City issues RFP for Harlem incubator

The city has issued a request for proposals for a new small business incubator space in Harlem, as part of the administration’s ongoing efforts to support the revitalization of 125th Street, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the New York City Economic Development Corporation announced today.

The incubator, to be located on or near 125th Street, would provide a well-managed, fully-equipped space that can be rented for affordable rates on a flexible full-time or part-time basis, EDC said.

“We’ve seen in neighborhoods across the city that the public-private partnership model for operating business incubators can have a dramatic impact on local communities and the businesses that participate in the incubators,” Deputy Mayor Steel said. “By expanding our incubator network to 125th Street we will help bring investment and jobs to this critically important neighborhood.”

City-sponsored incubator spaces already exist in the city, including in Dumbo, where Brooklyn-based real estate development firm Two-Trees Management provided a 6,440-square-foot space at a highly subsidized rate to support the development of technology start-ups.

Respondents are asked to identify a specific space, on or within a two-block walk of 125th Street for the incubator. Prospective uses for the space include offices for startup businesses in the technology, new media, or services sectors, co-working space for freelancers, entrepreneurs, small businesses and startups. Responses are due in mid-December. — Katherine Clarke