GREENSBORO, NC -- Greensboro native Derrick Giles has watched his business for ten years growth he says has benefited from the gate city's incubator.
"We're an engineering firm, specializing in mechanical, electrical and plumbing design. We also do energy retrofits and audits in homes and commercial businesses," said Derrick Giles, Enpulse Energy President and CEO. "Our niche is sustainability and efficiency."
His team is currently drawing up renovations for Smith High School's gym and doing work on a stadium, field house, locker rooms and pressbox.
But with bigger work came the need for a bigger office.
“It was great coming here and getting larger office space, since weve taken on new types of work and expanded," said Giles. "Now we need more office space and room to spread out."
the office swap comes at a time when the Nussbaum Center is nearing capacity. At 86 percent full, it houses almost 60 companies with more than 100 employees. All of whom have access to the center's workshops, networking events and more.
“Right now we have no single person offices available, so we’ve had to start moving some clients around from smaller officers to bigger ones as they grow," said Sam Funchess, Nussbaum Center President and CEO.
The center says the influx of entrepreneurs isn't surprising as many start businesses in the spring. Of course, our economy also comes into play.
“Historically, every recession you see a significant jump in new businesses," said Funchess. "We’re on the backside of the recession -- its starting to feel like a growth piece.”
Some say that timing, coupled with a strong support system for entrepreneurs has helped land Greensboro as 9th Best Place to Start a Business by Wallethub.
Still,for those who work with entrepreneurs every day. They say it's the spirit of people like Giles that determines a business's success.
“He's a fighter, he has grit and is going to be one of those that succeeds, because every time he gets hit to the ground, he stands up," said Funchess. "That's the difference between a successful entrepreneur and a failed entrepreneur."
Once a business graduates from the center...more space is freed up.
However, they only do so when their business is financially stable enough.
The Nussbaum Center does offer help to make that transition go as easy as possible.