Small-business incubator to host grand opening

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  • 1 Degree Collaboration
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LAWTON – 1 Degree Collaboration, a Lawton-based small-business incubator partnership, will celebrate its grand opening later this month.

The partnership, located at 1001-1011 SW B Ave. in Lawton, will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house for all community members at 5 p.m. Oct. 22.

Founder and CEO Meegan Kriley-Mackay is passionate about assisting veterans and veteran military spouses, the organization said in a news release. As a military spouse, Kriley-Mackay understands the challenges veterans face when making the transition from the military to civilian life as business owners.

Kriley-Mackay saw that Lawton needed a collaborative resource to help these “vetrepreneurs” build their dreams and grow their ideas into successful businesses.

Building renovations began in March, when the property was bought amid the COVID-19 crisis, according to the news release. And within a matter of months, all office spaces within the building were occupied.

The 9,550-square-foot building is composed of 12 office spaces, some of which are small offices designed specifically for start-up businesses, and three classrooms for community and small-business use.

Business partners in the building include Barbara Clark Realty, High Tech Office Systems, Light Alive Marketing, Winter Photography and Design, Triune Light LLC, Veterans Solutions 4 Life, Coffee with Kathy, Skills for L.I.F.E. Foundation and Artes pro Vita Academy.

“We are so excited to fill the building with these incredible businesses so quickly,” Kriley-Mackay said. “Each business has a unique ability to collaborate with one another and assist other professionals and businesses in our community, empowering us all to grow.”

The partnership is an incubator for vetrepreneurs and other startup businesses, according to the news release. The goal is to help individuals and businesses with their needs, from business planning to sales and operations, through knowledge, tools and other resources.

Learn more at 1degreecollab.com.