Greensburg's Incubator Working as Planned

March 13, 2010

(GREENSBURG, Kan.)

After a massive tornado destroyed Greensburg, residents knew it would be to hard to get businesses to rebuild. Nearly three years later, Main Street is bustling and officials say one of their most important tools is working.

Kari Kyle and Glenda Nichols are neighbors, but their businesses couldn't be more different. One, a coffee shop, ready to cure your hunger. The other, a massage and all natural supplement store, hoping to cure whatever else ails you.

But the building they share is unique, it's an incubator building.

"I was still just wanting to work and this was just a fabulous opportunity for me and it has worked out very well," explains Glenda.

And actually, it has worked out well for both. Kyle tells Eyewitness News, "We're busy enough that we're going to have to move across the street for more space."

That's success in the eyes of city leaders.

"That's exactly why we built the incubator, to get businesses started. We start them out small, see if they can get on their feet and see if they can make a go of it and move out into their own space or into a bigger rental space," said Chamber President and Assistant City Administrator Kim Alderfer.

Both businesses will move to a new Main Street strip mall, and with a waiting list of businesses hoping for their chance at getting into the incubator, some feel this is a turning point for the rebuilding effort.

"What's really great, is to see the downtown area thriving and see cars parked all along Main Street and see people walking up and down Main Street, that's the best part," adds Alderfer.

Kyle adds, "Just yesterday I went across the street and I got a new shirt, I went and got my hair done, I went down to the frame shop, I went to the antique store, you know that's been three years since you could even do any shopping on Main Street."

A long road from rubble to retail.

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