‘High-profile’: Catalyst Center to offer space, resources for businesses

Posted
Soon, Perry County residents will have a new place to do business, along with many of the resources to do it better. The Catalyst Center for Business is the culmination of a project spearheaded by Perry County Economic Development director Scott Sattler, one he hopes will have a big impact on Perry County. “There has been a group working on it for probably two years, a shared workspace,” Sattler said. “This partnership with the Buchheits creating the America’s Tractor Museum, they had the space available and I talked about renting it.” The building which houses the Catalyst Center — and the forthcoming America’s Tractor Museum — is located at 508 N. Main St. in Perryville. In the past, the large brick warehouse served many functions, from storage for a local construction company to a truck yard for local industry. Now it’s taking on a new look to go along with its new function, thanks to renovation efforts led by Klaus Construction. The front half of the building will house the Catalyst Center, while the back half will be home to the tractor museum, which will feature a large number of colorful vintage tractors, farm machinery and other displays dating back to the late 1800s, including a pair of tractors featured in the 2005 Johnny Cash biopic “Walk the Line.” “Basically, the Perry County EDA is renting 5,000 square feet and then creating this space for co-working space, small business and entrepreneurship development,” Sattler said. In addition to the Perry County EDA office and the Perry County Heritage Tourism office, the Catalyst Center also features five additional offices for rent to local businesses or for those who need a local office. Sattler said that two have been rented already, leaving three available ahead of the planned February opening. “There’s lots of people that work from home that want to start businesses,” Sattler said, “and this gives them that support structure to be able to do that, gives them a professional, high-profile business address.” In addition to office space, the Catalyst Center will also house an event center that will hold 55 people and a conference room tricked out with all the electronics needed to conduct business meetings. “Those will be available for rent or for the other tenants in the building,” Sattler said. In the vein of making the space a business incubator, Sattler said he has already planned several workshops and other events to aid new businesses. “I have been working with the Small Business Development Center to bring workshops and small business counseling to Perryville. We’re already working on some workshops to help startup companies or second stage companies to grow and build in Perry County,” Sattler said. “We’re going to have some networking events, too.” Aside from its role in local business, the Catalyst Center will also feature a welcome center and a gift shop highlighting Perry County souvenirs and products made by local crafters, something that has county Heritage Tourism director Trish Erzfeld excited. “If someone comes into Perryville now to buy something that says Perryville, we really don’t have those tourism items,” Erzfeld said. “So maybe I can have a t-shirt design or a coffee cup or a magnet or something that can you can take with you that says something about Perryville or Perry County.” Erzfeld also stressed that local artists would most definitely be represented. “I would love to have a few items in there that say, ‘Made in Perryville,’ or ‘Made in Perry County,’” Erzfeld said. “We have some very talented people in our area and I just want to be able to share some of their gifts.” The welcome center, Erzfeld said, will have information on local, regional and statewide attractions and events. As for now, renovation work at the building is still in progress and Sattler says it’s coming together nicely. “The building looks great,” Sattler said. “It’s going to be just an exciting spot to help businesses from start up to growth. Also, providing an event center or conference room will be a huge benefit to all Perry County businesses.” For more information about the Catalyst Center for Business, contact Sattler at 573-547-1097.