area entrepreneurs, small business owners and Colgate students.
A $30 per month membership includes 24/7 access to a flexible, shared workspace; access to a community of like-minded entrepreneurs; high-speed internet; a quiet conference room and soundproof phone booth; two computer workstations with full Adobe Cloud and Microsoft software suites; full printing/scanning capabilities; a kitchenette; AV equipment and stage for presentations; and free access to the incubator’s regular programming.
To sign up for the TIA/PCD Incubator weekly newsletter, visit myemail.constantcontact.com or email [email protected].
Learn more about the incubator and its services at hamiltonpcd.org or facebook.com/hamiltonareaentrepreneurs, or on Instagram at hamilton_area_entrepreneurs.
