Responses

Approximately 85 business incubators in the ARC district in 2004 were identified. Thanks to the considerable efforts by ARC, its Business Incubator Advisory Committee, and GCGI, a total of 76 incubators responded to the 2004 survey of Appalachian business incubators, and only 9 did not respond.

In contrast, approximately 72 incubators were identified in the same ARC district during the 2001 survey. Therefore, in a period of approximately three years, the number of business incubators in this area increased by about 18 percent (see Figure 1). While this is not a dramatic increase, it is notable, given the downturn in the national and many local and regional economies during that period.

Figure 1. Number of ARC Incubators