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PROGRAMS / DURHAM, NC
Property Acquisition Lab
PRESENTED BY ACCESS POINT AND KNOX ST. STUDIOS
10-week cohort program for entrepreneurs interested in acquiring commercial property.
Interested in owning commercial property for your business?
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The Property Acquisition Lab is designed to provide the knowledge, tools, and access to capital that entrepreneurs need to acquire and own commercial real estate. Our mission is to tackle persistent wealth gaps by supporting business owners who are ready to transition from tenant to property owner. Through hands-on coaching, practical education, and ecosystem coordination, we help entrepreneurs move from survival to sustainability.
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What you will learn.
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ABOUT THE PROPERTY ACQUISITION LAB
A 10-week program designed to educate and prepare entrepreneurs to acquire and own commercial property in Durham, NC.
Renting commercial space is expensive and uncertain. You face constant risk of displacement, rent increases, and lack of control over your business's future. Property ownership allows you to build equity, stabilize your costs, and create generational wealth while strengthening your community.
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The Property Acquisition Lab addresses the systemic barriers that lower wealth business owners face in accessing commercial real estate. While only 13% of lower wealth entrepreneurs receive the full financing they request compared to 40% for traditionally funded businesses, our program levels the playing field by providing the knowledge, connections, and capital support needed to succeed.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
The Property Acquisition Lab is comprised of 4 phases over 10 weeks.
Each phase is designed to deepen participants' knowledge about the process of acquiring commercial property – from assessing readiness to conducting due diligence, from financing to closing and beyond.
What You'll Receive
Partnership & Support
The Property Acquisition Lab operates through strategic partnerships:
Lead organization providing program delivery, entrepreneur coaching, and curriculum development
Who Should Apply
Ideal Participants
The Property Acquisition Lab serves small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs who are native to the Durham community. Our participants include:
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Current Business Owners: Operating businesses ready to secure their commercial space
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Growth-Stage Entrepreneurs: Businesses expanding and needing larger or permanent locations
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Community-Focused Leaders: Entrepreneurs committed to building wealth in their neighborhoods
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Displacement-Threatened Businesses: Owners facing rising rents or uncertain lease situations
Eligibility Requirements
We focus on readiness and commitment rather than restrictive criteria:
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Demonstrated business operation or concrete business plan
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Genuine interest in commercial property ownership in Durham
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Commitment to community-based business development
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Willingness to engage in 10-week cohort program
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Available for approximately 20 hours of instruction and coaching
We work with entrepreneurs at various stages of financial readiness, building pathways toward acquisition rather than excluding those who need additional preparation.
Investment in Your Future
Program Value
The Property Acquisition Lab represents a strategic investment in your business's future and your community's economic development. Total Program Value Per Participant: $15,000 - $20,000
Expert instruction and curriculum
Individual coaching and support
$5,000 micro-grant for pre-development
Access to capital networks
Professional partnerships
Beyond Individual Success
The Property Acquisition Lab drives systemic change in Durham's economic landscape:
Individual Impact
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Move from vulnerable tenant to property owner
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Build generational wealth through real estate
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Stabilize business costs and operations
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Create equity that can be leveraged for growth
Community Impact
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Strengthen Durham's commercial corridors
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Increase local job creation
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Build community ownership and control
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Interrupt cycles of displacement​
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Systems Change
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Shift power dynamics in commercial real estate
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Demonstrate viability of underserved entrepreneurs as property owners
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Create replicable model for other communities
Frequently asked questions
APPLY
Ready to Become a Property Owner?
The Property Acquisition Lab is more than a program – it's a pathway to ownership, stability, and generational wealth building.
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Join us in transforming Durham's economic landscape by putting commercial property ownership in the hands of the entrepreneurs who built and sustain our communities.
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Application Deadline: November 11, 2025
Program Dates: December 8, 2025
Location: Durham, NC
