EDSR MEMORANDUM 09-08-1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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EDA Agenda Memo September 8, 1997,Meeting Page 6 9. Discuss Community Venture Network Meeting Attended by Pat Dwyer/Paul Steinman Background Staff and EDA President Pat Dwyer attended a meeting called Community Venture Network which is sponsored by Public Resource Group, Inc. Community Venture Network is a program for communities outside the seven county metro area which matches business leads to interested communities. The program guarantees that on a quarterly basis the communities in the program will be introduced to a minimum of six business prospects, for a total of 24 per year. Staff has attended several of these quarterly programs as a guest of Public Resource Group, Inc., and believes there is some value in hearing a presentation from this group and entertaining a discussion of possibly becoming a member community. Elk River would have one of the most significant advantages of all member communities in that there are no other"metro area" communities involved. Elk River would be eligible because it is di outside the seven county metro area. Also, the level of sophistication IV and access to financial resources tends to tie the hands of most outstate communities involved in this program. Elk River would be in one of the best positions to foster and build relationships with these prospects and provide them access to technical and financial resources to accommodate their growth and expansion in Elk River. If the EDA so desires, staff will schedule a presentation by Public Resource Group for its October meeting. Staff will also include in that packet a summary of the business prospects which were introduced to the member communities at the last two quarterly meetings. This information will provide great detail to the EDA regarding the type of prospects which are being introduced to member communities. There is a cost associated with this program, and in 1997 it was approximately $3,800. It is staffs feeling that Public Resource Group, Inc. is very interested in having Elk River join its program. Due to this, staff feels the cost could be negotiable.