Have a unique business idea? The North Side Business Incubator will take you from planning to profitability. The free event will be held Thursday, Aug. 31, at St. Ann Center’s Bucyrus Campus, 2450 W. North Ave. Planned by Ald. Russell W. Stamper II, St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care and the North Avenue Marketplace Business Improvement District (BID) 32, the incubator is designed to provide resources and advice to people looking to start or expand their own business in the 15th Aldermanic District (53205, 53206 and 53210 ZIP codes).
Aspiring entrepreneurs are asked to fill out an online questionnaire about their idea at stanncenter.org/biz. Twenty participants will be selected from the pool of entries. The deadline for questionnaires is Wednesday, Aug. 16.
“This is a chance to bring your business idea directly to the people who can make it a reality,” says John Jansen, vice president of Grants, Community & Capital Development. All participants will have a chance to meet one-on-one with Ald. Stamper, business coaches and investors to discuss their ideas. They will also receive step-by-step guidance to help write or enhance a business plan and the opportunity to network with city officials, mentors and other business hopefuls.
“We are calling this a business Incubator because we are committing to a full year of providing everyone with ongoing support throughout their journey to success,” Jansen added. This includes invitations to other business start-up and investor group meetings, direction to online resources and more.
This is the third North Side Business Incubator held at St. Ann Center’s Bucyrus Campus which opened in the 15th District two years ago. Participants from past incubators will talk about how the event helped them to successfully establish and grow their businesses. One, who plans to open an urban garden center, will offer other entrepreneurs an opportunity to become part of a collective of small businesses, ranging from plant nursery management to a café and artisan craft shops.
Also on hand to offer professional advice will be representatives from the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation, Milwaukee Black Business, African American Chamber of Commerce, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Small Business Development Center and other experts.
“Thanks to the first two incubators, four businesses are on their way to opening up in the 15th District,” Ald. Stamper said. “This is bringing growth and economic development to our inner city. We will continue to make progress until our corridors are filled with vibrant activity and businesses that support and employ locally. I look forward to working with all entrepreneurs interested in building the 15th District.”
Certificates of completion will be awarded to all twenty participants.
Printed questionnaires are also available for pickup at the Bucyrus Campus.
For more information on the business incubator, contact John Jansen at (414) 977-5031 or jjansen@stanncenter.org.