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1 <br />CITY OF LINO LAKES <br />ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT <br />ADVISORY COMMITTEE <br />MINUTES <br /> <br />DATE: March 5, 2015 <br /> <br />MEMBERS <br />PRESENT: Nathan Vojtech, Thomas Colgan, Rebecca Glewwe, Tami Wier, Lou Masonick, <br />Chad Wagner. <br /> <br />MEMBERS <br />ABSENT: Don Johnson, Julie Schwartz. <br /> <br />OTHERS PRESENT: Kathleen DuChene, Michael Grochala, Celeste McDermott. <br /> <br /> <br />APPROVAL OF MINUTES <br /> <br />It was moved by Rebecca Glewwe to approve the minutes of February 5, 2015. The motion was <br />seconded by Tami Wier and passed unanimously. <br /> <br /> <br />OPEN TO BUSINESS PROGRAM <br /> <br />Mr. Grochala introduced Kathleen DuChene, a Business Advisor with the “Open to Business” <br />program. Ms. DuChene provided an overview of the program. She explained that Open to <br />Business is a non-profit program that was founded by the Minnesota Consortium of Community <br />Developers (MCCD). It was originally launched in Hennepin County and was recently <br />contracted by Anoka County for a year. The program specializes in providing assistance to new <br />and existing local businesses and some of the services offered include technical assistance, <br />formulating business plans, financial projections, applying for loans, and advising businesses of <br />City policies. Open to Business can often provide financial assistance or partner with a local <br />bank to supplement financing. <br />Ms. Duchene outlined the differences between Open to Business and other similar programs such <br />as SBA, SBDC and SCORE, namely that Open to Business is a non-profit company that employs <br />paid professionals and can offer funding sources to clients. <br />The committee discussed various ways that the Open to Business program could advertise <br />including local TV commercials, advertisements in local publications, handing out informational <br />brochures at local businesses, and being featured on the City’s website. Mr. Grochala noted that <br />Ms. Duchene will be setting up office hours in the City Hall Library on the third Wednesday of <br />every month from 10:00am to 12:30pm. She is also available for appointments outside of those <br />hours and can meet either at her office or elsewhere.