TERRE HAUTE — Wabash Valley Fairgrounds officials seek to start a new business incubator aimed at attracting and supporting agribusinesses.
The Wabash Valley Business Incubator & Educational Center is to be located in an existing 4,600-square-foot building on the fairgrounds. Built in 1969 by Indiana State University as a motorcycle safety training area, the building has most recently been used as a day care facility and as a temporary center for a flood disaster relief organization.
“This is unique, as we are not aware of any business incubator actually located on a fairgrounds facility. We are focusing on agribusiness. To be a tenant here, you have to have an early stage start-up agribusiness company that you want to locate here,” said Doug Edge, of Edge Marketing Inc. who will serve as incubator director.
Two large and three small office suites, along with shared a training and conference space that holds up to 50 people, will be available to companies accepted into the incubator.
“The fact that it is located on the fairgrounds opens the door for a lot of other marketing aspects for these [agribusiness] companies because they can host expos here and they can do product demonstrations here,” Edge said. “One company we are talking to actually sprays cornfields and bean fields with a helicopter, and we have a great place for a landing pad out here.”
“We are not going to be a high-tech research and development facility, but this is more about sales marketing and going to market,” Edge said.
A fundraising campaign is under way to raise $200,000 to start the incubator, Edge said, which includes the remodeling the building, slated to start in October after funds are raised.
Remodeling includes installing a shower in the facility to allow people to ride bicycles to the building and lessening a carbon footprint to give it a “green” aspect. The building also will use low-flow water toilets and sinks, said Rustin Laswell, owner and chief designer for RCI Designs Inc. in Terre Haute.
David H. Hartmann, president of the fair board, said the board in April approved entering into a contract for the incubator and approved the contract for the facility in May.
“I see this, number one, as an income source for the fairgrounds. As a not-for-profit organization, we always need the income to keep this place afloat,” Hartmann said. “I also envision this being developed into an agricultural center for this side of the state to influence and develop agribusiness in the area. It’s a nice fit with our agricultural background here at the fairgrounds.”
The facility will be marketed aggressively, Edge said, in cooperation with the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce, West Central Indiana Small Business Development Center and the Indiana Department of Agriculture.
“We will be working with the Wabash Valley Business Incubator on agri-based businesses, as well as retail-based and service-based businesses to provide an outlet so they can reduce initial startup costs,” said Heather Penney, director of the Small Business Development Center, part of ISU’s College of Business.
“We will also be able to be a feeder for the incubator, as a business may need space for a place to hold a meeting, due presentations or put together packets,” Penney said.
Howard Greninger can be reached at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Fairgrounds officials looking to attract, support agribusiness
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Montford Point Marine
In 1943, 19-year-old Ezell Odom was on the sandy beach of a tiny South Pacific island about 7,000 miles from his parent’s home in Terre Haute.
-
K-9 officer Shadow honored as a hero
A Terre Haute K-9 officer injured in the line of duty has been honored as a hero by the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association.
-
Freezin’ for a Reason
Hundreds lined up outside Hulman Center amid frigid air to participate in a warm-hearted cause.
-
Even as law, right-to-work dominates crackerbarrel
The flames of the right-to-work debate were gone, but the coals still seemed to smolder.
-
Vigo School Board to give OK on bonds for DeVaney project
The Vigo County School Board will meet at 6 p.m. Monday in the administration building, 686 Wabash Ave.
-
Bridging the gap to ‘forever’
They can be taken from their homes by strangers for reasons they may not understand, with no possessions other than the clothes they are wearing.
-
Students showcase keen problem-solving skills at Rose-Hulman
For the 16th straight year, Honey Creek Middle School students came out on top in the Wabash Valley MATHCOUNTS competition at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
-
Ivy Tech to celebrate Black History Month
Ivy Tech Community College will celebrate Black History Month with a series of events at its campuses statewide.
-
Whitney Houston, superstar of records, films, dies
Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.
