What is an Incubator?

Business incubators are facilities that nurture start-up businesses and expanding small businesses by providing them with affordable rent and hands-on management assistance, educational programming, and connections with resources and experienced partners in the public and private sector in order to be successful. They typically offer shared office services, access to equipment, flexible leases, and space – all under one roof.

The primary purpose of the Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator (VHSBI) is to encourage, support, and empower new and small businesses as tenants in the VHSBI facility and to ensure successful start-ups and continued growth. Additionally, we house several nonprofits or governmental agencies that contribute to a positive economic climate in the area. We also provide educational programming on a regular basis and present an annual Business Challenge for new and expanding business in which participants compete for cash awards.

VHSBI is built on the philosophy that new businesses in Washington County and the towns of Abingdon, Damascus, and Glade Spring, Virginia, are a vital component to economic prosperity and offers connectivity and rooted values to the economic profile of our region.