Vice Chair Gerville Larsen and Executive Director Roger Dewey

     The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded the St. Croix Foundation a $50,000 Rural Business Enterprise grant designated to replacing the roof on 22-23 Market Street. The building, once completely renovated, will serve as a business incubator available to small businesses unable to afford private offices. In paying a fee, these businesses will have office space and will share state-of-the-art office equipment, including a planned video-teleconferencing facility.
     
     Through its membership on the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) committee, the Foundation was able to include the Sunday Market Square revitalization project on the list of projects eligible for Economic Development Administration (EDA) funding. The Foundation is currently completing an EDA application to secure funds to begin the construction phase of the incubator.
     Governor Charles Turnbull, Delegate Christensen and USDA and Foundation representatives were present at the check presentation ceremony.
     
     The creation of this business incubator will provide much needed technical support for the private sector, thus accelerating the growth of businesses in the community. Moreover, the rehabiliation of another building in Sunday Market Square will bring the Foundation, and the community, one step closer to seeing a complete tranformation of this blighted area.