We love this idea, Mark, and are totally on board:

Rivers proposes Water Cooler business incubator

Posted: Friday, June 8, 2007

Developer Mark Rivers hopes to create a business incubator called The Water Cooler, Boise’s Creativity Business Development Center, with the help of CCDC.

The Water Cooler would sublease office space to small businesses, especially those in software and other technology, film and the arts, entertainment, media, venture capital, advertising and marketing, law and urban life, as well as nonprofits and government entities, according to Rivers’ proposal. It would provide copying, printing, wireless service, information technology, and meeting and seminar space, as well as mentoring and a collaborative environment.

Rent for a business with up to 10 employees would be $600 per month. Rent for businesses of up to 6 employees would be $400 per month.

The goal for creating the environment is to give a jump start to future entrepreneurs and employers and provide a headquarters for the creative economy, Rivers wrote.

Rivers sent a proposal to the Capital City Development Corp., Boise’s urban renewal agency, asking to use its land at the former Boise Heating and Cooling facility that CCDC owns.

Rivers plans to contribute $25,000 toward the nonprofit incubator. He is partnering with Boise State University business professor Nancy Napier and her executive MBA students, as well as representatives from ad firm es/drake and accounting firm KPMG. Rivers plans to ask for CCDC’s assistance at its meeting on Monday.

© 2007 Idaho Business Review