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MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER <br /> • BUSINESS INCUBATOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE <br /> HELD AT THE ELK RIVER BUSINESS INCUBATOR <br /> TUESDAY,JULY 16, 2002 <br /> Members Present: Mayor Stephanie Klinzing,Louise Kuester,Jim Barthel,Jack Mowry <br /> &Larry Hickman <br /> Members Absent: Jeff Gongoll <br /> Others Present: Dick Gongoll,John Weicht& Gary Santwire <br /> Staff Present: Director of Economic Development Catherine Mehelich& <br /> Economic Development Assistant Heidi Hall <br /> 1. Introductions <br /> Each attendee introduced him/herself. <br /> 2. Evaluation of the program since its inception in 1997 <br /> Jim Barthel expressed concern that the Incubator Advisory Committee's role has <br /> • become a"rubber stamp" process. Mr. Barthel stated that most of the backround <br /> research of potential Incubator tenants is completed by Harlan Jacobs (Genesis <br /> Business Centers) and staff. <br /> There was discussion that the Committee originally believed that if 1 out of every 10 <br /> Incubator tenants expanded within the community, the program would be deemed a <br /> success. Catherine Mehelich noted that Cymbet represents the original goal of the <br /> program. <br /> Most Members agreed that the success of the Incubator Program is hard to measure <br /> but that the Program itself promotes the City as being pro-business. <br /> 3. Program Components <br /> 3.1 Technical Assistance <br /> Dick Gongoll and Jim Barthel agreed that Harlan Jacobs brings much value <br /> to the Incubator Program. Catherine Mehelich explained that Harlan <br /> Jacobs's role as a consultant for the Incubator Program is to complete the <br /> initial screening of potential Incubator tenants and to provide ongoing <br /> technical assistance to tenants. Mehelich noted that Harlan's role has <br /> resulted in much press for Elk River,which created a pro-business image for <br /> the city. <br /> • <br />