Thursday, January 22, 2004 

The history behind the Enterprise Center.

The property for the Kinston Enterprise Center was purchased from the well-known, long-time resident Perry Family in 2001 for $200,000. Appraised at $540,000, the facility was considered to be an excellent site for a business incubator. Funding was secured from the Pride of Kinston; Golden LEAF Foundation; EDA; and the Dunn Committee of 100, Inc.; to renovate the facility at a cost of approximately $1,400,000.

The facility provides for approximately 20-30 tenants, depending on space needs. Approximately 18,000 of the total 30,000 square feet is rentable space. The first tenant to sign a lease with the Center was Oliver Contracting, LLC. The second tenant to sign was the Kinston Ironclad Shipwright Co. and the third was Historic Preservation Group.

The facility opened December 1, 2002, and held a formal open house in January, 2003.

The facility, owned and operated by the Pride of Kinston, offers to the entrepreneur the benefits associated with big business which are available through shared amenities. The Pride of Kinston is financed through a municipal tax on a specific group of downtown merchants with some additional funding from the City of Kinston.