City offers program to help start-ups

Every day, about 80 percent of Maricopa’s workforce leaves the city to work elsewhere, but officials are hoping an investment in local business development will change this.

The city’s newly created Maricopa Center for Entrepreneurship aims to help fledgling businesses thrive by providing training and support for entrepreneurs and connecting business owners with opportunities for startup funding. Ultimately, city officials hope the incubator will boost startups to grow into profitable firms that will strengthen the city’s economy and drive job growth closer to home.

“I think one of the important things is that we are such a young community and we are really making investments in the long-term economic viability of our community,” said Maricopa Economic Development Director Micah Miranda. “More established cities don’t even have this in their community.” 

The center, at 20800 N. John Wayne Parkway, Suite 108, is having its grand opening and ribbon cutting 5 p.m. Monday including speakers, facility tours, food and beverages, and a business plan competition. Reservations must be made by calling 520-510-5535 or emailing [email protected].

The incubator was identified as a priority in the city council’s five-year Economic Development Strategic plan, Miranda said. The Maricopa Center for Entrepreneurship was launched six months ago through a $50,000 Rural Business Enterprise Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. The incubator is operating virtually, but officials plan to lease and ultimately build a space.

In February, the city council finalized a professional services agreement with the Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, commonly referred to as NACET, to serve as the center’s management firm, officials said. The agreement allows for an expenditure of up to $119,947.50 from the FY12-13 Economic Development Professional and Occupational budget line item. 

NACET is a 10-year-old organization that has managed contracts for the incubator at Gateway Community College and the city of Flagstaff and has helped businesses grow from local startups to national companies, said Tom Baxter, executive director of the Maricopa Center for Entrepreneurship and NACET business counselor. 

“We’re heading up organizational development and setting up the organization in such a way that it can be transferred into its own 501(c) 3 and be a standalone organization with its own board, focused on Maricopa,” Baxter said. “To accomplish that, we’re building the brand, community network and accumulating business advisers.” 

He added, “It’s a little bit of a challenge, since Maricopa is an island.” 

Jake Johnson, who co-owns the Maricopa-based commercial photography company Jake Johnson Pictures with his wife Tami Johnson, is a center client. Although the pair has been in business since 2005, they joined with a business plan to start a side business.

Jake Johnson Pictures is one of two clients of the Center for Entrepreneurship. The other client is All About Promotions, a company that provides Arizona promotional products, branding and embroidery. 

“It’s been very helpful to be a part of the incubator, in just their knowledge of business and entrepreneurship,” Johnson said. “I would definitely recommend people to go to them and see what they have to offer, because they have lots of time to help you and help you set up.”