Wind River Development Fund features a Business Incubation Pilot Program.  WRDF's mission is one of providing financial opportunities to stimulate economic development, therefore promoting self-sufficiency, self-determination and an enhanced quality of life for the Reservation community, specific goals and objectives exist for the pilot business incubation program of which you will be participating.

Typical business incubator programs usually include physical lease space for participating businesses and firms to reside, but due to the rural nature of our service area and large geographical area of the Wind River Indian Reservation, we will operate this program as an incubator "without walls".  This means participants will continue to operate from their own location.

Goals for the program include:
1.  Increase private-sector businesses in WRDF's service area.
2.  Increase the number of jobs on the WRIR.
3.  Increase Reservation businesses' sustainability through increased equity, revenue and profitability levels.

Objectives for the program include:
1.  Assist clients in completing a written business plan.
2.  Successfully enroll qualified clients in WRDF's business incubation pilot program.
3.  Increase business skill level of these business incubation clients through intensive training and mentoring activities.
4.  Increase client understanding of business financial statements.
5.  Prepare clients' businesses to become ready for equity and/or debt financing.
6.  After the one-year incubation period is up, successfully graduate the businesses from the business incubation pilot program.

During the one-year Business Incubator pilot project, WRDF will provide intensive business development technical assistance to entrepreneurs who are committed to the program and have demonstrated they are ready to grow their business.  Services and benefits of the program include QuickBooks software, access to shared administrative services, bookkeeping services for one year, two or three-person advisory council of business mentors and industry experts in the field of your business, financial assistance, and one-on-one technical assistance.

Eligible participants must have an established business.  Participants will also need to live on the Wind River Indian Reservation or operate their business on the reservation.  Participants will need to be able to commit time to program by being able to meet with the bookkeeper, advisory council, and staff at the Wind River Development Fund on a regular basis.

Business incubators accelerate the successful development of businesses through a variety of business support services and resources.  The main goal of the program is to produce a successful business that will graduate from the program and be financially viable and freestanding.  Businesses will be able to create a roadmap of the future to increase profits and sales.   

Upon completion of the program, incubation businesses will be aware of resources available to businesses, develop a business plan, and increase business skills.  Outcomes will also include the understanding of financial statements, and be able to create a roadmap of where the business should go and how to get there.