The West Sacramento City Council voted 4-0 Wednesday in favor of accepting the results of a feasibility study and to develop a business plan to move forward the establishment of a technology incubator in West Sacramento.

The effort is being spearheaded by Diane Richards, the economic development coordinator for West Sacramento. The feasibility survey was undertaken by Innovative Partners and included 55 investors, entrepreneurs, government and academic officials, local business executives, and land owners and developers between Aug. 13 and Nov. 21. Innovative Partners is made up of Jeffrey Milanette, President of Innovative Partners, and Ingrid Rosten, who oversees GreatStart and CleanStart. The results revelead that:

There is general support for establishing a tech incubator in West Sacramento;
The city has the ability to collaborate with the private sector and create an organization that will build many small companies into larger ones, and stimulate West Sacramento's economy and employment;
There are sufficient numbers of tech startups in the region to indicate that "a reasonable level of occupancy" could be achieved and maintained;
There are potential public and private partners, many of which have indicated their willingness to work with the city;
Entrepreneurs support the idea and many said they'd consider applying for admission.
The report recommends the city take a "conservative" step-by-step approach toward establishing an incubator. The city would begin that work in the first quarter of next year and conclude the process in three to five years.

The City will prepare a business plan due by the end of April.
City staff will begin establishing a nonprofit incubation corporation, seek funding for the program and execute contracts for incubation services in June.
Beginning in July, the City will roll out a virtual incubator - one that offers services without the physcal space. If that program is successful, the City will find incubator space.

Good news for Sacramento area tech startups.

Story courtesty of the Sacramento Business Journal

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive