Talent council invites Talent Business Alliance to submit detailed business‑incubator proposal for Gateway site

The Talent City Council voted on Jan. 7 to invite the Talent Business Alliance (TBA) to present a more detailed proposal to operate a proposed business incubator at the Gateway site.

Staff told the council it received two responses to an October RFI: one from Talent Business Alliance and one from Startup Runway LLC. Staff characterized the TBA response as closely matched to Talent’s local needs and Startup Runway as an accelerator model that often takes equity stakes and is oriented to higher‑growth firms. Councilors expressed concern that an accelerator model could be “extractive” for a small rural community and asked for clarity on how a program would keep dollars and opportunities local.

Councilors asked staff and TBA to address operational funding mechanisms, construction/ownership of any incubator building, the city’s potential ongoing financial or staff commitments, and a timeline for bringing the incubator online. Staff and councilors also noted a feasibility study funded by the city and a state housing agency is pending; both that report and a TBA proposal will inform any decision about carving an incubator into future gateway negotiations with developers.

Council approved a motion to invite Talent Business Alliance to return with a detailed proposal; the motion passed by roll call. Council members indicated they expect further financial detail and the feasibility study to be considered before any commitment of city funds or land.