According to Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ryann Cline, she has seen too many small businesses close before having a chance to blossom. In an effort to lay a stronger foundation for success, the RACC has implemented the Ravenna Business Launchpad, a business incubator to better set up business endeavors for success.
“It definitely is a pretty big undertaking,” Cline told The Weekly Villager on May 14. “It is out-of-the-box, and you don’t necessarily think of the RACC doing that.”
Since last August, the RACC’s main office has operated as an incubator, allowing small businesses to set up and experience a trial phase that lasts four to six months. Two small businesses have originated in the incubator, and each has taken the next steps. The vinyl record store Record Arsenal just held a grand opening on May 8 and the autographed sports memorabilia store ETC Sports is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 28.
Coincidentally, both businesses have opened storefronts on opposite sides of the RACC’s main office on East Main Street.
Although the RACC’s Ravenna Business Launchpad has only housed two small businesses in the incubator, they are two-for-two in spawning new small businesses.
“I think it is fantastic,” Cline noted. “I think that the fruits are there, the plan is there, I will say that it does take the business owner putting in their own work and their own dedication. It is basically like birthing a child and ‘Here you go, spread your wings.’
Cline said that RACC is reviewing applications for the next new business’ to take root at the main office and have several intriguing candidates in contention.
She acknowledged that the RACC is setting some strict guidelines for potential applicants and will take its time and have in-depth conversations with the candidates.
Cline added that the goal is not to discourage the applicants but educate them about how much of an undertaking it is to launch a new small business.
“You don’t want to see people fail. That is where my heart and passion is. I hate to see people investing money and time if they don’t have a firm foundation to build off of it. That is the part that was really eating at my heart. There has got to be a better way,” she said.
In addition to becoming a launchpad for new business endeavors, Cline said that the RACC is adding additional resources to ensure that even once the businesses leave the nest, they still have the proper tools to flourish by enlisting the help of experts who can lend their knowledge to the business owners to better prepare them for life beyond the confines of the RACC’s main office.
“We are also attempting in the next couple of months to get a pool of experts,” she said. “We can get these businesses open as well as sustain them to keep them happy, healthy and whole in the Ravenna community.”
Cline said that the inception of the RACC’s Ravenna Business Launchpad was created by herself and RACC Board President Matt Farrell.
She noted that her inspiration for creating a business incubator was that although she has been to several ribbon-cutting ceremonies celebrating the opening of new small businesses, she has also witnessed several small businesses failing because they have weak foundations for business models.
“I would see that and actually go to these ribbon-cuttings and then six months later, they are closing up shop,” Cline said. “It was devastating. This needs to stop. What can we do as the Chamber and the city to offer additional support to these businesses?”’
With the early results looking promising, Cline said that RACC’s Ravenna Business Launchpad will re-energize the small business spirit of Ravenna, which is becoming the heartbeat of the city’s economic community.
“I think it offers something that is more tangible,” Cline said. “You don’t have to have a sense of “all of your ducks in a row” to see if you can get a business off of the ground. You can truly test the waters and see it in a safer environment where you can see if you are going to be able to be successful and get a taste for it.”
