The "wrecking crew" includes: (left to right) Rep. Larry Womble; City Councilman James Taylor; Mayor Pro Tempore and WSSU Trustee Dr. Vivian Burke; CDC Executive Director Carol Trent Davis; WSSU Provost Brenda Allen; City Councilman Derwin Montgomery; and Dr. Notis Pagiavlas.

Instead of a traditional groundbreaking ceremony, the S. G. Atkins Community Development Corporation (CDC) held a Wall Breaking Ceremony Thursday, August 26, to signal the start of renovations to the Enterprise Center at 1922 South Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive in Winston-Salem.

The Atkins CDC purchased the former Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club in February and announced that it would create the Enterprise Center to serve as a business incubator and also provide space to meet other community needs.  The initial phase of the renovations will focus on developing space to support new and emerging companies, especially those with a “green” focus.

“We are striving to make the Enterprise Center a “green” building, which means we want to use energy efficient and environmentally friendly materials and equipment as well as support start-up businesses that may be focusing on “green” products and services,” said Carol Davis, executive director of the CDC.  “We want the Center to serve as the anchor for the south end of the MLK corridor as outlined in the comprehensive strategic master plan for the area between U.S. Highway 52 and Waughtown Street.

“With its potential as a mixed-use facility, the Center can support entrepreneurship as well provide opportunities to serve the community through a myriad of offerings,” Davis added.  “We hope to have a computer lab, a health resource center, on-site job training and language classes there.  We truly believe the Center can potentially have a significant impact on rejuvenating the community it will serve.”

Carol Davis takes her turn at the wall.

The incubator will provide a networking, training, support and counseling hub for its tenants and will have approximately 20 offices with rents beginning at $150 a month.  Renovations are expected to be completed by spring 2011, with tenants being able to move in at that time.

As a small business development project, the Enterprise Center is supported by numerous partners, including Winston-Salem State University, the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the City of Winston-Salem, Golden LEAF Foundation, Duke Energy, Truliant Federal Credit Union and the Winston-Salem Community Development Support Collaborative.  Frank L. Blum Construction Company will manage the initial renovation phase of the building.

The Simon Green Atkins Community Development Corporation (CDC) is a non-profit organization funded by grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other funding institutions. The CDC strives to create community-based leadership focused on revitalizing the neighborhoods surrounding Winston-Salem State University (WSSU). The University serves as the governing agency for the CDC.  CDC programs include:

• Housing Development;

• Community Development; and,

• Economic Development.

Staff and Board members are charged with strategic planning and fund raising to implement community initiatives. For more information, please contact Carol Davis, Executive Director, at 336-779-7331.