BMC

BMC develops the nation's first virtual incubator, offering emerging business technologies to rural entrepreneurs and enhancing economic development in small communities.

The BusinessMedia Center constantly evolves and renews its mission to help its partners in business succeed.

In the mid-1990s, BMC launched a pioneering effort to connect rural entrepreneurs with access to emerging business technologies. Through the center's virtual incubator program - Regional Business Technology Incubator (RBTI) - BMC successfully reached more than 125 rural entrepreneurs throughout Tennessee by offering assistance, training, and access to a broad range of computers, software, shared equipment (like digital cameras), and instructional CD-ROMs developed exclusively for incubator tenants.

RBTI operates through a network of satellite locations that are video- and Internet-linked to an operation hub at Tennessee Tech University. Tenants pay a monthly fee to host a virtual business site at satellite incubators, which are located in rural high schools, town halls, libraries, and chambers of commerce.

RBTI infuses rural communities with cutting-edge technology. Small businesses and novice entrepreneurs are able to create jobs and services without assuming a daunting financial investment in technical business equipment.

As an economic development tool, RBTI generates a new approach to start-up business practices and creates opportunities previously unavailable to many small communities.

Virtual Incubator - 2nd Generation

Corporate Support

Economic Initiatives

High-Growth Entrepreneurial Partnerships

Incubator Enterprises

Statewide Campaigns

University Collaborations

According to Andrea Burckhard, executive director of the Pickett County Chamber of Commerce and a BMC client, the virtual incubator program has made a real impact in her community.

"The BusinessMedia Center has given our county, with a population under 5,000, access to technology we otherwise could not have afforded," said Burckhard. "By providing equipment, software and the assistance of students on a variety of projects, the center has helped dozens of our county's businesses build Web sites and get on the Internet, which would not have happened otherwise.

"Our partnership with the BusinessMedia Center has also led to significant growth in the membership of the chamber of commerce. Though we offer assistance to all businesses and individuals in the community, whether they are chamber members or not, our membership has tripled, with the growth a direct result of providing local businesses with access to new technologies."