Welcome to the Gateway Shoppes of West Jefferson, an innovative retail incubator concept for central Ohio.

The Gateway Shoppes allow entrepreneurs to opportunity to get their dreams started with low overhead and high opportunity.

The Gateway Shoppes not only offer a low rent/utilities package, but also education, counseling, combined marketing, shared foot traffic and a community of like-minded individuals with whom an entrepreneur can share ideas and experiences.

Contact Sean Hughes at 740-852-2250 x103 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you are interested in taking the next step towards fulfilling your retail ambition.

Rates

The Gateway Shoppes of West Jefferson offers 8 units from 194 sq. ft to 397 sq. ft.

Respectively, monthly lease rates are $325 to $375 and include electric, gas, wireless internet and some combined marketing efforts including this Web site with individual storefront pages linked from the menu on the left.

Education and Counseling

Incubator tenants have access to FREE monthly business counseling sessions arranged by the Madison County Chamber of Commerce through their partnerships with SCORE, the Small Business Development Center  (SBDC) at Columbus State Community College, and the Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI).

Counseling sessions are conducted either at the Madison Co. Chamber of Commerce offices or at The Gateway Shoppes of West Jefferson.

Tenants also have access to low-cost classes or workshops on doing business better conducted by the above partners. These sessions typically run $35 to $45 per person.

We want you to succeed and prosper! Your success is West Jefferson's success, so we will be with you every step of the way.

Lease Term

Tenants sign a three year lease. At then end of the lease, the above partners and the Madison Co. Chamber of Commerce will meet with the entrpreneurs to evaluate their profitibility and business model. If it is determined that the business can afford more overhead, the Madison Co. Chamber of Commerce will work with the business owner to find an open storefront in West Jefferson that meets the business' budget and needs.

Per the lease agreement, the business is required to move to another West Jefferson storefront at the completion of their "incubation."

Shared Marketing Efforts

• This Web site will serve as shared marketing portal for all incubator businesses and will provide a link to that store's Web site if they have their own or we will build them a Web site.
• In addition to each storefront having its own "internal" display window, tenants will be able to collaboratively decorate The Gateway Shoppes of West Jefferson storefront to market their products in a creative and seasonal manner.
• The West Jefferson Business Council, a division of the Madison Co. Chamber of Commerce, will work with incubator business to plan and implement promotional events and activities throughout the year to create exposure and foot traffic.
• The West Jefferson Business Council and Madison Co. Chamber of Commerce will promote The Gateway Shoppes through press releases submitted regionally and statewide.

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