Site in Fernley gets OK for business incubator project

Plans to create an incubator in Fernley for start-ups and other small businesses in the region's rural counties took a big step forward last week with approval of a location for the facility.

It's planned for the campus of Fernley High School and will be developed as part of a Western Nevada Community College campus on the 10-acre site.

Northern Nevada Development Authority is spearheading the project, but its executive director said last week that NNDA adamantly does not want to operate the incubator once it's developed.

"Economic development agencies should not be in the business of running incubators," said Ron Weisinger.

The structure of the agency that will run the incubator hasn't been nailed down.

A wide range of federal, state and local agencies that serve small businesses and entrepreneurs everything from the Nevada Microenterprise Initiative to the Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology have signed on as co-sponsors for the project.

Approval of the site came from the Lyon County School Board.

While final budgeting isn't complete, Weisinger said the incubator, part of a 16,000-square-foot building on the campus, is likely to cost in the range of $6 million. Organizers will seek a federal economic development grant to pay half.

They expect to have an answer on that request by mid-2007.

Members of the Builders Association of Western Nevada will be asked to provide a price break on construction as a public service.

The incubator initially would be home to 10 start-ups and small businesses, and Weisinger said those companies could range from technology to agriculture and construction.

Mentoring and assistance for those companies would be provided by Western Nevada Community College staff. Ultimately, Weisinger said, the organization could provide "virtual incubator" services Web-based advice from the incubator's advisors to small businesses throughout rural northwest Nevada.