BSC Research & Development Corporation
Director Delivers Featured Presentation
at National Business Incubator
Association’s International Conference

(Bluefield)—The MountainSouth Incubator Association (MSIA) has evolved so effectively from its grass roots creation into a formal organization promoting business growth the story of its growth was featured during the recent National Business Incubator Association’s 21 st International Conference in Seattle, WA. Gerald James (MSIA co-chair and Business Development Director/Bluefield State College Research and Development Corporation) helped to develop and deliver the program during the NBIA’s conference, which attracted more than 1,000 attendees from 40+ countries.

“Our presentation focused on how MSIA grew from a small group of incubator directors into a formal organization with 19 member incubators in five states,” James explained. MSIA promotes cooperation and business growth throughout its entire region. “The organization will embark upon cooperative advertising, common data collection to support the Appalachian Regional Commission, training, resource sharing, and providing partnered ‘launching points’ for companies looking to expand from one incubator to other states.”

“After presenting at the NBIA conference, we are now working with a Northern Ireland group representing more than 30 incubators and seeking to develop the same type of organization as the MSIA,” James continued, “and our incubator will likely partner with theirs to provide their companies a place to establish a location in Bluefield.”

Other MSIA representatives at the Seattle conference included Russ Yelton (Director/Business Incubator and Small Business Center, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, Chandler, NC), and David Lawrence (Director/Innovation Laboratory, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.

NBIA is the world’s leading organization advancing business incubation and entrepreneurship. It provides thousands of individuals with the information, education, advocacy, and networking resources to bring assistance to early-stage companies worldwide.

April 17, 2007