At a Thursday morning meeting, the Greene County Board of Commissioners took a decisive step to bolster local entrepreneurship by hiring Dr. Kerissa Kuis as manager of the county’s new business incubator. Dr. Kuis, a behavioral leadership scientist, brings experience as a business development consultant for Waynesburg University and as an adjunct professor in the business and economics college at West Virginia University.
Grant funding makes the incubator possible
The hiring follows the commissioners’ approval of a two‑year grant agreement with the Benedum Foundation. The $160,000 grant will cover Dr. Kuis’s salary and provide essential programming and equipment for the incubator, ensuring that fledgling companies have the resources they need to grow.
Location and facilities
The incubator will be housed in the historic Silveus Building in downtown Waynesburg, with an anticipated opening in the second week of November. The facility will feature roughly 22 office spaces spread across three floors, and the building’s basement is slated to become a maker space where entrepreneurs can prototype and test new products.
Commissioners’ vision
Commissioner Jared Edgreen, chairman of the board, explained that the incubator is intended to serve both new startups and existing businesses seeking to expand. “It will be a place for fledgling businesses to start and it will also be for current business owners who would like to get to the next level. We’re very excited about it,” Edgreen said.
A ribbon‑cutting ceremony and related events are planned to celebrate the opening, highlighting the county’s commitment to fostering economic development and job creation in Greene County.
Impact on the community
Local leaders anticipate that the incubator will attract innovative entrepreneurs, retain talent, and generate new employment opportunities in the region. By providing affordable office space, mentorship, and access to equipment, the incubator aims to reduce the barriers that often prevent small businesses from thriving.
Community members and business owners expressed optimism about the project, noting that the combination of grant support and experienced management positions Greene County to become a hub for entrepreneurial activity in southwestern West Virginia.
Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.
