by Ashley Cotton

FRANKLIN
The Franklin Business Center is working hard to create an environment where businesses can become established and feel comfortable to take risks and grow their companies. We have been fortunate to graduate four companies this year with three staying in the Downtown Franklin. With graduations, comes new faces and we are excited to welcome two new additions to the Franklin Business Center program: New York Life/NYLife Securities and Summit Clinical Research LLC.

New York Life/NYLife Securities

New York Life/NYLife Securities is operated by Jesse Hellyer of Waverly. Hellyer has an established location in Waverly and approached the Franklin Business Center about exploring Franklin and further east as a new market to grow. New York Life/NYLife Securities help ensure the financial well-being of families with a variety of insurance, retirement and investment products.

Hellyer helps people protect assets and their families as well as grow and distribute those assets. He can not only help individuals, but also businesses for employee benefits and planning for business owners. His work with New York Life began in 1993 and while Hellyer is the only agent, he is working to add another and hopes to grow his market so he can expand further.

Summit Clinical Research LLC

Summit Clinical Research LLC has been in operation since January of 2015. After seeing a viable business opportunity in Franklin and the surrounding areas, Vaishali Patel decided to establish herself at her own location. Summit Clinical Research LLC provides clinical research services to pharmaceutical companies. They collaborate with various physicians to conduct clinical trials for FDA approval to market new drugs.

Patel plans to continue to work closely with hospitals in Franklin, Petersburg and Colonial Heights. She has one full-time employee and two part-time employees with hopes to add staff as demand for more trials increases.

ASHLEY COTTON is the Marketing and Existing Business manager for the Franklin Southampton Economic Development Inc. If you are interested in learning more about the Franklin Business Center and the incubator program, Contact her at 562-1958 or email acotton@franklinsouthamptonva.com.