The Business Incubator Center in Grand Junction is being praised as one of the best in its class.

The facility is one of two finalists for the Dinah Adkins Incubator of the Year award in the general and special focus category. There are 7,000 business incubators worldwide, according to directors.

Each year, the National Business Incubator Association, or NBIA, honors business incubation programs, graduates and client companies that exemplify the best in the industry.

"Our staff and board deserve a great deal of credit for continually striving to produce high quality programs that contribute in so many ways to the community," said Jon Maraschin, executive director of The Business Incubator Center in Grand Junction.

"Our partners, including the Colorado SBDC, cities of Grand Junction and Fruita, Mesa County, GJEP, GJ Chamber of Commerce, CMU, local banks, and the businesses and individuals who support us should be proud of what they've helped us become," Maraschin added.

Directors point out that The Business Incubator Center was named Incubator of the Year in the Industrial Services category in 1995-1996.

In its 25-year history, the center has launched over 260 companies and created approximately 10,461 jobs, according to officials.

Terri Benson, marketing director at the business incubator, said they'll find out if our local center takes home top honors at NBIA's 27th International Conference on Business Incubation on April, 9th.

The conference will run from April 7th-10th, in Boston.

To learn more about The Business Incubator Center, visit http://www.gjincubator.org.