Cumberland Business Incubator receives $50,000 prize to create Tinker Space

The Cumberland Business Incubator, located on Roane State Community College’s Cumberland County campus, has received a $50,000 prize to create a space where entrepreneurs can turn their ideas into working prototypes.

The incubator was one of 50 organizations nationwide to receive a prize through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Growth Accelerator Fund competition.

The Growth Accelerator Fund competition, in its first year, attracted 800 applications from across the country, and finalists were reviewed by a panel of experts in entrepreneurship, investing and business plans.

The prize will be used to add a tinker space inside the incubator. A tinker space provides the equipment and tools entrepreneurs need to develop prototype products.

“An entrepreneur may have an idea for a great product, but they may not have the tools they need to create a prototype,” said Holly Hanson, director of the incubator. “Part of my dream for utilizing the manufacturing space in the incubator is to help those with lack of access to tools and technology to create new skills, prototypes and businesses. We are thrilled to receive this prize and thankful for the support of the U.S. Small Business Administration.”

To contact Hanson or for more information about the Cumberland Business Incubator, visit www.cumberlandincubator.com or call (931) 456-4910.

Roane State is a two-year college providing transfer programs, career-preparation programs and continuing education. Founded in 1971, the college has campuses in Crossville, Harriman, Huntsville, Jamestown, Knoxville, LaFollette, Lenoir City, Oak Ridge and Wartburg. 

For more information, visit roanestate.edu or call 1-866-GO2-RSCC (1-866-462-7722).

Tennessee’s Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. All colleges in the system offer associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit tncommunitycolleges.org.