Brainerd Lakes 2008 Relocation Guide - (Page 24) BUSINESS RELOCATION & EXPANSION SERVICES Grow, Succeed, Stay Welcome to our business community Throughout the Brainerd Lakes Area you’ll discover a network of vibrant, business-friendly communities. You’ll also find the Brainerd Lakes Area Development Corporation (BLADC) and its experienced staff ready to help you through the process of starting, expanding, or relocating a business here. In 1985, area leaders created BLADC as an independent, nonprofit organization to work with communities, area governments, economic development entities, and private industry. Acting as a coordinating body, BLADC’s staff of economic development professionals helps entrepreneurs and business owners access the resources they need to succeed in the Lakes Area. A prime example is the joint project between the Brainerd Independent School District and Artspace, a nonprofit organization in Minneapolis. The school district wanted to sell the former Franklin Junior High School and Artspace, which creates and preserves affordable space for artists and art organizations, was interested in developing it. The plan was to divide the building into three separate spaces: a non-residential commercial space for studios and other artrelated spaces, affordable residential apartments for art and cultural workers, and uti- Franklin Junior High School rooms have been renovated into individual art studios and retail space. lization of the gymnasium and theater space for public performances. BLADC became involved at the very beginning, researching available funding sources through federal, state, and regional government programs, philanthropic organizations, and traditional lenders. “They were extremely helpful to a project on a tight budget that didn’t have a lot of money available for administrative costs,” says Andrew Commers, project manager. BLADC personnel coordinated meetings between the school district and Artspace, and ensured that all the mandatory steps were completed to ful- fill city funding approvals. “BLADC helped our project and the city by making sure the due diligence was completed.” BLADC is still involved, administering the $875,000 Small Cities Development Program grant for Artspace. Another project for a completely different type of business involved ChamberMaster, a Baxter company that provides software to chambers of commerce. As the product caught on, the young company needed funding to hire more employees. CONTINUED ON PAGE 26 24 Brainerd Lakes Area Business & Relocation Guide
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