Draft
Develop a combined small business and non-profit business cluster. These Moab businesses and organizations will thrive and prosper with lower priced space and enjoy the synergy of other similar organizations – being able to share computer services, clerical, copy and mailing services.
Create a business/non-profit cluster partnership over the next year. Solicit city and county leadership to provide low cost leases for the business space, work through zoning changes, and develop building leasing mechanism.
A new business cluster encourages a mix of small businesses and makes the Moab economy more diverse. It protects both our human and natural resources. Adapt existing building space is the most economical and sustainable way to provide affordable, quality business space.
A number of Moab small business and non-profits are threatened by high rent and escalating real estate prices. A few larger buildings around Moab will be candidates for adaptive use over the next year or so. Moving some businesses and non-profits to a business cluster will also free up some scarce prime downtown retail space for other, higher priced uses.
One promising location is the old Allen Memorial Hospital on 500 North that will be vacated in about 18 months. The 29,400 square-foot complex has 40 rooms, a commercial kitchen, and a couple of large meeting rooms. The hospital is wired for “Telemedicine” making it ideal for small technology companies and other small business that increasingly rely on affordable, high-speed Internet access. Almost every room in the complex has windows making it ideal for small business. The commercial kitchen is a high quality facility that can serve a café, and possible catering or food product businesses. The wide hallways are good for displaying art and can be used in some instances to expand retail business slightly – providing room for a few tables and chair for a coffee shop for example. Adequate parking is available. The property is owned by a special service district created by the county. The property could be retained by the county special service district, sold, or turned over to the county and leased back to a business cluster partnership.
The moab non-profit organization, WabiSabi, has expressed an interest in being a key player in developing the business cluster. WabiSabi works closely with a dozen non-profit partners. Some local artists have also expressed an interest in having studio or gallery space in a new small business/non-profit cluster.