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See how the garden grows
3/19/2007
Monday, March 19, 2007 - MiBiz
By Karen Gentry | MiBiz
ZEELAND – Lakeshore Advantage’s Business Garden is working just as intended - housing business startups, graduating tenants, generating jobs and attracting a wide range of business types.
Lakeshore Advantage President Randy Thelen said many of the companies that have spent time in the incubator have successfully moved into the private market.
"I’d put our performance up against any incubator in the Midwest with the number of jobs generated in a short period of time and type of companies," he told MiBiz.
Thelen said he has worked for other incubators where tenants have overstayed the one-year mark.
"Our community has really come together to support the space," said Thelen, noting strong support from the Holland and Zeeland chambers of commerce as well as the Small Business Technology and Development Center.
"A team of volunteers have really put some energy into this. We are not operating the incubator in isolation. There is really a broad base of community support," Thelen said.
Since its founding in 2003, Lakeshore Business Garden graduates include B&G Solutions, Crayon Interface, ErgoQuest and Stabilityone Corp.
Stabilityone, a business that started as an IT company and has since branched into building custom software and databases, graduated from the incubator in December and moved into a larger space next door.
Stabilityone President Ryan Wallace jumped at the opportunity to become a Lakeshore Business Garden tenant and appreciated the help available. Wallace decided to move next door in the same building because he liked the tenant space and the loft-style feel of the structure,
Business is great for Stabilityone, especially since the company started building its own software and databases.
"We’re always on the cutting edge of technology. We always know the newest products and make sure they’re tested out," Wallace said.
Current tenants in the business garden include The GRIP Group, a consultant in electrical energy; Sterling Signal, a digital displays advertising company; Simmon’s Specialty Products, makers of an irrigated, illuminated planter; Media Innovation, a video production and design firm; Ida Design, an industrial design firm specializing in office and educational furniture and Strategic Engineering Solutions, designers of special machine equipment for the automotive industry.
Strategic Engineering Solutions President George Linart is in the process of moving his company from Plymouth in Southeast Michigan to Zeeland. Networking with multiple tenants in the incubator is one of the major advantages of being housed in the incubator, according to Linart.
He said the other incubating businesses are like advisors or a board of directors to his company and help him answer questions and solve problems such as the choice of a health insurance company and dealing with employees.
Linart is also impressed with the West Michigan region compared to East Michigan.
"West Michigan has a much more diverse economy. Governments across the board are more forward thinking and want to try to promote and help businesses," Linart told MiBiz.
Business for Strategic Engineering Solutions was up and down last year but has stabilized thus far in 2007. Linart believes there is a reduction in competition amongst auto suppliers, which leaves surviving businesses, like his, with an advantage.
Lakeshore Advantage Marketing Manager Amanda Chocko said for $300 a month, incubator tenants receive a workstation with local telephone access, wireless Internet, color copier, fax, printer and several conference rooms. Tenants undergo a quarterly review process for an examination of business plans and goals. A mentoring program matches up local professionals with the entrepreneurs.
Lakeshore Advantage also started a virtual tenant program in January 2007 for entrepreneurs not yet ready to move into the business garden. Virtual tenants are charged $50 per month and have limited use of conference room and office space. There are currently five virtual tenants. Chocko plans to attract more.
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