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Roseville city officials are in the process of purchasing a building on Gratiot Street in the heart of the downtown district to serve as a business incubator.
Community and Economic Development Director Jim Gamicchia said the city will pay $390,000 for the two-story building owned by Jim Jaczen and owner of Jason’s Fine Furniture store.
Once the purchase is complete and the incubator is up and running, it will help start-up companies and individual entrepreneurs with services ranging from management training to office space, said City Manager Scott Adkins.
“Because we have the building, we can work with new business startups to provide common facilities like conference rooms, and from there, they can move into a permanent brick-and-mortar building with funding from the federal Small Business Administration,” Adkins said.
Financing for the purchase comes from the city’s American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) federal funds. Meets ARPA requirements to provide economic development and recreational activities.
Incubators have worked well in other communities, city officials said, pointing to Macomb as an example.
“There are a lot of positives associated with the issue,” the city manager said. “The more we can help business owners, the more likely they are to succeed.”
The incubator building is located at 28351 Gratiot, just north of Utica Road. Officials said there are now tenants who are entering into leases with the city.
Adkins said there is a small alley and outdoor space adjacent to the alley at Erin Commons that could be used for future recreational activities. Last summer, the Alley hosted Thursday nights under the lights, featuring four outdoor concerts and food trucks.
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