Mancuso Business Development Group Exists To Transform The Opportunity In Buildings Into Economic Success For People.
In 1959 we introduced the first business incubator to the world as a private sector solution to a small town’s sudden explosion of unemployment due to the loss of their largest employer. Since then, we have filled millions of square feet of buildings with thousands of businesses. The concept behind the business “incubator” and Local Business Center is to create an office, commercial or industrial building that will attract startups and businesses of all sorts and sizes. The goal is to help hometown businesses get going, grow, fill previously underutilized properties, create jobs in the community, and mature to be financially independent.
We offer experienced assistance that includes:
Strategic plans for affordable business incubators for hometown entrepreneurs.
Practical operating concepts for multi-tenant adaptive reuse properties.
Opportunity assessments for operating properties as well as proposed projects
Guidance for market and mission-driven leasing and pricing systems to fill buildings.
“Real world” ideas to structure business assistance programs for your unique situation.
Extensive focus on manufacturing and mixed-use industrial facilities
EXAMPLES
Batavia Industrial Center [BIC], Batavia, NY
Building: 960,000 SF
Starting Type: Industrial
Focus: Private Economic
Development
The loss of a community’s largest employer spurred an entrepreneurial immigrant family to acquire the vacant factory and commit themselves to work to replace the hundreds of lost jobs. The Batavia Industrial Center [BIC] became the world’s first business incubator..
Strategically leasing, renovating, sharing assets, labor, and wisdom to fill space and produce revenue to cover expenses allowed the owners to survive, stabilize and enter on a path of economic evolution that continues to this day.
In order to attract people to start and grow job creating businesses in this large, obsolete collection of buildings, it was important to constantly monitor and respond to the changing needs of area entrepreneurs. A team of onsite staff, vendors, professionals and regional resources was created and coordinated by Mancuso Management to promote the ongoing progress and performance of the BIC.
From an industrial beginning, this project now also offers flex, office, retail and artisan suites in a range of sizes from 300 SF to over 70,000 SF.
Harrison Place Redevelopment, Lockport, NY
Building: 475,000 SF
Starting Type: Industrial
Focus: Economic Development
The Greater Lockport Development Corporation (GLDC) engaged Mancuso Management Inc. to lead a strategic revitalization
of this former manufacturing plant in downtown Lockport.
Mancuso worked with community leadership to identify the primary project objectives and develop a practical plan to
implement. A team of professionals and local resources was created and has worked together on leasing, improving and
operating the campus. Funding from private and public sources is combined with the project generated proceeds to continually upgrade the property and its ability to serve the always changing needs of entrepreneurs of all shapes and sizes.
Renovations include all new roofs, exterior & interior painting, restoration of two legacy entrances and tenant renovations for
startup and established businesses.
This project has evolved to embrace a full life cycle range of businesses from startups to international manufacturers. There
are more than 50 businesses working at Harrison Place and employing over 250 people.
Geneva Enterprise Development Center, Geneva, NY
Building: 220,000 SF
Starting Type: Industrial
Focus: Economic Development
Challenged by vacancy and high operating losses at their mixed-use business incubator, the City of Geneva Industrial
Development Agency turned to Mancuso Management Inc. to get better results. Mancuso worked with community leadership to identify the primary project objectives and develop a practical plan to implement.
Significant cost saving investments were made to achieve financial sustainability. A team of professionals and local resources
was created to work together on leasing, improving and operating the campus. Funding from private and public sources is
combined with the project generated proceeds to continually upgrade the property and its ability to serve the changing needs of entrepreneurs of all shapes and sizes.
Recognizing a unique regional opportunity in the food industry, a state of the art commercial kitchen was built to attract and
serve this particular universe of startup and established businesses.
High Falls Business Center Rochester, NY
Building: 16,000 SF
Starting Type: Office
Focus: Commercial Investment
Private owners hired Mancuso Management Inc. to solve the high vacancy burden of this downtown Rochester office
building.
Guided by the ownership’s goal to maximize financial results while controlling additional investment demands, the market
was scanned for cost-effective opportunities. Based on this research, a new pricing, leasing and marketing plan was
developed and implemented to take advantage of the site’s location, market activity and the property’s physical realities.
Business services were designed and shared facilities offered (conference room, copier, scanner, etc.) to serve the needs of the new target audience. More active and involved management was activated to initiate networking events for
tenants and devise creative occupancy agreements for entrepreneurs and small office users.
These activities resulted in the achievement of the desired strategic and financial performance objectives.