The Kinston Enterprise Center is a small business incubator designed to help local entrepreneurs transform their business ideas into viable, lasting enterprises.

The mission of the Kinston Enterprise Center is to recruit, develop, and stimulate entrepreneurial talent in Kinston and Lenoir County in order to provide economic growth, to diversify and strengthen the local economy, and provide new job opportunities.

Completed in November 2002, the 30,000 square-foot Kinston Enterprise Center is located in the renovated Sears, Roebuck building in Historic downtown Kinston, NC. Based on available rental space of approximately 15,000 square feet, the Center can accommodate 20 to 30 office suites, depending upon tenants’ individual space considerations.

Each office is equipped with basic telephone service, high-speed Internet access, intranet service, and building security. Resident staff receptionist services, mailbox, basic telephone, voice mail, basic Internet access, and utilities are included in the rent. Tenants also have access to audio/visual equipment, conference rooms, and a training laboratory equipped for distance learning instruction.

A state-of-the-art photocopier with fax, printer, and scanner features is available for a nominal usage charge.

Normally, tenants are expected to outgrow the incubator facility and be able to move out of the facility and into the community within a period of three years; however, three rental spaces have been reserved for anchor tenants who may contract to remain in the incubator beyond the three- year general limitation.