Business Incubator Nears Opening in Knox County

A nearly century-old building in downtown Vincennes is undergoing a major renovation, which is at the heart of a community effort to foster innovation in Knox County and the Wabash Valley. The Pantheon Theatre, a venue that once housed Vaudeville acts and entertainers including Hank Williams, Gene Autry and Red Skelton, is being transformed into a coworking space. Executive Director Nichole Like says the goal is to create a hub for activity in the city’s downtown with a regional focus. 

“(We’re) bringing people together, bringing entrepreneurial-minded, innovative-minded people together and providing them a wonderful space, a very compelling space to do their work,” Like said.

Like joined Pantheon Ag Tech Committee Chairman Drew Garretson to talk about the space on Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick.  Garretson says the ag tech sector is a cornerstone of the Pantheon’s mission.

“We have a very diversified and progressive agricultural economy and ecosystem that we feel like are a fit between the Pantheon’s startup ag technology companies and also access to the opportunities to develop those ideas,” said Garretson. “Ag technology is certainly a mission that we are on within the Pantheon.”

Garretson says the Pantheon has been collaborating with the Purdue College of Agriculture, which has a research farm in southwest Indiana, as well as Vincennes University and AgriNovus Indiana. 

Like says the transformation has been a community effort.

“We’re very grateful. It’s going to be a great space and we are looking forward to opening doors this fall.”