-
Giant welcome home for Steve
Terre Haute was suddenly home to thousands of cheering New York Giants fans Friday as residents welcomed Super Bowl champion Steve Weatherford back home for a parade.
-
‘One for Terre Haute,’ Steve tells crowd at North
“This one was for Terre Haute,” native son Steve Weatherford proclaimed Friday as he shared his Super Bowl victory with the community that helped send him on the path to a world championship.
-
Hometown support vital to success, Weatherford says
Steve Weatherford said Friday he wouldn’t be celebrating a Giants’ Super Bowl victory if not for the support he’s received from his hometown, his parents and mentors in his life.
-
Craning for a rare glimpse
A visitor from the Far East has naturalists flying to Linton, hoping some good comes from one bird’s bad directions.
-
Vigo’s primary election filings complete
The slate is set for the May 8 primary election, with the race for three at-large seats on the Vigo County Council drawing the largest pool of candidates at the county level.
-
Documentary on electric vehicles plays Sunday at Rose
The rising popularity of electric vehicles and their impact on the world eco-system is the focus of a documentary, “Revenge of the Electric Car,” being presented at 3 p.m. Sunday in Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s Hatfield Hall Theater.
-
Man gets 10-year sentence in battery case
A West Terre Haute man received a 10-year prison sentence Friday after pleading guilty to aggravated battery for beating a friend caught in bed with the man’s wife.
-
Asian hooded crane lands in Greene County wildlife area
Bird watchers are flocking to a southwestern Indiana wildlife area to try to catch a glimpse of a crane usually spotted only in Asia.
-
Slow drips: It’s maple syrup season in Indiana
More seasonal, colder temperatures will hit the Wabash Valley this weekend, which is ideal weather for maple syrup production, said Keith Ruble, superintendent of the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department.
However, Ruble voices concern that this year’s maple syrup season may be short.
-
Downtown restaurant celebrates expansion
The streets of Terre Haute were chilly Thursday night, but for the glow of hot pasta inside Louise’s Pizzeria and Cafe.
-
Contract signed for new Y
Papers are signed and the ink is in place for a new YMCA to operate in Terre Haute.
-
City to impose $30 release fee on towed vehicles
The Terre Haute City Council voted without opposition Thursday to impose a new $30 release fee on vehicles towed and impounded by the police as part of a criminal investigation.
-
Valley educators cautious on Indiana’s ‘No Child’ waiver
Indiana is one of 10 states to receive a waiver from federal No Child Left Behind requirements.
-
Driver dies after Illinois school bus crash
“Brace yourself. Brace yourself,” Fay Pickering shouted to her students just before the school bus she was driving crossed U.S. 40 and landed in a ditch Thursday morning.
-
Trial date set for former WTH police chief
A July 23 trial date has been set for a former police chief of West Terre Haute accused of theft.
-
Motorcycle gang member pleads guilty in federal court
A member of an Indianapolis motorcycle gang who delivered methamphetamine to a Terre Haute dealer has pleaded guilty to drug charges in federal court.
-
July trial date set for mother charged with child neglect
A July 30 trial date has been set for a Terre Haute mother charged with neglecting and battering her toddler.
-
Business hosting SPPRAK fundraiser
Java Haute is hosting the latest fundraiser sponsored by SPPRAK — Special People Performing Random Acts of Kindness.
-
Valley high school cooking competition under way today
Clabber Girl Corp. and Gordon Food Services will host the fourth-annual High School Chef Competition, beginning today through Saturday, and again Feb. 18, in the Culinary Classroom at Clabber Girl.
- UPDATE: Marshall, Ill., school bus driver involved in accident dies; cause appears to be cardiac-related
-
Terre Haute road name game
What used to be called U.S. 40 from the Wabash River west through West Terre Haute to Interstate 70 needs to be renamed and, probably, get new street addresses, a Vigo County planner recommends.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-








