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A consulting company that plans to open a technology accelerator site for life sciences firms in Gaithersburg is hoping to partner with the city for economic development.

Mayor Sidney A. Katz, the city council and a handful of city officials and residents toured the 57,000-square-foot facility at 21 Firstfield Road with representatives of Scheer Partners of Rockville in November.

The company bought the property in 2008 and has made more than $10 million in renovations, creating a "turn-key" laboratory and office space.

"I think it gives us an interesting opportunity for business development in the city," Katz said. "An accelerator gives a business that has already started to grow an opportunity for growth within the city and obviously brings employment."

Gaithersburg Assistant City Manager Tony Tomasello sees the refurbished Firstfield Road property as an economic development opportunity, he said, and introduced an economic incentives package to the mayor and council at City Hall on Monday.

"This is something new for the region," Tomasello said of the accelerator site. "I don't know of anybody else who is doing this."

Tomasello suggested waiving permit fees on $6 million of future renovations to the facility and helping to market with references on the city's Web site and building signage touting a partnership.

At the council's request, Tomasello is drafting a memorandum of understanding.

He will unveil the news Thursday at the Montgomery County Innovation Center, an incubator on Great Seneca Highway, which may house future clients.

Representatives of Scheer Partners said the building is designed to serve post-incubator type companies that are on their way to bigger growth.

Robert Scheer, president, said the facility will be adapted for second-stage life sciences organizations. He foresees another $6 million in improvements.

Gaithersburg Planning and Code Administration Director Greg Ossont estimated that the city would waive between $60,000 and $100,000 in permit fees for the planned renovations.

Katz said that the city had not budgeted for the permit revenues and called the proposal a "win-win situation."