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Alternatives to Business Incubators <br />Artist Workspace <br />Work space for artists has always been at a premium, as there are many more artist compared to space to <br />work. One example in the Twin Cities metro of successful artist workspace is the Northrup King Building. <br />The Northrup King Building is a congregation of ten separate buildings that have been around since 1917. The <br />Northrup King Building is an ideal example of a historic building being repurposed to fit the need of a more <br />current market. Originally designed to be a center of operations for the Northrup King & Co. seed company, <br />it was sold to private owners in the 1980s and has been retrofitted into creative workspaces for artists. <br />Currently, the Northrup King Building is home to "over 190 artists and arts related businesses and another 30 <br />entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizers:' The building also operates as a market place, though this function is <br />most popular during specific events. <br />Artist workspace is likely not a direction that the City of Ramsey will want to pursue. Unless there is an <br />existing artist community that is not reflected within the current demographics, this type of facility would <br />likely not be supported. Artists, on average, have lower incomes than many other professions. This creates a <br />reliance on public transit, and while there are public transit options in Ramsey, they are limited compared <br />to what is located in the urban center. Overall, we do not recommend artists workspace as a viable option in <br />Ramsey. <br />Public Markets <br />Permanent public markets were once important anchors in communities all over the United States and have <br />recently come back into fashion. These public markets can be a way for a city to promote and develop its <br />small businesses as well as create a place for the community to gather year round. Public markets usually have <br />a relatively low barrier to entry for small businesses than any other type of commercial space. A lot of very <br />small spaces (as little as 10 square feet) can be rented out to small businesses at a reasonable cost, and no build <br />out of the space is required. The market can serve as a place for entrepreneurs to showcase and sell their crafts, <br />goods, or services as a form of getting a foothold in the market. This could present the opportunity for these <br />entrepreneurs to grow their business to the point where they desire their own space in the community. <br />Midtown Global Market is a good example of the role that a permanent public market can play in developing <br />small businesses. The development of the market space included a goal to provide affordable commercial <br />space to small businesses who could not afford to lease a space of their own. Businesses like Manny's Tortas <br />and Salty Tart Bakery started at the Midtown Global Market and have since been able to open other locations <br />or move into bigger spaces. While a permanent public market in Ramsey would exist in a different economic <br />context than the Midtown Global Market, Ramsey could try to tap into the through traffic going up north in <br />the summer and could position itself as a holiday destination in the winter. <br />Business Incubators and the City of Ramsey 24 <br />