less Project Off To Good Start
By Jalyae Strang
Pwt suitWriter
As the “business incubator” pro
ject slated for the Beatties Ford
Road area begins to take hold.
Getchel Caldwell, Johnaon C. Smith
University’s Assistant Vice Presi
dent lor Development, has volun
teered his services ss chairman of
the Incubator Committee.
The business incubator idea was
born out of tbs West TVads-Bssttiss
Ford Area Merchants Association,
"purred by tee Association’s presi
dent, Nasif Msjeed. To incubate
means to cause to develop or take
- form, usually by planning. Hie incu
bator project for west Charlotte will,
it’s predicted, develop economic
growth in this predominantly
black residential area. And,
Caldwell’s position with this project
is an intricate part of the planning
stage.
“I and others are forming a
proposal to be submitted to the N.C.
Technological Development Au
thority, requesting a grant for up to
$200,000,” he explains. “We are also
looking for a place to house the
incubator.”
Caldwell has much experience in
getting such tasks completed. He not
only handles similar duties, as far as
grant writing, for Smith, his pro
fessional background Includes
teaching urban studies at Smith and
•Union County Community Action,
also working as executive director of
Getchel Caldwell
.Assltant vice president
Inc. Caldwell has been the recipient
of complimentary citations from
both the City of Atlanta and from
Union County. ’
Caldwell describes, ‘‘The concept
of the incubator is a means to help
small businesses and newly formed
businesses make it through their
formative years by providing assist
ance services for which they’d
normally have to pay large sums of
money. It (the incubator) will be a
great assistance to minority-owned
businesses, having, also, the poten
tial to encourage growth and pro
vide jobs.”
The grant money, if awarded, will
finance the start up of the incuba
tor.
“Thegrant money, however, must
be matched by local funds,”
Caldwell points out. “We’re going to
raise the money,” he informs.
“We’re in the process now, and have
strong commitments.”
Another aspect of Caldwell’s re
sponsibility as chairman of the
Incubator Committee is to identify
financial sources. As to whether any
public sector funds are being sought,
Caldwell remarks, “There have
been no formal discussions with the
City.”
Concerns on the location of the
incubator are being discussed by the
Merchants Association at this time.
Also in discussion, according to
Caldwell, is whether the incubator
will be a multi-use operation or if it
will center on one specific industry.
The reason Caldwell became in
volved in this project, he concedes,
"Because Johnson C. Smith wants to
play a role.” Indeed, the West
Trade-Beatties Ford Area Mer
chants Association is working with
Smith on Project Catalyst, a de
velopment project near the univer
sity.
The proposal Caldwell and assist
ants are formulating will be sub
mitted by December 30, 1985, as
stated in an earlier report.
Spirit Square Kicks Off Christinas Celebration
Spirit Square Art* Center, 110 E.
7th Street, will kick off December
with Christmas activities beginning
on Friday, December 6, at 10 a.m.
The annual ClayWorks Christmas
/'■ Sale will be held in People Place on
Friday gnd Saturday, December 0-7,
from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tiles,
V weavings, and decorative and func
• tional ceramics made by students
and instructors in the Clay Works
program will be on sale.
In conjunction with JCid's Day
Uptown, a variety of activities will
be sponsored by Spirit Square on
Saturday, December 7, from 10 a.m.
until 3 p.m. Richard Mayberry,
Director of Printmaking at Spirit
Square,* will lead a workshop in
making Christmas Cards in the
Printmaking studio. A workshop in
„ Christmas Decorations will be led by
April Carder in Room 214 of the
uptown arts center, and in Enter
tainment Place, Rosalynn Cobb
Blankenship will lead children in the
singing of Christmas carols.
In addition to the Spirit Square
sponsored workshops and activities,
the Tarradiddle Players will present
“Christmas All Over The Place,” in
Entertainment Place on December 6
at 7:30 p.m., December 7 at ll a.m.,
2 p.m. and 4 p.m., and again on
December 8 at 2 and 4 p.m. Tickets
are available in the Spirit Square
Box Office. Those interested in re
serving seats may call the Box
Office at 376-8883.
The Pewter Rose Bistro will join in
the Christmas celebration on Fri
day, December 6, from 6-9 p.m. with
arts and crafts on sale made by local
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