James W. Strate Center for Bus-iness Development is open and waiting for business to happen.

About 200 community members, dignitaries, government officials and city leaders Friday dedicated the new business incubator, the culmination of a three-year process leaders hope will bring new businesses to Enid. The center is on the campus of Autry Technology Center, 1201 W. Willow.

The center already has its first client, Custom Land Management LLC., owned by Cara Evans, and a second client is undergoing the interview and approval process.

Visitors to the ribbon-cutting toured the 18,000-square-foot facility, which can house several new businesses at a time. Lt. Gov. Jari Askins and state CareerTech Director Phil Berkenbile were on hand for the dedication ceremony.

Visitors said they were impressed with the openness of the center and the professional atmosphere the building provides.

“It’s a beautiful, modern facility,” said Ward 1 City Commissioner Jim Crabbs. “This is going to be such an asset to Enid.”

The business center offers a contemporary office environment, but it also contains shop space and an industrial kitchen. The offices, conference and meeting rooms and hallways feature photographs by Enid photographer Mike Klemme that add a splash of color to the walls.

Ross Dillon, a local businessman, said the building will be impressive to clients considering starting their businesses in the incubator setting.

“It’s very impressive,” he said.





Its reason for existence



Ron Duggins, coordinator of the center, said the incubator will give entrepreneurs a leg up in getting their businesses off the ground and sustainable.

Enid’s business development center is one of about 50 in the state, one of 1,400 in the nation and one of 6,000 worldwide.

Berkenbile presented statistics, saying 80 percent of new businesses that start out in an incubator setting, like the new Enid facility, actually survive. Businesses that don’t have this advantage only see a 20 percent chance of success.

He said the business development center isn’t just for Enid but the region.

“If it helps Enid, it will help surrounding communities,” he said.





‘So much teamwork’



Askins, who was on hand more than a year ago for the ground-breaking of the new facility, said the new business center demonstrates the continuing pioneering spirit of the people of northwest Oklahoma.

“This says to new entrepreneurs that we’re behind you,” she said.

Askins said earlier the community can be proud of the project.

“It’s such a pleasure to come back and see this completed community project,” she said. “No one person can claim credit for it. There was so much teamwork.”

In his remarks to the crowd, Jim Strate, Autry Technology Center superintendent, again complimented and congratulated all the lawmakers, business people and community members who worked together to make this project successful.

The project was made possible with the help of state funding to the tune of about $2 million secured over two years. The business incubator was the No. 1. priority of the Enid business and education community as a meaningful tool for economic development.