Business Incubator Specialist Retained for Sonoma Mountain Village
June 8, 2005


ROHNERT PARK, Calif. -- As preparations build toward an anticipated September 1, 2005 launch date, Codding Investments has tapped Business Cluster Development (BCD) of Menlo Park to develop the business plan for the business incubator to be located at its Sonoma Mountain Village mixed-use development.

Situated on the former site of Agilent Technologies’ sprawling campus, Sonoma Mountain Village will be home to companies in such diverse fields as alternative energy, medical device research and manufacturing, agricultural technology, and financial services. These firms will occupy up to 500,000 square feet of prime, customizable industrial and office space in the existing four-building business park.

Among these larger entities, Codding Investments CEO Brad Baker plans to dedicate space for between 20 and 25 smaller startup companies. Within compact offices averaging about 1,200 square feet each, these startups will receive assistance in business development through a systematic program of networking and professional services. This supportive environment will provide these new companies the direction they need to stabilize and grow.

Jim Robbins, a principal of BCD, says BCD’s extensive experience in creating entrepreneurial “incubators” was a key factor in their joining the Sonoma Mountain Village planning team. “This type of creative business development is key to Codding's vision for Sonoma Mountain Village,” Robbins says.

“Incubators offer startup companies a network of mentors who understand the challenges of getting a new business off the ground,” says Robbins, whose firm has helped launch 25 successful incubators. “Through the incubator program, entrepreneurs have access to dedicated resources for obtaining investment capital, legal and accounting services, and advertising and marketing.”

The incubator also facilitates interaction between the companies — through “brown bag” meetings, CEO luncheons, investor meetings, and social events — so that the companies participating in the incubator program become a support network for each other.

“A business community with an active incubator program builds a reputation for fostering success,” Robbins says.

In a typical incubator, the fast-growing companies have to leave after a few years to find new homes. But at this site, many of the young companies spawned from the incubator would have the flexibility to lease additional space, literally right around the corner.

Codding Investments is the general partner of Codding Enterprises, a Santa Rosa-based housing and shopping center development company.

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