HomeMy WebLinkAbout05 14 2015 Technology Village Minutes
CITY OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA
TECHNOLOGY VILLAGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MEETING MINUTES – May 14, 2015
1.Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 4:07 p.m. in the Little Prior Conference Room at City Hall. Members present: Gerry
Hughes, Lori Frank, Adam Proehl, David Rech. Members absent: Dan Stratton and Ken Hedberg.
Staff present: Dan Rogness and Casey McCabe.
2.Approval of Meeting Minutes
a.April 1, 2015
MOTION BY FRANK and SECOND BY RECH to approve the April 1, 2015 meeting minutes. The motion was
approved 4-0.
3.Old Business
a.Scott County CDA Grant Application Update
Rogness: informed the board that the Scott County grant application for study of the Phase III Technology Village
program was approved by the City Council and the grant has been awarded in the amount of $12,500. The
grant will be matched by the EDA for a total estimated cost of $25,000. Staff will draft an RFP and email to the
board for comments. Staff expects to send the RFP out within 30 days.
Board Members: recommended checking with other cities and organizations to identify consultants to send the
RFP once it is completed.
b.Outstanding Ventures Meeting Update
Hughes & Rech: summarized their meetings with Outstanding Ventures; Hughes on April 21and Rech on May
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7. Both members felt Outstanding Ventures could help, and benefit from, current program participants.
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Outstanding Ventures would be a virtual participant and the board recommended the next work session be
dedicated to establishing a virtual accelerator program plan.
Board Members: directed staff to follow-up with Outstanding Ventures with a status update and to verify they still
have interest in participating in the Technology Village program. If there is still interest, inform the applicant the
board should have a virtual plan in place in approximately 60 days and encourage the applicant to draft a hybrid
business plan for board review.
c.Virtual Technology Village Membership Discussion
Board Members: recommended devoting the next work session to creating a plan for virtual Technology Village
participation where participants would not have an office but still receive program benefits.
d.Lunch and Learn Event – Date and Topics
McCabe: reviewed suggested topics from program participants, which included: i) how to find motivated and
effective sales employees for a start-up; and ii) a lecture about business finance, taxation and accounting.
Frank: suggested a discussion related to receipt of payment. Ms. Frank thought a local American Express
representative or another presenter could discuss new technology which is changing how payments are
accepted, security requirements and liability. Ms. Frank has a contact who may be interested in presenting at
Phone: 952.447.9813 / Email: drogness@cityofpriorlake.com / www.cityofpriorlake.com
the next lunch and learn event. Ms. Frank will contact and schedule a mid to late July session, mid-week
(Tuesday – Thursday) from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Board Members: also discussed the programs and resources offered through the Scott County Library as a
potential topic for a future lunch and learn event.
e.Valde Group Board Advisor
MOTION BY HUGHES and SECOND BY PROEHL to appoint Dan Stratton as the Technology Village board
advisor to Valde Group. The motion was approved 4-0.
4.New Business
a.iWMS Global Board Advisor
MOTION BY RECH and SECOND BY FRANK to appoint Adam Proehl as the Technology Village board advisor
to iWMS Global. The motion was approved 4-0.
b.SBA Grant Application
Rogness: informed the board that the SBA has announced funding availability for The Growth Accelerator Fund
Competition. The Technology Village board applied for, but did not receive, the $50,000 award in 2014. Mr.
Rogness stated the major change this year is the requirement for a 4 to 1 match. Last year no matching funds
were required.
Board Members: discussed the program and chose not to pursue the SBA funds due to the matching fund
requirement.
c.Technology Village Participant Breakfast – Date and Topics
The next Technology Village participant breakfast was scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 2015, 8:30 a.m. Staff
will send an invitation to program participants. Board members discussed topics to include: new participant
introductions; Technology Village Phase III grant, updates from board and updates from participants.
5.Staff Update
a.Technology Village Website Revisions
McCabe: informed the board that staff has made some minor revisions to the Technology Village website and
staff needed additional assistance to complete the more complex revisions. Mr. Proehl offered to assist. Staff
will schedule a meeting with Mr. Proehl to complete the remaining website updates.
b.design a tivity Office Space
McCabe: informed the board that design a tivity has moved to a new office space in the Main Street office building
above the former Carquest Auto Parts.
Board Members: confirmed that design a tivity will still be considered a program participant and encouraged their
continued involvement in program activities and interaction with their board advisor and attendance at future
events.
c.Technology Village Metric Report – April 2015
Board Members: reviewed and discussed the April 2015 Technology Village metric report.
d.Action Item Update
Board Members: reviewed the pending action items. Hughes asked the board to prioritize collaboration
opportunities with FSS, SCALE (TED Group), SCORE, Open to Business. Board members identified: 1)
SCORE; 2) FSS; and 3) Open to Business. Rogness recommended inviting Stacy Crakes from FSS to the next
board meeting.
e.Board Member Ideas/Recommendations
Hughes: asked about scheduling a meeting with Harlan Jacobs. Frank recommended the board meet with Mr.
Jacobs at the July work session after the virtual accelerator program is discussed during the June work session.
Frank also recommended sending a list of discussion points to Mr. Jacobs prior to the work session so he is
prepared for the discussion.
Board Members: recommended putting together a short Technology Village PR campaign to be sent through
LinkedIn. The marketing material should include a reference to a south of the river accelerator, Technology
Village logo, website link, etc. Staff will draft for board review.
f.Next Meeting Date
Board Members: due to member unavailability, the board decided to cancel the May 20 work session. The
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board will meet next at their regular meeting on June 3 at 4:00 p.m.
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6.Adjourn
MOTION BY RECH and SECOND BY PROEHL to adjourn the meeting. With all members in favor, the motion was
approved. The meeting adjourned at 5:27 p.m.
Submitted by: Casey McCabe