The Conference of Mayors’ is sharing success stories daily on what Community Development Block Grants support in our nation’s cities.
Montgomery, AL
Winston-Salem, NC
Since 2010, S.G. Atkins Community Development Corporation, a non-profit organization affiliated with Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), has been undertaking redevelopment of the former Boys and Girls Club into a small business incubator and community center in five phases, of which the City of Winston-Salem has provided funding in four. Thirty-seven (37) start-up businesses and organizations currently call The Enterprise Center home. Phase 1 of the project included renovation of the second floor plus the roof and parking lot for use as a small business incubator. Funds included $710,000 in local public funds from the City, $525,000 in federal HBCU funds, and $180,000 through the State of North Carolina, for a total cost of $1,415,000. Completed 2011. Phase 2 included the renovation of most of the first floor for use by the WSSU School of Health Sciences. Phase 3 included renovation of the former gymnasium into a multipurpose room that can be used for training classes, community meetings, conferences and other events. Funds included $209,000 in CDBG funds and $350,000 in HBCU funds, for a total cost of $559,000. Phase 4 included renovation of the lower level into additional space for the small business incubator, another small conference room/computer lab, and other small technology lab spaces. Funds included $500,000 in CDBG funds, $1,200,000 from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, and $228,079 through the State of North Carolina, for a total cost of $1,928,079. The 5th and final phase included improvements to the kitchen to create a shared-use, licensed commercial kitchen that will provide specialty food and catering businesses time-share access to production facilities, at a reasonable fee, without the excessive cost of establishing their own commercial kitchen.