By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Concordia University Texas wants to launch a business incubator next fall to help foster entrepreneurs in Four Points.

Concordia’s College of Business received a $250,000 donation from a San Antonio donor who asked that the school “help people run good businesses and teach them how to do business well,” said Dr. Donald Christian, dean of Concordia’s College of Business.

Dr. Donald Christian, dean of Concordia University Texas College of Business, unveiled his local business incubator vision at last week’s Four Points Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Consultant Dr. Kathryn Davis, of Strategic Options, will help gather information to launch the idea in the weeks ahead.
photo by Lynette Haaland

Christian was the guest speaker at last week’s Four Points Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Feb. 20 at River Place Country Club.

Christian unveiled his vision for the creation of a business incubator—a program designed to partner with local businesses and entrepreneurs to bring greater economic opportunity and growth to the area.

An incubator would serve students, entrepreneurs and existing businesses in the community and mentors, who would help young business leaders, Christian said.

The site for this potential incubator would have a variety of spaces depending what is appropriate for a given business, including cubicles, small rooms for meetings and even possibly wet labs.

A goal for such a site would be for incubator members to learn from each other in close proximity where “sparks of creativity” will fly, Christian said.

Concordia hired a consultant, Dr. Kathryn Davis of Strategic Options, to help it through the information gathering and listening stage.

Davis will be conducting an extensive “listening tour” and by the end of April, Concordia will decide go-no-go. If all is feasible, next fall the incubator will launch.

“We have no idea the number of businesses that would be served – that depends on the structure of the incubator. That will be announced when we launch,” Christian said.

 That is also when more details will be given about what type or types of business sectors will be served. But for now, that is too soon to tell, Christian said.