The Ben Craig Center, Inc. is a non-profit organization that operates Charlotte’s business incubator. It is North Carolina’s oldest incubator and one of the earliest incubators connected with a university. Its accomplishments demonstrate the spark of an individual’s vision and the staying power of the collaborative effort of a university, government, and the private sector.

Dr. Jonathan Benson of UNC Charlotte’s Urban Institute launched discussions in 1983 as a response to his research into job growth during 1973 - 1983.  His research suggested that small businesses, not Fortune 500 companies, were the primary drivers of job creation. His research explored the factors that contributed to business formation, success, and failure.

Dr. Benson concluded that many businesses fail because they lack access to certain valuable resources such as office space and equipment, a network of mentors and advisors, educational opportunities, and capital access. The conclusion: create a business incubator to address these deficiencies for new Charlotte businesses.

UNC Charlotte, the First Union National Bank (now, Wells Fargo) and business leaders collaborated to plan the incubator and raise necessary funding. The North Carolina Technological Development Association provided $200,000 and local sources contributed $450,000.  The "University Business Incubator" was launched in a 27,000 square foot building on North Tryon Street in the autumn of 1986. By December 1987, eight companies were active incubator client-tenants.

Initial success led to plans to build a new, larger building in the University Research Park within five minutes of UNC Charlotte and I-85. A 50,000 square foot facility was built by the Foundation of UNC Charlotte on Mallard Creek Road with financial support from the university and the private sector. The new incubator building opened in October 1990 with 14 client-tenants.

Charlotte business leaders embraced the concept from the earliest days and provided significant financial support and volunteer commitment. Since inception in 1986, the organization has been governed by a board of directors that includes leaders from corporations, professional organizations, investment firms, and the university.

The founding board chairperson was Mr. Ben T. Craig, a First Union National Bank executive. As a native of Gastonia, NC and a graduate of Davidson College , Mr. Craig had a long history of Charlotte region civic engagement. Following his death in 1988, the University Business Incubator was named The Ben Craig Center.

The organization is one of only 22 that have been members of the National Business Incubation Association for twenty or more years. The Center has demonstrated adaptability as it addresses emerging needs. In the 1990s, for instance, it established an incubator operation in and offered services to attract offices of international companies.

Since its beginning in 1986, the organization has served hundreds of entrepreneurs and their companies through seminars, affiliate programs, and the incubator program. Over 110 start-up and early-stage ventures have located in the Center. Over 85% were in active operation at the time that they exited the Center.