GlassHouse, located at 102 1st St N in Newton, is a new small business incubator to help grow all the local entrepreneurial ideas. The incubator offers the following: a space for you to rent that comes with an office manager to help sell your business while you’re away, Newton Main Street program benefits, a discounted Chamber membership, and a growth strategy to help you graduate from the incubator.
“We are excited to host small businesses because it gives the community new businesses to visit to keep the downtown vibrant,” stated Miranda Caldwell. “While also offering a good launching point for entrepreneurs who want to get their ideas off the ground.”
Caldwell opened the incubator because she saw some challenges small business start-ups were having when looking at Newton.
“First, a lot of our buildings downtown are large, which means higher rent, higher cost to change into the look that people want, and much inventory to fill the space. Second, they have no way to test the local market because most leases are long-term. Third, they usually still want or need to continue to work a regular 9 – 5 job,” she stated.
GlassHouse solves all of those with the smaller rental spaces that are customizable, different lease lengths to test the market, and the in-house manager to keep a business open when the business owner can’t be there.
“We look to everyone in Newton to help support not only these new local businesses but all local businesses," said Caldwell.
"Think of how and where you are spending each purchase, spending family time, and whom you are using as service providers,”
“We see the struggle that Newton has gone through over the years. But GlassHouse acknowledges the future ahead with the support of the great residents that make up not only Newton but Jasper County as a whole.”
Do you have a business idea or a business you’re looking to take to the next level? Reach out to GlassHouse at glasshouseincubator@gmail.com or 515-612-6388.
