Incubator Program 'Hatches' New Business in Fairfax City

FAIRFAX CITY, VA -- A city start-up that was part of the incubator program at the Mason Enterprise Center in the City of Fairfax (MEC-Fairfax) has “graduated” to an independent location within the city.

KME.Digital, a digital IT, marketing and communications firm launched in 2015 by Kelly McLaughlan, has taken up residence at 10410 Main St. KME.Digital is part of the Small, Women-owned and Minority-owned Business (SWaM) certification program of the Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise, and is part of the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contracting Program with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

At a graduation celebration last month at MEC-Fairfax, the City of Fairfax presented a $5,000 graduation incentive to McLaughlin for relocating in downtown Fairfax. In attendance were Mayor R. Scott Silverthorne, Councilmembers Michael DeMarco and Eleanor Schmidt, and members of the City of Fairfax Economic Development Authority.

“This is an exciting time for KME.Digital, and for the City of Fairfax,” Silverthorne said in a news release announcing the new business. “The city wants to support small businesses, to help them accomplish their goals, and the Mason Enterprise Center is an excellent resource for small businesses.”

MEC-Fairfax is a business accelerator program designed to help start-up businesses grow and achieve maximum success. Located in Old Town Fairfax, MEC-Fairfax provides furnished office space, telephone and receptionist service — as well as access to business advisors, networking opportunities, and quality educational programs.

As a partnership initiative between George Mason University and the City of Fairfax Economic Development Authority, MEC-Fairfax is the largest university-based business incubator in Virginia. It also is home to Mason’s International Business Accelerator, one of only three in the country, which assists foreign businesses in establishing a U.S. subsidiary at the center in order to introduce their products and services to the U.S. market. Businesses can find their place in MEC-Fairfax: visit www.mecfairfax.org or call 703-277-7770.

PHOTO courtesy of Fairfax City