Riverside board backs next step on four-unit retail incubator; staff to negotiate consultant contract

Director Zavala presented the concept for a four-unit retail incubator sited near Burlington, describing the village's goal to create small, modular retail units that host rotating vendor cohorts, provide business training, and activate underused space. Kendra Shaw and Patrick Greenacre of KPGS Consulting described the model used in nearby communities: 8'to-12-by-15-foot modular shops rented on short-term seasonal licenses, cohort-based business education (marketing, bookkeeping), Shark-Tank style vendor selection, and public events to drive visitation.

Consultants said the village could expect to host a rotating cohort of vendors (seasonal openings, Friday'Sunday and festival programming), tailored education for entrepreneurs, community selection of vendors, and opportunities for vendors to graduate into brick-and-mortar space. The consultants also canvassed program costs; they proposed three levels of support and recommended a medium staffing package at roughly $60,000 for a first-year consulting engagement (procurement and vendor onboarding, marketing, and events). Director Zavala said the village has a $100,000 state appropriation that may cover site construction (sheds/installation) but not consultant fees.

Trustees asked about utility access, ADA ramps, permeability of the parking surface, vendor selection, and the project's long-term funding. Directors said construction will be designed to protect the parking-lot surface and to provide drainage; consultants noted ADA ramps can add cost if shop floors are highly elevated. After discussion, the board agreed by consensus to direct staff to negotiate a contract/purchase order with KPGS and return a contract for formal board approval so the program could move forward toward a potential opening next year, subject to grant timing and final budget review.