Development center helps create thousands of jobs for companies

Dan River Business Development Center has been a key player in the Dan River Regions reboot efforts following the economic decline that left many out of work.

Thirteen years into their work, the center takes credit for helping creating about 2,000 local jobs.

DRBC is a business incubator that offers office, light industrial and warehouse spaces. Usage of any part of the roughly 30,000 square foot space is typically under a three-year lease agreement. The center has housed various businesses and organizations for short term stays.

There are six industrial bays and the rest of the building is filled with office space. There is a room with cube desk settings, a conference room, a seminar room and a library within the building.

How it started

Somewhere in the late 90s, a group of people, both the city and county, got together and pretty much came up with the thought that an incubator was something they need, Ralph Hogg said. Since 2001, theyve pretty much been in the business of economic development directors and whomever to secure tenants here.

Hogg has been the director of operations at the center for the last three years.

The center works in conjunction with the citys office of economic development, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, the Southside Business Technology Center, the Launch Place and the Longwood Small Business Development Center.

We dont compete with what I call the commercial real estate people. We are essentially in a way kind of subsidizing the rent. Although some people would tell you thats not really the case, Hogg said. The rent paid for a single office space grants the leaser access to the seminar room, library and conference room in addition to other extra space.

What a tenant gets when they come out here is a space that we hope will accommodate their needs. We can give them support in many different ways, Hogg said.

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Development center helps create thousands of jobs for companies