Incubator in Action
authored by admin
Acts 29′s first involvement with a small business is its continued support of Recycled Treasures, a non-profit resale shop with a mission of building a more viable, sustainable and caring urban community by promoting recycling of household resources, assisting vulnerable neighbors regarding those resource needs, and encouraging the creative “Reuse” of items to reduce landfill.
The Executive Director of Recycled Treasures, Catrina Stackpole, is also a City Council Member, an invested Hamtramck resident and holds a Master’s degree in Social work. She reports, “The story of Recycled Treasures wouldn’t be here if not for Acts 29. We wouldn’t be in business.” She approached Acts 29 leadership for help and Acts 29 began creating an environment in which the budding nonprofit could survive during its early, fragile stages. Low rent was provided for first 6 months and gradually increased as the shop gained the capability to pay for itself. Acts 29 staff continued to help maintain and develop the building that housed Recycled Treasures and allows the staff to use Acts 29 rooms and facilities for board meetings, fundraisers etc. and has provided free access to fax machines and copiers from day one. “They’ve been very supportive. If we needed something they have always tried to help,” Catrina relates.
Catrina believes Acts 29 has enormous potential to be an incubator for small businesses, and predicts that when Recycled Treasures increases in self-sufficiency they can move out providing an opportunity for another local business to start from scratch with Acts 29 support and be nurtured by the Acts 29 incubator. Catrina explains the necessity of the effort: “Starting out from scratch with low capital is very difficult. Acts 29 can really help a business stay afloat for the first five years. It’s during the first five years that businesses are most vulnerable as people find out where they are and what they provide.” By providing a nesting place for business endeavors, Acts 29 hopes to enable businesses to gain a foothold in the economy and increase their ability to bring healthy business to the economy of Hamtramck.