Local officials are hoping two hearings before legislative committees this week could translate into state financial assistance for Albert Lea’s first business incubator project.

Friday, April 06, 2001

Local officials are hoping two hearings before legislative committees this week could translate into state financial assistance for Albert Lea’s first business incubator project.

Greater Jobs, Inc. Director Pam Bishop said the testimony she gave before the House Jobs Finance Committee and the Senate State Government Economic Development and Judicial Budget Division got a receptive hearing.

&uot;The members of both committees were very attentive and asked a lot of good questions about the project,&uot; Bishop said. &uot;I think we were able to respond effectively.&uot;

Bishop, along with Albert Lea Mayor Bob Haukoos and Riverland Community College President Dr. Gary Rhodes, is seeking a $500,000 economic development grant offered in bills by Rep. Dan Dorman, R-Albert Lea, and Sen. Grace Schwab, R-Albert Lea. The grant would help Greater Jobs and the Albert Lea Port Authority remodel a building in the Northaire Industrial Park for use as a business incubator.

Dorman said the House hearing Tuesday was the first legislative step toward securing state aid for the project.

&uot;Committee Chairman Dan McElroy told me later that he was impressed with the preparation and progress the Albert Lea group had made on the proposal,&uot; Dorman said. &uot;I’m encouraged, but we still have ways to go.&uot;

The bill will be considered for possible inclusion in the Committee’s omnibus spending bill, Dorman said, adding that he also prepared another bill for a capital appropriation to be considered as part of the biennial bonding bill.

&uot;It’s a dual-track approach. By also submitting the bill to the Capital Investment Committee, I at least know the proposal will be assured another hearing when the legislature takes up a 2002 bonding bill,&uot; Dorman said.

Schwab said she thinks the Senate committee understood the impact the incubator project would have on the area.

&uot;We really need to remain competitive, and these kinds of projects are getting more attention as the state tries to figure out how best to partner with communities for economic development,&uot; Schwab said.

&uot;A similar business incubator project from Hibbing also got a Senate hearing Wednesday. Representatives for that venture requested $1.5 million in assistance.

Schwab said the presence of Haukoos was very helpful because it showed the commitment of the city. Haukoos, a former state representative, was a familiar face to many of the Senate committee members.

&uot;It was hard to walk around the halls of the Capitol with him because we had to stop every two minutes and greet old friends,&uot; Schwab said. &uot;Bob (Haukoos) is a still a popular figure in St. Paul.&uot;

Rhodes said he would be surprised if the committees didn’t recommend some sort of assistance.

&uot;I think they were impressed with our case. We’ve done our homework on this project, and it showed, I think,&uot; Rhodes said.

Riverland will dedicate a faculty position to work with the incubator if it’s built, Rhodes said. Many committee members were impressed with the idea of partnering with a community college.

&uot;One of our missions at Riverland is workforce development,&uot; Rhodes said. &uot;This project is a perfect fit.&uot;

Emphasizing the success of other incubator projects in Wisconsin, Bishop said she tried to make the case that economic development in Greater Minnesota will benefit the entire state.

&uot;We have so many entrepreneurs in this community with great ideas,&uot; said Bishop. &uot;The fact that Hibbing is pursuing a similar project shows that some Greater Minnesota cities are trying to be aggressive with attracting and developing business.&uot;

Bishop hopes to finalize architectural plans for the incubator in time to begin making the building modifications this summer.

&uot;We would like to move forward as soon as possible,&uot; Bishop said.hearings