COOS BAY — The city of Coos Bay wants to revitalize its urban areas. For now, that means helping existing businesses instead of attracting new ones.

City Manager Chuck Freeman and staff have a plan to do it. They want to examine the business climate and offer assistance to business owners who need it. The key to the project, Freeman said, is the creation of a virtual business incubator.

Like a traditional incubator, such as the one managed by Southwestern Oregon Community College, it would help owners by providing technical assistance and consulting.

But unlike an incubator that rents offices in a business park, participants in the virtual model would stay in their storefronts and meet with an advisor in a neutral location. Freeman suggested these gatherings could be held in a refurbished Coos Bay Visitors Center, which the city council has expressed interest in renovating.

New businesses and those expanding existing services would be eligible, though Freeman emphasized the city’s intent is to help at-risk businesses.

“The main thrust is to help those here first because they were here first,” he said.

The city will partner with Arlene Soto, the director of Southwestern’s Business Development Center. The service will be available free of charge, though business owners will be asked to partake in training that could include a nominal fee. The training will depend on the business and could focus on writing a business plan or budgeting.

The revitalization plan also involves interviewing business owners to find out how the city could help them. Information will be kept confidential, said Joyce Jansen, economic and community development manager for Coos Bay. Jansen will be conducting the interviews for the city.

(Staff Writer Alexander Rich covers Coos Bay issues for The World. He can be reached by calling 269-1222, ext. 234; or by e-mailing to arich@theworldlink.com.)