Business Incubation

“I recommend the Madison Enterprise Center to any start-up business.”

Randy D. Cortright

Founder & CTO, Virent Energy Systems

Available space at Madison Enterprise Center Available space at Main Street Industries

Madison Enterprise Center

A business incubator in the heart of the vibrant near-east side.

Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) and Common Wealth, a non-profit community development corporation, formed a unique partnership in 1987 that launched the Madison Enterprise Center (MEC).

MEC is a 1st stage business incubation initiative of Common Wealth Development, offering office and light industrial business incubation spaces, serving start-up and expanding small businesses. The Madison Enterprise Center offers an affordable rental rate and shared services including high-speed Internet and video conferencing equipment. The on-site manager is available to provide business assistance and resource-matching services to connect tenants with existing business support programs.

How Does It Work?

Businesses may stay at the Madison Enterprise Center from 3-5 years. To qualify for acceptance into the Madison Enterprise Center, a business must be a for-profit company, produce a product or provide a service, and have the potential for future job creation. All applicants must prepare a business plan as part of the application package that is reviewed and evaluated by the Business Development Committee, which makes acceptance decisions.

Current Tenants

Bespoke Talent
Recruiting Firm.

BLUEPRINT – Student Athletes
Holistic development and wellness for student athletes.

BWZ Architects
Architectural professional services firm.

Dashelito Enterprises
Locally made hot sauces.

FillMyRecipe
Organic Indian meal kits.

Grapefruit Fabrications
Small metal fabrication business.

JABMO
Account-based marketing and integrated suite of applications.

Mad Urban Bees
Sustainable urban beekeeping.

Metta Monday Creative
Boutique media company.

OneEnergy Renewables
Developer of distributed, utility-scale renewable energy projects.

Pikku Takki, LLC
Quality artisan, avant-garde children’s clothing.

Potter’s Fine Foods
Organic handcrafted crackers.

SchoolPay
Payment services & integrated software provider.

SNL Design Works, LLC
Glass studio.

The Common Kitchen
Full-service co-packing partner for micro-batch producers.

Main Street Industries

A second-stage business incubator serving start-up and expanding small businesses.

Main Street Industries is owned and operated by Common Wealth and located in an old 50,000-square-foot Greyhound Bus terminal, renovated in 1996. The building offers attractive, affordable office and light industrial spaced and shared services. The manager is available to provide business assistance and resource-matching services to connect tenants with existing business support programs.

How Does It Work?

To qualify as a Main Street Industries lessee, a business must be a for-profit company, produce a product or provide a service, and have the potential for future job creation. Main Street Industries requires all applicants to prepare a business plan as part of the application package reviewed and evaluated by the Business Development Committee, which makes acceptance decisions. Businesses are not required to “graduate” from (i.e. leave) Main Street Industries, which differs from our Madison Enterprise Center.

For more information contact Megan Diaz-Ricks, Director of Economic Development, via phone (608) 516-0872 or email.