NCET

The expanded Patagonia Inc. distribution center in Reno — often praised as a model of energy efficiency — last week received some dollars to go along with the kind words. The outdoor apparel manufacturer became the first company in the nation to receive state development incentives for an environmentally conscious project.

The Nevada Commission on Economic Development approved a property tax break — abating 50 percent of the company’s real estate taxes during the next 10 years — for the 171,000-square-foot expansion project in west Reno. It’s the first time the commission has OK’d tax breaks for a project that meets “green build­ing” standards. The tax breaks were developed by the State Legislature in 2005, and Nevada is one of two states that offer the incentives. The distribution center has met the require­ments for gold-level designation under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — LEED, for short — program created by the U.S. Green Building Council. Only buildings that meet LEED standards qualify for the property tax break in Nevada.

The Patagonia distribution center is the first statewide to reach the gold standard, the sec­ond- highest possible under the LEED program. Among the environmentally conscious steps taken as part of the development:

• Water-smart landscaping that uses native plants. The company estimates water usage will be reduced 42 percent through steps that also include low-water-use restroom fixtures.
• Installation of high-efficiency boilers for a radiant heat system.
• Tight controls to reduce the amount of construction waste and ensure the use of recy­cled products whenever possible. Some 93 per­cent of the construction waste was recycled.
• Installation of skylights that track the sun, reducing the reliance on electric lighting.

The architect for the project was Tate Snyder Kimsey Architects of Reno. Trammell Crow Construction was the general contractor.

“We realize the upfront costs are a bit more, but in the long run, we’ll recoup our investment and be true to our mission of reducing our impact on the earth,” said Dave Abeloe, director of the distribution center.

Along with the savings from the tax incen­tives and the Sierra Pacific grant, Patagonia also expects the operating costs of the distribution center will be lower. The company says energy use is projected to be 47 percent lower than comparable tradi­tional distribution centers.
 

The Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, which helped shepherd Patagonia’s application for tax breaks, said the company is a model for the sorts of employers it hopes to attract to the region.

“Companies that benefit the community by conserving natural resources contribute to the sustainable quality of life in the region,” said Jason Geddes, manager of government affairs for EDAWN.

Technorati tags: Patagonia, Inc. green building, Reno, Nevada Commission on Economic Development, NCED, Sierra Pacific Power, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, LEED, U.S. Green Building Council, Nevada, Tate Snyder Kimsey Architects, Trammell Crow Construction, Dave Abeloe, Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, EDAWN, Jason Geddes, Northern Nevada Business Weekly, NCET, Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology

View Awards Gala Photos here

Tim Casey, executive director of the University of Nevada, Reno Institute for Innovation and Informatics and the Office of Economic Development, has announced he will step down from his post April 30 to return to the private sector.

“Starting the Institute, building excitement in the University and local community for entrepreneurial endeavors, and helping to strengthen connections between the University and the local business community has been a great challenge and experience,” Casey said.

Casey will reopen his intellectual property practice through an association with a Silicon Valley law firm, where he will serve national and international clients. Casey also will work for Silversky Group LLC, a Reno-based business he has co-founded that specializes in business and patent services for intellectual property-based business.

Read entire story here 

Technorati tags: Tim Casey, University of Nevada, Reno, UNR, Institute for Innovation and Informatics, Office of Economic Development, intellectual property, Silversky Group LLC, patent services

The U.S. Small Business Administration now has grant applications available for the funding of women’s business centers. Funding opportunities will be made available to nonprofit organizations to start new, community-based centers. Applicants must be private, non-profit organizations with 501(c) tax exempt status from the U.S. Treasury/Internal Revenue Service. Public nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses are not eligible for this award.

This program announcement is similar to SBA Program Announcement OWBO-2007-027, which invites eligible applicants (existing women’s business centers) to apply for a second 5-year sustainability grant.

Proposals must be posted to www.Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m., EST, May 30, 2007. Learn more.

Technorati tags: U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA, grant, women’s business centers, U.S. Treasury/Internal Revenue Service. SBA Program Announcement OWBO-2007-027, Office of Women’s Business Ownership, NCET, Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, Nevada, Las Vegas, Reno, entrepreneur

PC-Doctor Inc. has done just fine selling software to big computer makers who each build millions of machines. With an installed base of 120 million machines worldwide, it’s selling licenses to another million computers monthly. Now the Reno-based company thinks it can do equally well targeting the multitude of smaller computer makers who together account for half the machines built in the world.

PC-Doctor last week rolled out a new ver­sion of its diagnostic software specifically designed to be used by small computer manu­facturers and value-added resellers — or even the information-technology departments of large organizations. Big companies such as Hewlett-Packard install PC-Doctor software so that they can remotely diagnose problems with customers’ computers — saving everyone the hassle and expense of shipping a computer back to the factory or sending out a technician. Doug van Aman, chief marketing officer for PC-Doctor, says the company’s new build-to ­order product allows the company to sell its system to small users.

The company’s BTO — the initials stand for “Build to Order”— Support Center allows small firms use their own logos, look and sup­port information with the software developed by PC-Doctor. They then download it from the Web site for installation on machines that they build or service. Costs start at $50 for five licenses and decrease with volume purchases.
 

PC-Doctor will pitch the product as a way for small PC makers or service firms to strengthen their relationships with their cus­tomers and as a way to reduce the costs and trouble of fixing some software problems. Because the new system is based on prod­ucts that PC-Doctor sells to big manufacturers, and because it’s delivered over the Web, the company wasn’t required to sink big dollars into its development, van Aman says.
The company will launch a trade magazine advertising campaign for the BTO Support Center next month. 

Technorati tags: PC-Doctor Inc., diagnostic software, Reno, Nevada, technology, NCET, Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, information-technology, IT, Hewlett-Packard, Doug van Aman, BTO Support Center