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City of Boise to partner with Boise State on business incubator – The Greenhouse

“Studies show that support of incubators produces far more jobs than other forms of
government investment,” Mayor Bieter said. “By partnering with Idaho SDBC, we will be
able to provide small green businesses the hands-on support they need at the critical early
stages of their development.”

Mayor David Bieter today announced a partnership with the Idaho Small Business
Development Center at Boise State University to operate the Greenhouse, the City’s business
incubator focused on supporting and advancing alternative-energy businesses.

“The Idaho SBDC at Boise State University is truly looking forward to partnering with the
City of Boise to help entrepreneurs at the Greenhouse,” Idaho SBDC State Director Jim
Hogge said. “This is an outstanding opportunity to assist sustainable businesses that will
develop innovative products and services to meet their customer’s needs. Boise has a history
of great entrepreneurs and we hope many more are helped to reach their full potential at the
Greenhouse.”

The Greenhouse will house approximately twelve companies, with six offices and six cubicle
areas available. Staff support will be provided by Idaho SBDC four hours a day, four days
per week, with additional support from Idaho SBDC on an as-needed basis. Companies will
pay from $150 to $300 per month for rent, with telephone and Internet access included.

While all early-stage companies are eligible for the Greenhouse, preference will be given to
companies that are focused on alternative or renewable energy, including solar, wind,
geothermal, conservation or another energy source. Businesses interested in applying for
space within the Greenhouse should visit the Idaho SBDC website at http://www.idahosbdc.org to
access the online application or click here http://www.idahosbdc.org/DocumentMaster.aspx?doc=1749.

Applications will be reviewed on a first-come basis.

Successful
incubator businesses are generally emerging companies with four or fewer employees that
have progressed beyond the idea stage, with the potential to be scaled quickly for high
growth.

Since 1986, the Idaho SBDC has been helping small businesses with consulting, training, and
environmental regulatory assistance. It has six locations around the state, each affiliated with
one of Idaho’s colleges or universities. The Idaho SBDC at Boise State University has helped
thousands of businesses reach a higher level of success. The latest survey shows the center’s
clients added jobs at 9.6 times the average rate for Idaho small businesses, with total of
1,175 jobs created or saved. In addition, the Idaho SBDC at Boise State oversees a program
in which students conduct energy audits for Idaho businesses, helping those businesses be
more sustainable and providing the students with real-world job experience.

According to a study conducted by Grant Thornton LLP in 2008 for the U.S. Economic Development
Administration, incubators are a much better investment of government funding than any other
infrastructure project. That study concluded that business incubators create 46 to 69 jobs for each $10,000
invested by government, at a cost per job of $144 to $216. As a comparison, investment in commercial
infrastructure creates nine to 13 jobs for each $10,000 invested, at a cost per job of $744 to $1,008, and
investments in roads create four to seven jobs per $10,000 invested at a cost per job of $1,291 to $2,293.

The Greenhouse http://www.idahosbdc.org/DocumentMaster.aspx?doc=1751 is located at 520 W. Idaho in downtown Boise and is the former home of the Public Works
Water Quality division. After the division was slated to relocate to City Hall in 2009, Mayor Bieter
proposed the space be used as a green jobs incubator to support local alternative-energy startups. The City is
currently performing energy efficient upgrades to the facility and will lease the building to the Idaho SBDC
for $1 for a primary term of three years, and two one-year renewal terms.

It is anticipated that the first tenants will move into the building in mid-summer 2010.

http://www.idahosbdc.org/DocumentMaster.aspx?doc=1750

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