Cabarrus County is working to help local entrepreneurs and startups succeed without leaving town to find workspace in Charlotte.
Cabarrus Economic Development recently announced a partnership with Flywheel Coworking to open an innovation center in Concord. The center will be developed on the main level and basement level of the former Cabarrus Savings Bank.
Page Castrodale, existing industry director for Cabarrus Economic Development, said a brick-and-mortar facility to help prop up startups in the region is a long time coming.
"If you are a startup here right now, there is a significant lack of support," she said. "I've seen a lot of companies moving into Charlotte because the ecosystem there is already very well defined."
Castrodale said Flywheel, which currently operates innovation spaces in Davidson and Winston-Salem, was the perfect partner because of its proven model.
Flywheel founder Peter Marsh said in a news release that the center will be a regional effort led by the local community.
“The level of support we have received from stakeholders in the entrepreneurship ecosystem and the growth demographics of Cabarrus County made us confident in investing in a Flywheel location in this community," he said in the news release.
The space is slated for a fall opening, and Castrodale said it will house the CED and the Cabarrus County Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, other partners like the Small Business Center at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Ventureprise at the University of North Carolina Charlotte will conduct programming and hold office hours.
The center, she said, is designed to deliver affordable space for startups and early-stage entrepreneurs while providing them with easy access to the resources and mentoring they need to scale their ventures successfully.
"I hope someone who has chosen Cabarrus County as their home because of the quality of life we have to offer, will soon feel like they can start their business here, and it will be well received and supported and validated," she said.
