2015.11.04 EDC Packet Combined - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ito TO BUSINESS January 2015 Anoka County Business Owner To Staff New OTB Project Kathleen DuChene knows what it is like to start and run a small business." I have experienced many of the challenges that owners face when they first start out. I have walked in their shoes," says Kathleen who has owned and operated two Anoka County businesses with her husband. =_. Kathleen will put her experience to good use as the Business] Advisor for OTB's new project in Anoka County. f "My role as a Business Advisor will be to work with existing small businesses and prospective entrepreneurs to make them aware of the issues they will need to face. I want to help them better understand the opportunities, responsibilities and requirements of business ownership, and I want to guide them to the resources they will need to be successful," Kathleen said. Karen Skepper, Anoka County's Director of Community and Government Relations explains that her commissioners have made economic development a high priority for 2015. "This means finding ways to help business owners large and small. The Open to Business program is an exciting new opportunity to help businesses in our county solve problems and grow. When businesses are successful, everyone wins." OTB Champion Moves on to Fergus Faits Amy Baldwin, the City of Brooklyn Park's former Economic Development Director has relocated to Fergus Falls, where she now serves as Executive Director of .�: that city's Economic Improvement Commission. "Amy was an early and consistent champion for Open to Business," said OTB Business Advisor Rob Smolund. "With her help, we were able to launch Open to Business in 2010. Brooklyn Park was our first community partner. Now we are in 67 metro area communities." We wish Amy well in her new position.