Business Cycle: Retail incubator planned in Blacksburg

The town council has hired Building Specialists Inc. of Roanoke to provide design and construction services for $104,553. The project should be done by the end of 2025, said Bob Fetzer of Building Specialists.

The Blacksburg Retail Incubator is planned at 414 N. Main St., a 5,000-square-foot building that housed Cook’s Clean Center, which closed. The town bought the building for $900,000 in 2015.

After the building has been improved, Downtown Blacksburg Inc. will locate there and operate an incubator to house entrepreneurs seeking to create or expand a business and provide products to the community. Officials hope to attract merchants that serve a new or underserved market. There will be room for events and receptions as well.

“Incubator programs accelerate the development of successful retail businesses by providing low-cost space, exposure to mentors and consultants, technical support services, supportive marketing and events, and access to capital during the early years of the business,” the town said.

There is expected to be room for from five to 12 retail establishments, according to town council member Susan Mattingly, a former president of DBI and former executive director of The Lyric Theatre who was part of group that conceived of the project going back about about eight years ago.

“The town of Blacksburg has this space in the middle of our downtown and we were looking for ways to use it to benefit the community. We know that our local retailers are struggling and keeping our retail diversity is a challenge and this is something that we think will help improve that retail diversity and make Blacksburg more of a destination,” Mattingly said.

It is being funded with a portion of the town’s pandemic relief money under the American Rescue Plan Act. Abatement of pollutants from the property has made it safe for use, Mattingly said.

The proponents of a Montgomery County RV park near Interstate 81 plan to instead build homes, according to town records.

A year ago, automotive dealer Gary Duncan discussed a proposal to create an RV parking off Brammer Lane working with Ernie Woods. A new filing states that “high development costs and lower than previously estimated revenue didn’t add up to make the project viable.”

The new plan is for 14 homes on lots averaging 3 acres each across a 47-acre parcel accessed by a gated, private road, a filing showed.