Partnerships Create Wine Incubator for @IdahoWines

Love when various groups come together for a greater good – and for the good of all of us who love wine and Idaho’s burgeoning industry!
In this case – federal, state, regional and community groups pulling together to create a Winery Incubator in Caldwell.
Just got the below information courtesy of  Congressman Minnick’s office  - an event to showcase the Incubator and the various roles each organization played to bring it together.
And of course – the wineries who are the incubator guinea pigs – Davis Creek ( http://www.daviscreekcellars.com/) & Fujishin ( http://fujishinfamilycellars.com/).
Here’s the info for all the foodie/culinary/winery fans:

Media Advisory
Media is invited to join the multiple partners shown below, and Tom Schwarz, Regional Director for Congressman Walt Minnick in a tour of the new Winery Incubator at the University of Idaho’s Business and Technology Center and welcome the initial tenants, Davis Creek Cellars and Fujishin Family Cellars, on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 12:00 p.m.

  In collaboration with Treasure Valley Community College’s (TVCC) new viticulture program, the University of Idaho, and Caldwell/Canyon Economic Development Council (CCEDC) teamed up with Sage Community Resources to assist Idaho’s developing wine industry by establishing a Winery Incubator where start-up wineries can receive industry specific technical assistance and now have access to federally compliant climate controlled storage necessary for their permit process.  CCEDC contributed $13,000 with another $9,000 contributed by the Recovery Act through USDA Rural Development’s Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program (RBEG) <http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/busp/rbeg.htm> ,

  Scheduled to attend:
&die;      David Ferdinand, Chair, Sage Community Resources and Canyon County Commissioner (TBD)
&die;      Pat Engel, Business & Community Development Director, Sage Community Resources
&die;      Steve Fultz, Executive Director, Caldwell/Canyon Economic Development Council
&die;      Moya Shatz, Executive Director, Idaho Grape Growers and Wine Producers Commission  
&die;      Wally Hedrick, Idaho State Director, USDA Rural Development    
&die;      Jim Toomey, Director, University of Idaho Business & Technology Incubator

   
What:      Presentation and Tour of the Winery Incubator

  When:    Wednesday October 28, 2009, 12:00 p.m.

  Where:    University of Idaho’s Business and Technology Incubator, 1904 E. Chicago St., Caldwell,
              Idaho  83605.

More Details
&die;     Project successfully competed nationally for funding with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
&die;     $9,000 Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) was awarded to Ida-Ore Planning and Development Association, Inc. dba Sage Community Resources to assist with the cost of installation of a cooling system for a temperature-controlled facility that allowed the University of Idaho Business and Technology Incubator to house start-up and emerging wineries, and provide space for a new viticulture program through the Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC).  Federally compliant storage is required for selling wine and can be a significant obstacle in starting a winery due to its high cost.
&die;     Expected to save 2 jobs and create another 7 jobs.
&die;     Leveraged with another $13,000 from Caldwell/Canyon County Economic Development Council.
&die;     Supports industry efforts to expand Idaho’s emerging wine industry to attract tourism dollars.
&die;     Davis Creek Cellars and Fujishin Family Cellars will be assisted at the incubator initially until resources become available for them to move to another storage facility allowing for other startup wineries.