Though the rooms of the Stepping Stone in Dowagiac were empty Friday afternoon, organization founders are hoping the walls of the building will soon be bustling due to a new initiative launched early this month.DOWAGIAC — Though the rooms of the Stepping Stone in Dowagiac were empty Friday afternoon, organization founders are hoping the walls of the building will soon be bustling due to a new initiative launched early this month.

Local nonprofit organization The Stepping Stone, located at 214 Miller St., Dowagiac, has launched a new community unity initiative. The new initiative is meant to create a link between job creation, entrepreneurial ventures and entertainment.

The basic idea of the initiative is to have entrepreneurs startup ventures through the Stepping Stone, where the ventures will incubate for one year. After that, the ventures will have the option to branch off independently, said Stepping Stone Business Administrator Ester Stanley. The goal of the project will be to create jobs through entrepreneurial ventures and projects. The organization is launching an entertainment center, that Stanley is hoping will not only create jobs for entertainers, but provide a fun venue for Dowagiac residents.

“We want the entrepreneur to create a job for himself and eventually create two jobs for other people through planning and hard work,” Stanley said. “We need to work hard, but we also need to play hard, that is where the entertainment center comes in.”

Stanley said the initiative will build on the organizations principles of bringing people together and helping the people of Dowagiac to become self-sufficient and self-reliant.

“This is all about bringing us all together as one. We want to unify the community as one. We are hoping that when we reach out, the community will reach back,” she said. “We want to get back to community involvement, a family friendly environment and community unity. I think this community could be an example for other communities.”

The Stepping Stone has been working and discussing the new initiative with city leaders, many who have responded favorably to the effort.

Dowagiac City Manager Kevin Anderson said the city has worked with the Stepping Stone on other projects in the past and has always been supportive. He added that although he does not know all the details of the new community unity initiative, he believes that the core idea behind it can be successful.

“I think some of the best ways economic development takes place is when individuals have an opportunity to get their ideas into the marketplace. Virtually every business gets its start that way, so it can encourage people to step up and help make dreams come true, that could be a great thing,” he said. “[The Stepping Stone] is a good organization, and I’m sure they will do a good job with the project.”

Stanley said the Stepping Stone will know within six months if the community unity initiative will be successful, and if it is not, organizers will restructure the initiative to make it work. However, she said she doesn’t see the need for that happening, as she believes the initiative will be successful.

“Over the seven years, we have been [running the Stepping Stone], we have helped a lot of people. We have given out a lot of fishes,” Stanley said.  “Now, it is time for us to teach people how to fish. … I really think this will work, but it will take community involvement and effort.”