Members Present: Dave Ivan, William Carpenter, Ron Steiner, Phil Davis, Colletta Moser (10:27), Mark Thomas & Scott Loveridge.

The meeting began at 9:02 a.m. with Introductions and an Agenda Review.

The first item covered was CRDA Meeting of June 15 & 16. Ivan, Steiner and Thomas presented. They were impressed by both the retreat and the response to the Entrepreneur offerings session. Thomas reviewed the Entrepreneur Matrix and he expressed a desire to have it placed on the new AoE web site. ACTION: Additionally, it was decided that the Matrix along with Business Retention and Expansion International information should be sent (by the Co-chairs) to County Directors to acquaint them with possible collaborations within their respective counties.

Plan of Work Review 03-04 with thoughts for 04-05.

Pillar 1 - “Business Retention and Expansion Program”

This project will enable Agents to conduct the Business Retention Expansion Visitation (BREI) program. Trained Agents will offer an introductory overview of the program and assistance in conducting the program. A brochure is available from the AoE web site.

Mark Thomas & Bill Carpenter will develop an approach for response implementation. Costs to be covered by requesting counties.

Pillar 2 – “Business Attraction”

Community preparedness for Economic Development:

This project focus will examine the critical factors in the site development and selection process for economic development. Materials will be developed for agents’ use. Final development in process with initial delivery via the portal.

$1,000 Total Scott Loveridge

Pillar 3 – “Entrepreneurship”

Creation of a guidebook (and online) to provide an overview of available curricula on entrepreneurial programs. Completed by Mark Thomas

Conduct seminars for Economic Development. Provide seed money for topics such as FastTrac, Cashing in on Business Opportunities, NxLevel, Youth entrepreneurship, Going Solo. As above.

$1,000 for 04-05 trainings.

Strengthen linkages with the Economic Development partners (SDBC, MEDC, MEDA, EDA, MDEQ, USDA, MDA, MDOT, MML).

New, Ag Product Center, ISD’s Scott Loveridge, Phil Davis

Conduct e-commerce workshops in 3 or 4 counties.

As part of NxLevel Training Dave Ivan

Pillar 4 – “Regional Capacity & Image Enhancement”

Investigate small town/downtown success stories and publish on AoE web site as well as conduct a statewide workshop with power point and workbook. Become national leader for small town/cool cities.

$600 Dave Ivan

Develop and deliver lecture series to communities regarding the private developers’ perspective. In completion.

Phil Davis

Economic Development Program Enhancement Visits to counties.

$500 Mark Thomas/Dave Glenn

Scott Loveridge presented Business Recruitment/profit cycle PowerPoint Revisions. The group discussed how best to deliver the material with a three part to local audiences from campus allowing for local discussion as a training tool for Economic Development Boards, Chambers, and County Commissioners.

Total yet to be expended: $2,100

Over lunch at the Union’s Heritage Grill the AoE discussed possible competitive grant opportunities. Thomas presented the Economic Development Program Enhancement Visits as one possibility for funding. This would build upon the work with county directors interested in ED AoE programs. All were in agreement to submit.

After lunch Diane Smith was elected Field Co-Chair for the next two years. Thomas will mentor and remain with Ivan as part of the management team for the AoE. The new Web site was reviewed with thanks and comments to Smith.

A plan for a Real Retreat was postponed until after the September joint meeting with the Land Use AoE. Possibly at Fall Conference

The group decided to implement a three-tiered level of AoE membership:

Core- Regular attendance (50%), Programmatic efforts in ED that are reported on EIS.

Benefits-AoE funding opportunities

Associate- Some programming effort.

Benefits-listed on web page

Ear to Ground-On list serve