ECU Arts Incubator

The East Main Enterprise Center and Incubator

The ECU Arts Incubator, officially the East Main Enterprise Center and Incubator, opened in July 2010. The incubator is a 4500 square foot facility, certified by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.  It provides a sheltered environment of low rental rates and tax breaks for arts-related business to start and grow. As the businesses become self-sustaining, it is anticipated that they leave the incubator program and locate within the Arts District, assisting with the growth and development of the District and providing an opportunity for new arts-related businesses to form.

The vision for the ECU Arts Incubator is to create successful arts entrepreneurs that contribute to Ada's Economy.  We do this by providing opportunities for unique arts-related entrepreneurs to meet needs in the community for economic development, and enhanced learning and cultural experiences utilizing local talent.  Arts-related is defined broadly to include traditional forms of art such as painting and sculpture, but also music, dance, photography, writing, graphic and software design, culinary art, and other mediums for creativity. 

 

The ECU Arts Incubator was featured in the May 2011 edition of the Ada Hub.  The article can be read by clicking here at adahub.com/.

 Arts Incubator Storefront

 Front of the building (entrances for Suites A and B)
 
 
 
 
The entrance at the back of the ECU Arts Incubator building faces the alley between East Main Street and East 10th Street.  The parking lot off of the alley is accessible via Center Street and East Main Street.  This entrance is used to access Suites C and D.  These two Suites are not accessible from the front of the builidng.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The first tenant, Red Earth Art Supply, opened for business in August 2010 in time for ECU’s Fall Semester. It is the only fine arts supply store in the area, saving people from travelling to Norman or Oklahoma City. (580) 235-0309 (Suite B)
 
 Suite B Red Earth Art Supply
 
Suite A is 1000 square feet of street front space with windows is ideal for retail and overlooks the newly constructed East Main Street. A new business will open in this space in September 2011.  Watch for news of the opening of Centergy Pilates.
View from the back of the Suite looking at the front entrance of Suite A
 
View from the street front of the space looking toward the back of the space of Suite A
 
A third space in the incubator is ideal for an arts-related studio, office or business not requiring store front space. Suite C is 650 square feet, does not have windows, and entry to Suite C is from the rear of the building.  Music Treehouse Studio currently occupies this space.
 
 Suite C
 
The incubator also houses the office for Economic Development for Arts-Related and Rural Businesses with East Central University.  Contact Bridget Forshay at 580-559-5296 or bforshay@ecok.edu to inquire about and apply for incubator space.

 Suite D

 

Building Layout

 Building Layout

 

The East Main Enterprise Center (EMEC) was made possible by a Rural Enterprise Grant from the USDA Rural Development.  The EMEC has an advisory committee comprised of a representative from REI, ECU, the Small Business Development center, Tri-County Indian Nations Community Development Corporation, and a local CPA and a local Attorney. 

Links

Tri-County Indian Nations Community Development Corporation

NBIA

OK Department of Commerce

Red Earth Art Supply

Small Business Development Center

 

Address:
808 East Main Street, Suite D
Ada, Oklahoma 74820
Phone: 580-559-5296
Fax: 580-559-5767