FRANKLIN—A $15,018 grant will help Franklin Southampton Economic Development, Inc. purchase furnishings and equipment for conference, meeting and workstation areas at the Franklin Business Incubator.

Nancy Parrish, FSEDI’s small business development manager, said the grant, provided by the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, is timely as the incubator finishes a 10,000 square-foot expansion project.

The Hampton Roads Community Foundation is a regional community foundation and since its founding 60 years ago, it has provided more than $140 million in grants and scholarships in the region.

“FSEDI was pleased to apply for a grant on behalf of the city of Franklin to assist in its efforts to support the growth of entrepreneurs and small business development in our community,” she said. “We want to give thanks to the Hampton Roads Community Foundation for their generosity to the city of Franklin.”

Parrish said the 10,000 square-foot incubator expansion, which was made possible through grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Community Development Block Grant, would be completed by the end of the month.