New Ventures Center: A Regional Resource for Business Incubation. . .

Business incubation catalyzes the process of starting and growing companies. A proven model, it provides entrepreneurs with the expertise, networks and tools they need to make their ventures successful. Incubation programs diversify economies, commercialize technologies, create jobs and build wealth.

A business incubator typically is a large building that offers temporary space to young businesses. Rents are low, and participating businesses may share resources that the economics of small start-up’s might not allow given their infant stage. Some incubators offer mentors, classes, and other business support to help small businesses mature. The goal is to minimize overhead costs, provide business expertise and reduce risks to make it easier for new businesses to succeed --- all of which are true of the services offered to tenants of the Center. The only criteria needing to be met by prospective tenants are a focus on some sort of technologically advanced offering or service.

“We’re not a retail space provider. There’s plenty of other space available if that is you’re niche”, said Bill Maurer, Vice President of Marketing and Research at NewVentures. “Our focus is providing the region with a technology center of excellence, hence allowing for development and growth of small technology start-up’s. Our benchmarks lie in center turnover - strange as it may sound - but we want you to take advantage of the amenities the center can provide, , and eventually move out into your own facility. That’s how we measure success.”

Tenants of the Center have access to multiple conference rooms, copier, fax and scanners and most importantly, other tenants and staff of the NewVentures Initiative. “The real value of being located in the center is the proximity tenants have with other early stage businesses. Just being in the presence of other start-up’s who might be experiencing the same growing pains as you can really influence and assist in solving daily problems”, expressed Kim Kudrna, Executive Vice President of NewVentures.

NewVentures is currently accepting applications for occupancy. Please contact Bill Maurer at 563.327.0162 (bmaurer@newventuresinc.com) with any inquiries about becoming a tenant of the center.

Did you know. . . According to the NBIA:

• For every $1 of estimated annual public operating subsidy provided the incubator, clients generate approximately $45 in local tax revenue alone.
• 84 percent of clients stay in their communities and continue to provide a return to their investors.
• Publicly supported incubators create jobs at a cost of about $1,100 each, whereas other publicly supported job creation mechanisms commonly cost more that $10,000 per jobs created.
• The NBIA estimates that North American incubator clients have created approximately half a million jobs since 1980.
• Every 50 jobs created by an incubator client generate another 25 jobs in the community.

National Business Incubation Association