Consultant: Small, ag-focused incubator is most feasible for Caldwell but will require public and private support

A feasibility study presented Wednesday to the Caldwell City Council recommended a small, agriculture-focused business incubator as the most feasible option for the city, but said the center would require continued public and private support to operate.

Brian Points, president of Points Consulting, told the council the study found the incubator concept could help grow local entrepreneurship but "it is, but it depends on how much, the city would want to spend on that to sustain it. Because it's not gonna It would need some form of public support, to, to be feasible. Right? It's not gonna completely cover its costs according to our analysis." The consultant said the small‑scale option is the only one in the study that produces a modest operating surplus under the assumptions used.

The study, funded by a $25,000 grant awarded to the city’s economic development department, tested three facility sizes and several operating scenarios. Points said projected earned revenue from facility rentals ranged from about $28,000 at the low end to about $124,000…