Grow DeSoto Market Place, the Best Southwest's First Business Incubator, is Celebrating its Grand Opening October 2018

DESOTO, Texas, Oct. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The DeSoto Economic Development Corporation (DeSoto EDC) in partnership with the DeSoto Chamber of Commerce, City of DeSoto, Options Real Estate, and The Industry Hub will be celebrating the grand opening of the Grow DeSoto Market Place on Saturday, October 20, 2018. The celebration will take place from noon – 4:00 pm at 324 E. Belt Line Road in DeSoto, Texas.

The Grow DeSoto Market Place is a 26,000 square foot retail building that previously housed ACE Hardware as an anchor tenant for many years. In 2015, ACE Hardware vacated the space and a large value chain store tried to seize the opportunity to expand its operations in DeSoto, Texas. However, the Mayor, Mayor Pro-Tem, and DeSoto EDC Board President envisioned another use for the retail building. They wanted to create a unique concept that benefited both small business owners and the community. The DeSoto EDC reached out to Monte Anderson, owner of the DeSoto Market Place (formerly known as the Brookhollow Shopping Center) and discussed ways to repurpose the space. The idea that developed from this collaboration would later become known as the Grow DeSoto Market Place, a first of its kind public-private partnership that uniquely caters to start ups in the Best Southwest region of the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area.

At the onset of the project, the DeSoto EDC in partnership with the DeSoto Chamber of Commerce, the City of DeSoto, and Options Real Estate hosted the Grow DeSoto: Entrepreneur Pitch Day event to attract small business owners interested in locating their operations inside of the Grow DeSoto Market Place. The event was a success. Twenty-four small business owners from across the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex pitched their business ideas to a panel of judges and members of the community.

Today, more than 80 percent of the space within the Grow DeSoto Market Place has been leased by a variety of micro businesses ranging from restaurants and clothing retailers to a photography studio and even a full-service fitness/rehabilitation center. The space also includes a thriving office community comprised of private office suites that are available for lease. Other notable features available to small business owners of the Grow DeSoto Market Place include a low entry to market, reduced rental rates with all utilities included, high traffic area, easy access to I-35 and I-20, flexible lease terms, ongoing business training, mentorship, and the resource assistance of the DeSoto EDC, DeSoto Chamber of Commerce, City of DeSoto, Options Real Estate, and The Industry HUB.

"We are extremely excited about the grand opening of the Grow DeSoto Market Place and are looking forward to creating a community space for the City of DeSoto and the surrounding cities that will encourage entrepreneurship and innovation for years to come," said Joe Newman, Chief Executive Officer of the DeSoto Economic Development Corporation. The DeSoto EDC invites anyone interested in attending the grand opening celebration of the Grow DeSoto Market Place to register for free tickets at https://www.growdesoto.org. The celebration will include a visit from Mayor of DeSoto Curtistene McCowan, an official ribbon cutting ceremony, live entertainment, delicious food, and free giveaways.

ABOUT DESOTO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

The DeSoto Economic Development Corporation (DeSoto EDC) is a non-profit organization funded by sales tax revenue to foster local prosperity while maintaining an excellent quality of life and minimizing local ad valorem taxation. The DeSoto EDC aims to assist businesses with a seamless relocation assistance process to DeSoto by providing site selection searches, competitive incentives, a skilled workforce and a prime location in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Whether your company needs a new commercial office building on Interstate 35, a manufacturing facility on a hill overlooking downtown Dallas, a fulfillment warehouse, or a service-oriented facility, DeSoto is the place to build your business, raise your kids, enjoy life and retire in style. For more information, visit our website at http://www.dedc.org.

SOURCE DeSoto Economic Development Corporation