DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / June 3, 2000

VACHERIE – Littered with old hospital papers and water stained ceilings, parts of the St. James River Region hospital building have been silent since thefacility closed down. In other wings business has returned to breathe into itnew life and return it to a functioning part of the St. James society.Along with four businesses already operating in the building, the St. JamesParish Business Incubator has begun accepting applications for residents.

Offered to small business owners or individuals looking to begin a business, the incubator has a lot to offer.

With rooms rentable between 90 square feet at $150 to 520 square feet at $875 a month, a business can find the perfect size to fit its needs. Overall5700 square feet are now available for rent. In this monthly rent, all utilitiesare included, thus helping to keep expenses lower and more manageable.

Also included in the rental package is a free secretary, which seems like a pretty good deal. Rachel Perque, the incubator’s secretarial assistant, isavailable to answer calls for the businesses, and she gives two hours of free data procession a month. Thus the cost of Perque’s pay is divided betweenall occupants.

Other highlights of the incubator along with Perque’s availability are access to a fax machine, copy machine and a small reference library, use of a computer with internet access, use of a conference room, janitorial services and mail services. Many of the devices businesses need are supplied andshared, thus drastically cutting down the operating costs of a business trying to get up and running.

Also included in the rent is the loan of office equipment, which was donated to the incubator in vast quantity by Regents Bank.

“Like mana from the sky” it came, said Edie Michel, coordinator of economic development for the parish and organizer of the incubator. The only costoutside of the rent, as far a residing in the incubator, is the purchase of a phone and a sign to add to the marquee out front.

Bought from the parish, the old hospital building is currently owned by David Chauvin of B & T Leasing in Houma. Chauvin already rents space to fourother businesses in the facility. Michel greatly credits Chauvin, who paid forthe remodeling of the facility, with helping get the incubator started. Alongwith the parish he took a chance on this project to see if it could succeed, spawning more local businesses and helping those already in existence, said Michel.

The incubator is designed to raise businesses for three to five years. Aspart of the service the companies will mandatorily sit down with a business consultant to review future plans and the progress made so far.

Already, two prospective companies are ready to move into the facility.

Steven Keller runs Triple S Windshield repair and will rent an office from the incubator and work space from Chauvin. One of the more versatile points ofthe incubator is the fact that businesses that out grow their offices can move to large rooms inside the incubator or rent other spaces directly from Chauvin, all without actually leaving the facility.

Ben Savoie, a local chiropractor, is preparing to open his office and offer the only chiropracting services on the west bank of St. James Parish. The wallsin his rooms are lined with lead, allowing x-ray machines and other medical equipment to be used. The incubator has space to fit about anyone’s needs,said Michel.

Scott Torres and Michael Gros are looking to start a stereo retail company.

Gros was on hand Thursday to receive information on structuring a business plan and other important information for beginning the business. Michelhelped walk him through the steps required to rent from the incubator as well as options on who to consult, like loan offices, a lawyer and such, for beginning the enterprise.

Currently the incubator is working to finalize rental agreements. Michel andPerque expect the incubator to be a bustle of activity come August. Alongwith Keller and Savoie, who are ready to sign, there are quite a few other people who have been dropping by interested in what the incubator offers, said Michel.

There are 16 incubators across the state, a few in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, as well as those in Jefferson, Iberville and Plaquemines parishes. TheSt. James Parish Incubator will be the first in the River Parishes.

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