Organization and funding

[scotta...@gmail.com]

I've been thinking about how great it would be to start up one of
these groups after hearing about the Hat Factory in San Fransisco and
Workspace in Vancouver. That was a year or two ago. I always pictured
it being a solo- or partnership business venture but, seeing the
instant positive response to Nathan's tweet, I'm wondering if this
should be an incorporated entity-- perhaps even a non-profit.

Funding would be another deal-maker/breaker. Finishing office space
isn't cheap. One idea: this could be presented to certain business and
government leaders in the area as a great attention-grabbing response
to Iowa's Brain Drain problem. (God, I hate that term.) Certainly,
there must some grants out there waiting to be bestowed upon by group
like this.

Personally, I've got other priorities for the near future and can't
realistically be at the helm of something like that. Perhaps someone
else can take the idea run. I'd do whatever I can to support the
effort. Or, maybe we could start out without the physical office
space-- something along the lines of a Jelly meetup (http://
wiki.workatjelly.com/) or Refreshing Cities group (http://
www.refreshingcities.org/).

[christopher....@gmail.com]

I never even thought of promoting it to them as a response to the
iowa's brain drain problem. That's a good idea. Didn't even know
there was a term for it honestly lol.

Just did a little research and there is a commission (http://
www.iowalifechanging.com/generation) set up to talk about Iowa's Brain
Drain problem. Maybe we should present this?

http://www.radioiowa.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=C890F46F-97B8-17E1-7C5C2A67329B3FEE

"We need input from young Iowans to take action to make this state the
place they envision it should be," Culver says. The governor will
appoint the 15 members of the commission. Members of the panel must be
at least 18, but cannot be more than 35 years old."

CH



On Feb 25, 3:38 pm, "scottatdr...@gmail.com" <scottatdr...@gmail.com>
wrote:

[christopher....@gmail.com]

I wanted to dab into some contacts at that des moines partnership just
to see if the idea would fly there. We basically have a meeting with
Mike @ www.bizci.org whenever we want to discuss funding (if we can
draft up some type of business plan of course). Just throwing this
out there for now as a reference.

I think a jelly meeting or refreshing city would be a great idea to
start with. maybe see the interest level. I wish I was a 100%
independent but I would definitely spend my lunch hour or if it went
after hours at one of those. Any location ideas for them?

bizci.com info is below:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What is the Business Innovation Zone?
Incorporated in 2007, the Business Innovation Zone (BIZ) is a
community sponsored non-profit business accelerator. The BIZ's vision
is to provide economic growth in Central Iowa through the development
and expansion of entrepreneurial enterprise. The BIZ is focused on
creating local wealth for area re-investment by growing and
cultivating regional, national, and international businesses.

What does the BIZ do?
The BIZ's primary function is to connect entrepreneurial needs with
qualified community and state resources and to provide guided
professional and business direction. The BIZ helps entrepreneurs
maximize their success by helping them navigate resources, strengthen
knowledge, improve skills, form strategic alliances, and secure proper
capitalization.

Who does BIZ help?
The BIZ provides acceleration level support for start-up entrepreneurs
as well as those with long-term established businesses. So whether you
are incubating a new business idea, or trying to improve your current
business model, the BIZ is available to help.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CH



On Feb 25, 9:02 pm, "christopher.jason.har...@gmail.com"

<christopher.jason.har...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I never even thought of promoting it to them as a response to the
> iowa's brain drain problem. That's a good idea. Didn't even know
> there was a term for it honestly lol.
>

> Just did a little research and there is a commission (http://www.iowalifechanging.com/generation) set up to talk about Iowa's Brain

> Drain problem. Maybe we should present this?
>

> http://www.radioiowa.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=C890F46F-97B8-17E1-7...

[christopher....@gmail.com]

Oh, better yet Mike will even help with the plan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you would like talk about how do the plan, I would be happy to meet
to do that.

Regards,
Mike
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CH




On Feb 26, 10:14 am, "christopher.jason.har...@gmail.com"

<christopher.jason.har...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I wanted to dab into some contacts at that des moines partnership just
> to see if the idea would fly there. We basically have a meeting with

> Mike @www.bizci.orgwhenever we want to discuss funding (if we can

[scotta...@gmail.com]

Wow, nice work. I hadn't heard about this bizci.org group before
today. It seems like their goals are RIGHT in-line with this coworking
DSM idea. A meet-n-greet with this nice Mike fellow sounds like a good
idea. I'm interested to here what sort resources they have.

On Feb 26, 10:28 am, "christopher.jason.har...@gmail.com"

<christopher.jason.har...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Oh, better yet Mike will even help with the plan.
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> If you would like talk about how do the plan, I would be happy to meet
> to do that.
>
> Regards,
> Mike
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> CH
>
> On Feb 26, 10:14 am, "christopher.jason.har...@gmail.com"
>
> <christopher.jason.har...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I wanted to dab into some contacts at that des moines partnership just
> > to see if the idea would fly there. We basically have a meeting with

> > Mike @www.bizci.orgwheneverwe want to discuss funding (if we can

[christopher....@gmail.com]

Sweet, mike use to work at Norand! My dad worked there for 15 years.
Have to see if they know each other. I even worked there during HS
(summers) on the computer assembly lines. Good times.

CH



On Feb 26, 10:40 am, "scottatdr...@gmail.com" <scottatdr...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> Wow, nice work. I hadn't heard about this bizci.org group before
> today. It seems like their goals are RIGHT in-line with this coworking
> DSM idea. A meet-n-greet with this nice Mike fellow sounds like a good
> idea. I'm interested to here what sort resources they have.
>
> On Feb 26, 10:28 am, "christopher.jason.har...@gmail.com"
>
> <christopher.jason.har...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Oh, better yet Mike will even help with the plan.
>
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > If you would like talk about how do the plan, I would be happy to meet
> > to do that.
>
> > Regards,
> > Mike
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> > CH
>
> > On Feb 26, 10:14 am, "christopher.jason.har...@gmail.com"
>
> > <christopher.jason.har...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > I wanted to dab into some contacts at that des moines partnership just
> > > to see if the idea would fly there.  We basically have a meeting with

> > > Mike @www.bizci.orgwheneverwewant to discuss funding (if we can