Ellsworth officials think that some improvements to a city-owned business incubator could help to renew interest in the waterfront space.
Launched in 2015, the Union River Center for Innovation was created to support bioscience technology-oriented startups in hope of building on the growth of Ellsworth-area medical research institutions such as The Jackson Laboratory and Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory.
Over the past decade, the former health care services building has hosted several small biomedical companies — including GenoTyping Center of America, Novo Biosciences, Monoclonals Inc. and Treadwell Corp. — along with other firms such as videogaming startup Eagre Games, portable water filtration firm Katadyn and barbecue dry rub company Bub ‘N Mutha’s.
The global and area business landscape has changed over the past 10 years, however, prompting city officials to discuss whether the center needs an upgrade. The genotyping firm still occupies part of the building, but there is less demand for bioscience startup lab space, which the site still has, according to Twila Fisher, the city’s economic development director.
On the other hand, there is continued demand in Ellsworth for co-working and office space, and the center’s location directly next to the city boat ramp and marina on the Union River is an asset that could benefit entrepreneurs looking to develop marine-related products or services, Fisher said.
There also is a local need for incubator kitchen space, where food entrepreneurs can work on developing dishes or products that might lead to a restaurant or retail business, according to Fisher.
“Food should be front and center,” she said of the Water Street incubator space.
Tracy Scheckel, a consultant who has been working with the city on ideas for upgrading the incubator, said the nonprofit Ellsworth Business Development Corporation is creating a food advisory group to explore how the center might boost local food business development. The group is looking to create a local food festival to promote the industry.
The state’s Coworking Development Fund is helping to cover the cost of some improvements at URCI, including a virtual booking and billing management system for the site’s co-working space, she said.
“To accommodate increased demand, three new co-work stations were added this past spring,” Scheckel said.
The city also intends to design a new website for the center, to find ways to make it more user-friendly, and to raise community awareness and engagement of the center, including onsite workshops provided by business coaches. The city also plans to hold a 10th anniversary celebration for the center on the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 27.
Fisher said she and Scheckel, with help from others, hope to develop by next spring a comprehensive action plan for how to manage URCI for the next 10 years.
“We can find what works for Ellsworth, and we will,” Fisher said.
