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Warehouse possible home for business incubator

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Though plans are still in the works, a warehouse in West Des Moines may be converted into a business incubator.

Discussions about the need and desire for a business incubator have taken place among the city staff for some time, said Clyde Evans, director of community development for the city of West Des Moines.

After researching business incubators nationwide, and determining what does and does not work, Evans’ basic idea is to establish a network for start-up or expanding businesses, with supporting agencies and consultants.

The incubator would offer more than office space, with in-house mentoring and networking. It could also include educational aspects, such as programs for high school students, and possible laboratory space. Evans said the Mid Iowa Small Business Development Center is interested in running the incubator and having office space there.

“History shows that businesses out of an incubator stay close because of the networks they build,” he said.

Evans has formed a core group to work out the plans for the project, including Allen Schroder, owner of the warehouse property and Schroder Construction Services; Tom Narak, superintendent of the West Des Moines Community School District; Sherry Shafer, director of the Mid Iowa Small Business Development Center; Naomi Hamlett, a planner for the city of West Des Moines; Tony Paustian, provost for Des Moines Area Community College’s West campus; and David Bogaczyk, program manager for the Procurement Technical Assistance Program with Iowa State University’s University Extension, Center for Industrial Research and Service’s Ankeny office.

Rhiner Bros. Plumbing Co. Inc. previously occupied the building, located at 111 S. 11th St. and just south of Railroad Avenue. Schroder purchased the warehouse from Rhiner in July 2007 and leased it back to the company until January.

Though the decision has not been made on what will fill the warehouse, Schroder said, interior work has begun. When the weather warms up, Schroder will proceed to the exterior remodeling, including the installation of new windows, tuck pointing (grinding out 3/4 of an inch of the mortar joint and replacing it with new mortar) and cleaning up the 5.3-acre property.

“We’re not sure what we’re going to do… at this point,” Schroder said. “It could be a multi-tenant building with office or warehouse space, or an office building. We are still in the incubator stages.”