Small businesses budding in basements and garages may soon have a place to grow.

Some studies show eight of 10 new businesses fail.

But in a new program forming in Casper, eight of 10 businesses will succeed, said Robert Barnes, president and CEO of the Casper Area Economic Development Alliance.

CAEDA and several other Natrona County agencies including Casper College are working to create a business incubator.

"It's not only creating jobs but building companies," Barnes said. "It will help job growth in Wyoming, help diversify businesses and grow small companies."

CAEDA initially partnered with Casper College before quickly joining with other groups like the Economic Development Joint Powers Board, the Amoco Reuse Agreement Joint Powers Board, the City of Casper and Natrona County.

The proposed incubator will be in the old brick Amoco administration building near the Three Crowns Golf Course, Barnes said. The building, which is about 11,000 square feet, will grow another 30,000 square feet to ultimately host up to 17 businesses at any one time.

Barnes and Laura Driscoll, the dean of Continuing Education at Casper College, plan to apply for federal and state grants as well as seek private funding for the program.

Driscoll hopes to find a manager for the incubator before the building is finished, to assure businesses are ready to move in when everything is ready.

"There is a building there for convenience," she said. "But the incubator is providing the services to people to help them grow."

The manager will be one of three permanent staff for the project.

If everything goes as planned, Barnes expects to begin the incubator within the year. Driscoll hopes for an even earlier start.

The Casper City Council will hear a presentation on the progress of the program in its meeting tonight.

Representatives of the Natrona County Public Library also will speak before the council to ask for its support in a move to build a new and larger library near the North Platte River and First Street.

If four of the six municipalities in Natrona County approve the plans for the new library, a temporary sixth cent sales tax may appear on the November ballot to raise $43.25 million.

Contact city reporter Christine Robinson at (307) 266-0639 or christine.robinson@trib.com

To attend

The Casper City Council work session will be at 4:30 p.m. today in City Hall, 200 N. David St.