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What is a small business incubator?
Why small business incubators?
Who benefits from business incubators?
What types of businesses can be incubator tenants?
Who sponsors the Ellensburg Incubator?
Who will run my business?
Will my financial information be made public?
Why would it be advantageous for me to become an incubator client?
When I succeed and move out of the incubator, do I have to pay anything back?
What facilities and services do incubator tenants share?
How can I become an incubator tenant?

What is a small business incubator?
A small business incubator encourages the development of new businesses and fosters local economic development. Incubators are facilities in which a number of new and growing businesses operate under one roof with below market rents, sharing services and equipment, and having equal access to a wide range of professional, technical and financial programs.

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Why small business incubators?
Incubator facilities provide an environment where public and private resources can combine to meet the needs of small businesses during their critical stages of development.

Community development depends heavily on small business. Small business accounts for more jobs than larger businesses, and it generates more than one-half of all major innovations. What's more, small businesses are more cost efficient in research and development than larger ones.

Most small businesses, however, fail within their first five years of operation because hey're undercapitalized and lack proper management.

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Who benefits from business incubators?
Small new businesses, the community and sponsoring organizations all benefit from business incubators in different ways:

SMALL BUSINESS (Tenants)
Develop increased awareness of and access to financial, professional and technical services assistance.
Gain access to facilities and equipment not otherwise available.
Increase their visibility.
Participants in an environment where small businesses can share experiences and reduce the risks involved in business startup.
"Incubator Without Walls" provides services to tenants and to area businesses not physically located in the incubator.

COMMUNITY

Increases job creation and job retention.
Improves the local economic.
Creates greater opportunities for public-private partnerships.

SPONSORS

Identify suppliers for subcontracting and purchasers of products and services.
Develop research activities into commercial opportunities for new product technologies.
Nurture a pool of potential growth firms for equity investment.
Provide special support services to clients.
Redevelop areas of communities and strengthen industry focus.

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What types of businesses can be incubator tenants?
EBDA limits occupation to a mix of new and growing firms. Tenants may belong to different types of businesses, including:

Research and Development
Assembly and Light Manufacturing
Professional Services
Warehousing and Distribution
Production and Advanced Technology

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Who sponsors the Ellensburg Incubator?
City of Ellensburg
Ellensburg Business Development Authority
Economic Development Group of Kittitas County

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Who will run my business?
YOU are the owner of your business therefore YOU are the one who runs it. The professional resource network, the facility and the management assistance team do not constitute any equity investment or management authority by the EBDA. The business is and always will be YOURS.

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Will my financial information be made public?
No. Financial information will be reviewed by a limited committee and/or individual and remain confidential to that committee or individual.

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Why would it be advantageous for me to become an incubator client?
There are three major reasons:

Professional Support The business incubator is structured to offer onsite management assistance as well as management resource network of professionals in the areas of research, marketing, manufacturing, finance and distribution.

Flexible Space Production bays contain well lit, heated/cooled workspace of 800 to 4,000 square feet configurations. The building is designed to afford low-cost space that can be tailored to your business and production needs. Additionally, there is a small space suitable for office type operations.

Management Training The options available through incubator programs can greatly improve a small business's chance of survival. Over 90% of small businesses fail within the first few years of operation. Businesses graduating from the Incubator have a 70% success rate.

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When I succeed and move out of the incubator, do I have to pay anything back?
No. The only requirement is that your business locates in Kittitas County and stay in the county for a minimum of 5 years. We see jobs created and the opportunity to help create a healthy business climate as "payoff".

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What facilities and services do incubator tenants share?
As incubator tenants, small businesses share a wide range of office facilities i.e. computers, FAX machines, copier, and business library. Some of these are located at the incubator and other resources are availble at the EBDA office. Ongoing business mentoring is a focus of EBDA.

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How can I become an incubator tenant?
Small businesses are selected as tenants in a variety of ways, depending on the criteria set by the Incubator's Board of Directors. The selection process involves an interview with the Executive Director, filing an application and a review by a screening panel. Tenant Guidelines are also available on line.

At a minimum, prospective tenants need to have a good understanding of their product and a business plan that includes capital, labor, space, marketing and advertising history and planning. EBDA staff can assist you and provide information in this process.

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