Marquee photo is of the interior of The LIDO Collective in Mount Vernon, Washington © Mount Vernon Downtown Association
Small business accelerators can give entrepreneurs a lower-risk way to test ideas, build confidence and start selling without the cost of a traditional storefront. For many, that early support can make the difference between keeping an idea on the sidelines and turning it into something more.
That’s exactly what happened for Aleta Critchley.
For most of her life, Aleta painted for herself. At the end of the day after caring for four young children, she would sit at her kitchen table and paint nature scenes to unwind. The paintings were personal, occasionally gifted to friends or family, but never intended for sale. Aleta had never thought of herself as an artist, let alone a small business owner.
That began to change when a friend encouraged her to submit her work to a local artists’ space in downtown Mount Vernon, Washington called The LIDO Collective.
“I had looked at other galleries, but they felt intimidating,” Aleta says. “The LIDO Collective seemed very approachable.”
Photo of Aleta Critchley while she paints at an easel. © Aleta Critchley Art
A Space Designed for Taking the First Step
Run by the Mount Vernon Downtown Association, The LIDO Collective is a retail gallery and microenterprise space created specifically for emerging artists and makers. It’s the kind of environment designed not just for selling work, but for building confidence.
Within her first week at the LIDO, Aleta sold three paintings.
That early validation mattered. Having a welcoming, low-pressure space to display her work gave her the confidence to take herself seriously – and to start thinking differently about what her art could become.
“Being here at the LIDO has definitely helped me feel more confident,” she says. “That I have a voice to share, and that people actually like it.”
Why Accelerator Spaces Matter
Stories like Aleta’s are exactly why small business accelerators exist.
For artists and early-stage entrepreneurs, accelerators provide something that’s often missing at the beginning: an affordable, supportive place to try, learn and grow. Instead of facing the cost and risk of opening a traditional storefront, participants gain access to shared space, built in community and business education.
In May 2025, the Mount Vernon Downtown Association was selected as one of eight grant recipients through the Small Business Accelerator Program, powered by The Hartford in partnership with Main Street America. The organization received a $25,000 Operational Support Grant to strengthen and sustain The LIDO Collective.
That support came at a critical moment.
Turning a Vision Into a Sustainable Model
The LIDO Collective itself was born out of necessity. During the pandemic, Mount Vernon Downtown Association Executive Director Ellen Gamson saw local artists struggling – many of them ineligible for traditional small business loans.
“We’d always worked closely with local artists,” Gamson explains. “But we kept asking ourselves, what can we actually do to help?”
The association found an opportunity in a former historic theater called the LIDO, located in the heart of downtown. The building had fallen into disrepair and was underused, but it offered potential: visibility, history and space.
With early funding, the team transformed the building into a gallery and retail space. But as the program grew, sustaining it became increasingly challenging. Despite its success with artists, the LIDO risked becoming a financial strain on the organization.
Support from the Small Business Accelerator Program made it possible to step back, reassess and make the changes needed to ensure long‑term viability.
What the Support Made Possible
With guidance and funding from the program, the Mount Vernon Downtown Association implemented several improvements that strengthened both the business model and the experience for artists:
- Lowering overhead costs by relocating to a more efficient space shared with downtown association offices.
- Expanding e‑commerce capabilities, allowing artists to sell work online in addition to in-store.
- Optimizing the cooperative model, ensuring artists receive strong consignment rates while contributing skills that reduce operating costs.
- Hiring trained retail associates, improving the in‑store experience for customers.
- Offering education and community programming, including classes, workshops and artist events.
These changes didn’t just stabilize the LIDO, they made it a stronger launching pad for artists like Aleta.
Ripple Effects Across the Community
Since opening in April 2022, The LIDO Collective has grown from 42 artists to more than 84. Its presence has helped reposition downtown Mount Vernon as a destination for arts and culture.
When the LIDO first opened, the town had one gallery. Today, there are seven creative retail spaces downtown, including one operated by a former LIDO artist.
“There’s really momentum building around our creative economy,” Gamson says. “We don’t get all the credit, but it’s been a meaningful part of that momentum.”
Confidence That Carries Forward
For Aleta, the impact has been deeply personal.
The confidence she gained at the LIDO led her to submit work to local and regional competitions, exhibit in additional galleries and join broader artist communities. Today, she regularly outsells other artists at competitive shows, has placed in the top 100 at national painting competitions and is one of the highest selling artists at the LIDO.
Her journey from kitchen-table hobbyist to award-winning fine artist shows what can happen when people have access to the right space, support and community at the right time.
Small business accelerators don’t just launch businesses. They help people see what’s possible for themselves and for the communities they’re a part of.
And in Mount Vernon, that possibility started with an open door, a shared space and the support that made it sustainable.
Learn how accelerator programs work, what resources they offer and how they can help small businesses grow in our article, What Are Small Business Accelerators and How Do They Help Entrepreneurs?
This story was adapted from a story originally published by Main Street America.
