Development partnership seeks partners to create Logan County jobs

[April 17, 2012]  The Lincoln & Logan County Development Partnership seeks partners to collaborate with to create Logan County jobs. The development partnership was awarded a $99,000 USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant to purchase a physical location to house a business incubator.

After considerable thought, the partnership has decided to release a "Request for Proposals" to see who in the county is interested in this exciting project and what resources they will bring to the table.

A business incubator, as defined by the National Business Incubator Association, "nurtures the development of entrepreneurial companies, helping them survive and grow during the start-up period, when they are most vulnerable. These programs provide their client companies with business support services and resources tailored to young firms. The most common goals of incubation programs are creating jobs in a community, enhancing a community’s entrepreneurial climate, retaining businesses in a community, building or accelerating growth in a local industry, and diversifying local economies."

The development partnership has set a deadline of July 16 for proposals to be considered.

"All proposals are going to be considered equally," said Mike Maniscalco, executive director. "The table is open and we will look at almost any reasonable proposal."

Proposals are being requested from municipalities, educational institutions, nonprofit and for-profit organizations.

"It is our hope that through the combination of all these sectors, we will develop a quality economic development tool for Logan County that will spark a local interest in entrepreneurialism," said Maniscalco.

The Lincoln & Logan County Development Partnership is a nonprofit charitable organization with the goals to develop new business, retain current business and enhance the quality of life in Lincoln and Logan County.

[Text from file received from Lincoln & Logan County Development Partnership]