The Coatesville 2nd Century Alliance has announced it will create a small business incubator at 228 E. Lincoln Highway, where the former Coatesville Army-Navy store was located.

Called the Made In Coatesville Small Business Incubator, it will provide a physical location for entrepreneurs to showcase and sell their products and services, along with wrap-around business education programming. It will have regular shopping hours on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Applications are being accepted for the program at http://www.2ndCenturyAlliance.org.

Coatesville has many entrepreneurs and small business support programs. Chester County Economic Development Council recently opened a Business Resource Center at 190 W. Lincoln Highway, home to another incubator program, the nth Innovation Center. Also, the City of Coatesville offers a Business Skills for Success program in partnership with Kutztown University's Small Business Development Center.

Looker Books, an independent bookstore and the first tenant in the Made In Coatesville Small Business Incubator, held its grand opening on Aug. 13. Dana Looker is the shop's proprietor.

The 2nd Century Alliance was founded in 2015 when the city celebrated 100 years of incorporation, and it seeks to ensure Coatesville's second century is economically prosperous. A public/private partnership funded in part by the Chester County Commissioners and private sector contributions, the organization's mission is to drive economic development in Coatesville that enables the community to thrive.