David N. Allen

Structure, Policy, Services, and Performance in the Business Incubator Industry:

Business incubators are one of the newest tools on the enterprise development scene; nearly 400 are now in operation. A business incubator is a facility that provides affordable space, shared office services, and business development assistance in an environment conducive to new venture creation, survival, and early-stage growth. This article is a preliminary examination of the relationships among incubator structure, policy, services, and performance. A value-added continuum model is used to describe various kinds of incubators and aspects of their operations. Managers of 127 incubators were surveyed to examine features of the value-added continuum. Surrogate measures for the concepts that anchor either end of the continuum—property development and business development—are empirically examined. Incubators are found to be poor real estate ventures. Age and size of facility are found to be important determinants of jobs created and firms graduated. Only one other structure, policy, or services variable is important for explaining business development outcomes.

The Small Business Incubator Industry: Micro-Level Economic Development

The increasing number of small business incubators reflects the growing importance of the small business sector in conjunction with local and state support for new enterprise development and for public-private cooperation in development. The authors review literature on incubator development and examine how and why incubators continue as aids for new development and redevelopment in declining areas, as well as serve as an enhancement to innovation and entrepreneurship through university-related incubators or innovation centers. The authors conclude that improving the base of small business and nurturing new business formation will be more important in the long run than attempts to attract new employers from the outside. Yet, it is clear that few incubating firms create more than a handful of jobs. Continuing research will contribute to a better understanding of how and if business incubators can make lasting contributions to economic development.

Business Incubator Life Cycles

This article examines the development process of business incubators. Nearly 60 stakeholders working with 12 incubators were interviewed. A three-stage life cycle model is posed to describe the development process. The start-up stage is characterized as real estate driven; emphasis is placed on preparing the space and locating initial tenants. The business development stage occurs when the facility is on sound financial footings and attention shifts to managing up tenant firms. Incubator maturation is characterized by a sophisticated enterprise support network and demand for additional user space. Five interdependent forces are posited as influencing the incubator development process. Policy implications focus on realistic development expectations, management philosophy, and performance criteria.

The Role of New Venture Formation/Entrepreneurship in Regional Economic Development: A Review

This review essay examines the same phenomena as viewed from two different schools of thought. The two approaches, characterized as the Regional Economics and Entrepreneurship schools, embody distinct fields of research, but have not engaged in intercourse that allows one approach to build upon the other. A first step in overcoming this mutual ignorance is undertaken in this analysis. The conceptual perspectives of the two schools are explored. Discussion proceeds to how empirical analysis is conducted in the two schools. Distinctions are made about units of analysis, research assumptions, research hypotheses, and research designs. An example of a research methodology that could be used by the two schools to examine the same issue is offered. Finally, suggestions are made for synthesizing these two divergent approaches.

From kites to computers: Pennsylvania's Ben Franklin partnership

Abstract The traditional strength of the Pennsylvania economy has been steelmaking and other heavy manufacturing activities. During the past decade Pennsylvania has felt the impact of mature markets for steel and other capital goods, international competition and new technologies, as unemployment in the state has consistently exceeded the national average. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, state policymakers were faced with the problems of how to ease the states reliance upon these declining industrial sectors, help existing industries within the state to modernize, and stimulate the formation of new growth industries. Recognizing Pennsylvanias history of technological innovation and its strong resource base in corporate and university research and development, state policymakers set out to create flexible public/private partnerships to encourage greater university/industry cooperation, and to focus regional economic development efforts toward innovation and modernization. In 1982, the Pennsylvania General Assembly created the Ben Franklin Partnership program, which established four regional advanced technology centers at major research universities in the state. These advanced technology centers are consortiums of universities, businesses, economic development organizations, financial institutions, and others committed to the goal of job creation through industrial modernization and technological innovation. To date, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has provided

Turnaround strategies for economic development

29 million to the advanced technology centers for joint industry/university research and development projects, entrepreneurial development and education and training. This state funding was matched by

Assessing the local economic implications of two residential energy efficiency standards

90 million from businesses, foundations, and other sources. Because of the long-term nature of such a program, the early results of the Ben Franklin Partnership are modest; however, the program has been successful in establishing relationships among universities, businesses and economic development organizations which will serve as the basis for long term growth.

Analytic reports and computerized information processing in medium and large police agencies

Abstract This article examines the process of strategic economic development planning and implementation that has occurred over a 7 year period in the State of Pennsylvania. Against a backdrop of declining state economic performance, an extensive process was undertaken to foster innovative entrepreneurial and technological development programmes. The article examines the changing nature of economic development policy and the constraints associated with executing strategic approaches. The process is documented and critiqued from the perspective of what has been learned. A catalytic role for state government is articulated and proposed as an efficient and effective way public funds can be used to nurture business enterprise.

SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATORS AND PUBLIC POLICY: IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

Abstract Despite temporary and downward price fluctuations in some energy markets, the long-run energy picture remains one of decreasing supplies and increasing prices. If a municipality can devise a strategy to reduce energy consumption in its residential sector, then it may reduce the outflow of energy dollars, giving individuals more disposable income to spend on other goods and services in the local economy. Various state and local governments in the U.S. have conducted analyses of their local energy situation and have developed policies to promote conservation. Two residential space conditioning strategies, building energy performance standards and energy efficiency resale standards, and their potential for savings, are assessed. Estimating the impact of energy conservation is a necessary step in justifying local energy programs. This paper outlines an energy analysis method that is understandable to local administrators, is easy and inexpensive to implement and has important policy implications.

Police supervision on the street: An analysis of supervisor/officer interaction during the shift

Abstract Police agencies are increasingly developing new ways to use information to assist management decision making. The use of information technology in police agencies and the factors that steer such use are central thrusts of this paper. The conceptual orientation of the URBIS group is applied to recently collected data on information management in medium to large police agencies in mid-Atlantic states. Analysis suggests that the activities of performance analysis reports and information processing tasks are guided by a different set of intra-organizational variables. Approaches for integrating these two independent information applications are presented in the concluding remarks.