News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CITY OF ORLAND ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF ORLAND BUSINESS INCUBATOR PROGRAM

Orland, California, March 4, 2008 - The City of Orland announces the launch of the Orland Business Incubator Program, (BiP) to provide assistance to entrepreneurs located within the incorporated area of the City of Orland.

"The objective of the program is to assist the development of sustainable companies in Orland by matching entrepreneurs who have sound businesses or business concepts with professional mentors who have expertise in areas critical to business growth," said Rick Thomas, Chair of the Orland Economic Development Commission.

Through the BiP, qualifying companies will receive up to 200 hours of professional assistance in the following areas:

Funding for the Orland BiP has been provided through two sources, each with distinct eligibility requirements for applicants.

Funding provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's "RBEG" program will enable the City to provide business development services to businesses of any size or owner income status.

Funding provided through the California Department of Housing and Community Development's "CDBG" program may only be used to provide professional services to companies with 5 or fewer employees whose owners meet national low and moderate income criteria.

In both cases, companies must be located in the incorporated area of the City of Orland and preference will be given to companies that produce a product, ideally within Glenn County.

"We are actively searching for strong entrepreneurial candidates now to participate in this highly focused, dynamic program," Thomas indicated.

Services provided through the Orland BiP will be coordinated by the Tri County Economic Development Corporation (TCEDC). The program is modeled on the highly successful incubator program which has operated in Butte County for the past 4 years.

"We are delighted to be able to bring this proven business development program to the City of Orland,” said Marc Nemanic, TCEDC Executive Director. "Through the BiP model, entrepreneurial businesses receive, free of charge, the professional assistance they need to grow and prosper.”

Professional services provided to Orland businesses will be provided by two highly experienced consulting firms who collectively have assisted more than 200 small, rapid growth companies.

"We believe this is an outstanding outworking of the years of economic development . work that our firm has carried out in the Glenn County area," commented Jeff Lucas, Economic Development Specialist of Community Development Services (CDS), one of the selected providers of mentoring services for the Orland BiP.

Joining CDS will be The ChicoProject, who has been the primary professional services provider to the Butte County BiP since the inception of that program. "We are very excited about the opportunity to work with entrepreneurs in the Orland area," said Ryne Johnson, ChicoProject CEO.

For more information about the Orland BiP or to apply online, visit the program Web site at www.OrlandBiP.org or call the Tri County Economic Development Corporation on (530) 893-8732.

CONTACT:
Marc Nemanic
Tri County Economic Development Corporation
Tel (530) 893-8732
Fax (530) 893-0820
marc@tricountyedc.org
http://www.orlandBiP.org

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In accordance with Federal laws and US Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, political beliefs, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).

To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.