Providence Academy Small Business Incubator Project

What is Providence Academy?

Location: 400 E. Evergreen Blvd.

Providence Academy was designed and built in 1873 by Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart and has served the Vancouver community with many uses over the past century and a half. Since 2015, the Historic Trust has owned, operated, and preserved this remarkable architectural treasure.

What is the Small Business Incubator Program?

The Academy has been an informal small-business incubator for years due to its wide range of office sizes and competitive rental rates. Many local businesses – ranging from service providers to small manufacturers – have launched from the Academy after finding their footing here.

The Historic Trust is pleased to partner with program sponsors to uplift entrepreneurs, new businesses, and established up-and-coming businesses through the Small Business Incubator Program grant application process, intended to allow recipients to stabilize and grow to a point of sustainability.

Successful applicants will receive significant underwriting support – tiered every 6 months – for the first 18 months of their Providence Academy office space lease. The monthly lease includes utilities (water, sewer, garbage, electricity).

What spaces are available?

Specific Providence Academy suites have been identified for this program in a range of sizes:

Small
Approximately 250 square feet. Examples of previous/current businesses in this size space: counseling, locksmith, insurance agent, realtor, writer, small nonprofit, massage therapist, aesthetics services.

Medium  NO LONGER AVAILABLE, THIS SUITE IS FILLED
Approximately 760 square feet. Suitable for collaborative office, co-working, or yoga studio.

Large
Approximately 1,640 square feet. Suitable for fine arts, textiles, or aesthetics/beauty. Previous lessee produced handmade doll clothes, becoming so successful they outgrew the space.

To review office size specifications and pricing, use this link: https://www.thehistorictrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/sbi_spacesavailable_5-22-25.pdf

Please note that available office spaces are subject to change.

How does a small business or entrepreneur apply?

Click Here to Apply

Preview and fill out the Small Business Incubator Application at this link: https://www.thehistorictrust.org/providence-academy-small-business-incubator-application/.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a new or established business or nonprofit organization with a three to five-year business plan and a financial plan which outlines a path to sustainability. You must use the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) “Traditional” Business Plan format, example_businessplantemplatefromsba and our Financial Projections template spreadsheet, sbi_financialplan_template_2025_b
  • Your business plan should follow the SBA example and should include:
    • An executive summary about your product(s), customers, and future of the company
    • A company description including mission statement, principal members, and legal structure
    • Market research including industry summary, detailed description of customers, company advantages, and regulations you are required to meet
    • Marketing & sales plans and strategies including growth strategy, customer communications, and how you will sell
    • Please incorporate into your business plan
      • Challenges you anticipate
      • What other resources you will need (outside this potential grant) to execute your plan such as financing (loans, investors), tenant improvements (per landlord guidelines & approval, see Providence Academy Rules & Regulations), fixtures & equipment, marketing, payroll services, etc.
      • Community impact summary, stating why your business plan stands out from other applicants
  • Present your projected income, expenses, net profit, etc. using the provided Financial Plan template. Be sure to complete all four tabs.
  • Upload your resume containing your business/industry experience and management history
  • These should include:
    • Company summary
    • Product/service summary
    • Market analysis summary
    • Challenges, opportunities, and strategies to maximize success
    • Two-year projected income, expenses, net profit, etc. detailing/explaining your projections using the provided Financial Plan template.
    • Description of other resources you will need (outside this potential grant) to execute your plan such as: financing, tenant improvements (per landlord guidelines & approval, see Providence Academy Rules & Regulations), fixtures & equipment, marketing, payroll services, etc.
    • Resume and management history for yourself and top company/organization leadership
    • Projected number of full & part time employees
    • Start-up summary, listing initial sources & uses (if applicable)
    • Community impact summary, stating why your business plan stands out from other applicants
  • Register for the Business POD program with the Greater Vancouver Chamber (GVDD) – registration is free. You do not need to be a member of the Chamber to register for the Business POD, or to apply for the Small Business Incubator program. Register here:  https://www.vancouverusa.com/business-owners/businesspod/
  • Must have completed at least two hours of mentorship coaching/consultation with a business mentor. Options include (but are not limited to) a GVCC Business POD Mentor, Fourth Plain Forward Business Connect Mentor, an SBDC business advisor, or a SCORE Mentor. Request a local SCORE mentor at no cost at this link:  https://www.score.org/swwashington/local-mentors. Contact an SBDC business advisor at this link: https://wsbdc.org/. Contact Fourth Plain Forward Business Connect at this link: https://www.fourthplainforward.rog/business-resources. Contact the GVCC Business POD at this link: https://www.vancouverusa.com/business-owners/businesspod/.
  • Must have office space needs matching the spaces available at the Providence Academy building. Applicants are strongly encouraged to make an appointment for a site visit – contact Carol Ross at carol.ross@thehistorictrust.org to start the scheduling process. Please review office size specifications and pricing at this link:  https://www.thehistorictrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/sbi_spacesavailable_5-22-25.pdf
  • Must be willing to participate in check-in meetings (with your business mentor) every 6 months during participation in the program, corresponding with each level of grant subsidy.
  • If selected by the committee to move forward after application review, applicant may be asked to participate in a 20-minute in-person interview with the committee.
  • If selected for an award, applicant must be willing to submit a $50 screening fee and undergo credit check, background check, sign custom lease agreement, acquire and maintain renters insurance throughout the duration of the lease.
  • Additional points will be awarded for businesses who are (these are not required):
    • Current members of the Vancouver’s Downtown Association
    • Current members of the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce
    • BIPOC-owned/led
    • Female-owned/led
    • Economically disadvantaged

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with review, scoring, and determination of grant award(s) being made once per quarter by the committee.

The Historic Trust thanks the Port of Vancouver Community Fund for its support of this program.