Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sawyer County EDC reports 28 businesses aided by incubator, cites grant-match and SAM hurdles
Summary
The Sawyer County Economic Development Corporation reported helping 28 startups through its incubator, outlined a recruitment video and said a lack of matching funds hurt a recent grant application; federal grants required a permanent address for SAM registration, delaying some applications.
Adam Lamore, speaking for the Sawyer County Economic Development Corporation, updated the committee on the business incubator’s work, a recruitment video project and challenges applying for federal grants.
Lamore said the incubator has helped 28 specific businesses with tasks such as obtaining an EIN, writing business plans and getting started on administrative requirements. “We have helped 28 specific businesses with 1 thing or the other whether it's just getting an ID, whether it's getting a tax ID, whether it's getting their EIN number, whether it's helping write business plans,” Lamore said.
He said the EDC is coordinating a video to promote Sawyer County as a place to work and live; the video will highlight businesses, quality of life and recruitment messaging for employers. Lamore said shoots will begin this week and he expects to visit about 10 locations.
Lamore said the EDC applied for a new business-development grant and did not receive it; he attributed part of the shortfall to not having matching funds in hand. “We applied for the new business development grant and did not receive it but the reason is we lose points because we're not putting money up front to match funds,” Lamore said. He described planned fundraising and sponsorship drives so the EDC can provide local matching funds for future grant applications.
On federal grant prerequisites, Lamore said the EDC has been delayed by System for Award Management (SAM) registration requirements that disallow PO boxes. He said the EDC must provide a permanent address and matching documentation such as a bank statement listing the organization’s full name; staff are working to obtain that documentation. “Getting a Sam's ID number has been a way harder challenge than I would have ever thought…you can't apply for federal grants with PO boxes,” Lamore said.
Lamore said he expects continued movement on incubator site identification, contracting with potential contractors, and tracking outcomes of the businesses assisted. There was no committee vote on EDC items at this meeting.
