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[Note: This material is copyright by The Gazette, and is reproduced here as a matter of "fair use" for non-commercial, educational purposes only. Any other use may require the prior approval of The Gazette.]

    The ‘‘incubator’’ concept developed by the Downtown Retail Team of the Cedar Rapids Downtown District will bring new, unique retailers downtown and give entrepreneurs a chance to test and strengthen their new retail business for up to three years. Such ‘‘incubator’’ concepts are common for research and development businesses but rare for retailers.

    The downtown team is, naturally, looking out for the health of downtown, hoping to keep these fledgling businesses in other downtown locations once they are established and ready to move out of the incubator space. But the concept of doing everything possible to help unique, homegrown businesses can take root elsewhere, too.

    The Cherry Building south of downtown has a mix of renovated residential and commercial spaces. The intent of those who developed the Cherry Building was different than the downtown incubator, but the big-picture goal — a more vibrant place in which to live and do business — is the same. More examples of innovative thinking to strengthen Cedar Rapids’ business and tourism environment can be seen in other projects near the Cherry Building in the district known as New Bohemia and in plans for Czech Village, as well.

    With enough pockets of unique development around Cedar Rapids, the city will grow as a destination for shoppers and for folks who want to stay longer to enjoy the nearby cultural offerings. The same is true for points farther north and south along Iowa’s Technology Corridor.

    Planners for the retail incubator did their homework. They found a potential space for an incubator, the old Osco Drug building at 207 Second Ave. SE, and are discussing plans with the owner. They spoke with people directing such centers in Kansas City, Madison and Minneapolis. They put together a plan that defines the types of business they want to bring in, how the incubation process would work, and how the non-profit corporation that runs the incubator will work. They’ve developed a plan for working with the Cedar Rapids Downtown District to help keep business that survive the incubation period in the downtown area, even exploring how to offer grants to that end.

    Jamie Licko, executive director of the downtown district, said working with organizations that offer counseling, training and other services to entrepreneurs is next on the Downtown Retail Team’s to-do list.

    That’s exactly the right next step, and they’ll likely find a receptive audience when they make those contacts. Curtis Nelson, president of the Entrepreneurial Development Center Inc., said he didn’t know about the incubator plan until he read about it in Wednesday’s Gazette. He thinks it’s a terrific idea. ‘‘When it comes to incubating, there’s not really been a place to do that for retailers.’’

    That could change soon.