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October 31, 2009

PA downtown project to support small business ventures



By Sherry Koonce

The News staff writer

Along a street that once was vibrant, but now a sad reminder of bygone days, a fresh coat of paint, work trucks parked at the curb and big a red, white and blue sign emblazoned with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s seal signals a resurgence in downtown Port Arthur.

At 617 Procter St. the old Aurora Building and former site of J.C. Penney, will be home to an enterprise dedicated to the development of small business.

With an impressive 18,600 sq. feet spread over two stories, the rehab is a Digital Workforce Academy project funded from a $2.4 million Economic Development Administration federal grant.

Digital Workforce Academy CEO Melvin White, at Wednesday’s Port Arthur Small Business Summit 2009, detailed plans for what will be a business incubator, while praising the efforts of small business entrepreneurs.

“We hope to be able to educate, equip and empower small business owners,” White said.

Based in Austin, the Digital Workforce Academy in 2007 started an offshoot business in Port Arthur to help train a workforce to staff industrial expansions in the area.

Administrative officers of the Golden Triangle Empowerment Center in Port Arthur will share space with the business incubator, Shedrick Evans, program manager, said.

Evans said the Empowerment Center trains people who are considered untrainable, dislocated, disengaged or unskilled. Upon completion of the 10-week course the participant is ready for employment in industrial trades.

The business incubator will be set up to provide a variety of services to people wanting to start a small business venture. The assistance will be available to anyone in the region, but will target those doing business in Port Arthur.

Small business ventures will be able to take advantage of technical assistance, financial assistance and assessments. Limited training in business accounting principals will be offered.

“We’ll first be able to assess whether the venture is sound, then provide financial and educational guidance,” Evans said.

Construction on the building began a little over a year ago, and is expected to be complete by the first quarter of 2010.

Once complete, Evans said the new business will mark the return of another downtown business, and hopefully, lead the way for others to do the same.

“This is where the hub of the community is, and where the greatest needs can be met. This is where Port Arthur is staging a comeback,” Evans said.

The project is testimony to opportunities available in Port Arthur.

Though the region has a 10.5 percent unemployment rate, and Port Arthur a 15.3 percent rate, $12 million to $15 million in industrial expansions are expected to provide job opportunities for the unemployed.

“We’ve got people here, and lots of them, the problem is they are just not trained,” Evans said.

Combining the business incubator with the training facility’s administrative offices will address the company’s goal of economic development.

“Whether you are a semi-skilled or highly skilled employee, or a self-driving small business, you are fueling the economy,” Evans said.

Until the business incubator is open, Evans said he does not know what type small business start-ups will seek assistance, but believes many will have ties to the industrial expansions, such as staffing companies.

skoonce@panews.com









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