SAULT STE. MARIE -- After running its Accelerator Hub for nearly seven years, the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre has closed the Queen Street Hub and moved it to the Millworks Centre for Entrepreneurship.

“When we looked at what makes a vibrant innovation community, it’s having more entrepreneurs clustered together in the same space where they can share ideas, share problems,” said Peter Bruijns, executive director for Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre. “Why are we managing to facilities when we can jointly deliver the same program and have them in one space?"

The Millworks centre is run by the economic development corporation. Small businesses owners who do not want or need a big building or office can rent out space from the centre to host meetings or even set up shop.

Bruijns said the move will help entrepreneurs in the region.

“We see it as a stronger identification of the community," he said. "We pursue in our minds are focussed on economic development in creation and idea acceleration. Their focus is on attraction and supporting existing companies for growth and retaining companies”

The Accelerator Hub opened in 2014. The move will save the innovation centre around $40,000.