TowsonGlobal Business Incubator is a company that helps small businesses enter into the global economy.

“An incubator is an institute that provides a wide range of support for startup companies,” TowsonGlobal director Clay Hickson said. “In simple terms, we are a broad and deep resource for people who are trying to start a business.”

Some of their services include business planning, educational workshops, mentoring from business professionals, networking opportunities and providing office facilities.

TowsonGlobal also offers multiple internships throughout the year, which are available to Towson students.

“We want to have more companies come into the program so they can graduate and create jobs and create prosperity for our region,” Hickson said. “It would be great if Towson students created a business that was successful and they stayed right here and helped to grow the local economy.”

According to Hickson, TowsonGlobal has helped to get businesses started in fields such as video game simulation, solar energy, specialty cosmetics, furniture importing, business intelligence and food contaminated testing.

“If we help companies that are going to create jobs and generate tax revenue, then the whole community benefits,” Hickson said. “Startup companies that participate in an incubator are 80 percent more likely to succeed than a company that just goes its own way because there are so many different resources that the incubator can provide that the individual company doesn’t have by itself.”

Hickson said that TowsonGlobal’s advisory board is one of the reasons they can be helpful to new businesses.

The board is comprised of professionals from the legal, financial, sales and marketing fields who volunteer their time to the Incubator.

Although Hickson said some students have made use of the Incubator’s services, they would love to see more.

“I think one of the main things we want to get across is that so many students don’t know that we’re right across the street,” TowsonGlobal office manager Lindsey Meyer said.

“People can come in and we’d be happy to give them a brochure and information so even if they’re not at the point where they have that business established, they can at least meet us and know that we’re here for them.”

Sophomore art education major Danielle Imhoff said she believes TowsonGlobal has a positive impact on the Towson area.

“I think it sounds like a really good resource for students who have recently graduated to use,” she said. “We’re a big part of the Towson community, so anywhere around us getting help would be good, too.”