Streator seeks Incubator grant

Streator is looking to increase the regional presence of the business incubator in the former Armory building.

The idea is to build training programs and marketing for new 3-D printing equipment, a DIY workshop, light manufacturing facilities and food preparation/packaging facilities to be installed.

To do so, the city has applied for a $500,000 USDA Rural Innovation Stronger Economy grant. The funds would be received in a four-year period to pay for a full-time manager, additional marketing and program development.

The project will cost $625,000 total, meaning the city would need to provide $31,250 annually.

The addition of the management, marketing and training is expected to move the Incubator into a position where it can self-sustain the new manager after the term of the grant has expired.

A study was conducted about a year ago at the Incubator by the University of Illinois to determine which spaces needed to be renovated to accommodate entrepreneurs and developing businesses.

City Manager David Plyman said Vactor Manufacturing officials have said they would be interested in discussing use of the Incubator for designing prototypes, among other items.

The city owns the Incubator, which was the former Armory, 401 W. Bridge St. The city leases the property to the Streator Community Development Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity that conducts fundraising to maintain the building, and oversees its secondary use as a community center. About half of the Streator Incubator’s 23,000 square feet is leased to small business start-up companies. It also hosts the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Starved Rock Country (SBDC) every Thursday when it hosts office hours.