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I NAHRO Announces New Officers I I I I I I I The Minnesota Chapter of thc National Association of H ousing and Redevelopment Officials (N A H RO) recently elected new officers, appointees, and chairpersons. The following peop]c were elected for two-year terms at their Spring Conference held in May. President ..................................... Nancy Reeves Senior Vice President ......................... David Schulz Secretary .................................... Branna Lindell Treasurer ................................ Patricia Gustafson Vice President Member Services .......... Anne McAlpine Vice President Housing ....................... Carol Schultz Vice President Community Revitalization & Development ....... Thomas McElveen Vice President Professional Development ... Alycc Osborn Vice President Commissioner Affairs .... :oan Helmb( teer Mcmbers at Large ............. Jan Hogan, William Kc..p, Don Schneider President Nancy Reeves stated that she "would like to see an increase in the involvement and recognition of NAHRO around the state, in both large and smaller communities; as well as an increased leadership role in thc State's housing and community development issues, and efforts in providing housing and services to the elderly:" N A H RO members and its new officers arc looking forward to a successfu] two years. I MHFA, continued from page I I I I I I I I I I 1 exception that if funding remained, or additional funding became available, the Agency would continue to accept applications on an open pipeline, case-by-case basis. The Agency at this time is advertising the continued limited availability of permanent and construction financing under the following three Market Rate Rental programs: Moderate Income Family Graduated Payment Mortgage Program Family Shallow Subsidy Program Elderly Interest Write-Down Program Due to the limited availability of these funds special consideration may be provided to developments with rents affordable to lower income persons and for developments with city or other public/private participation. In addition, as part of its continuing efforts to develop programs for the financing of low and moderate income rental housing, the Agency is also requesting housing proposals with innovative financing and development tech- niques and/or other creative means for providing Iow and moderate income housing under the following program: Market Rate Moderate Income Program All of these progrms are available state-wide, and open to limited dividend or nonprofit developers. The total mortgage funds projected to be available under these four programs are approximately $10 million. While this notice is for an open pipeline, the Agency will not initially select any developments until late August 1985, to allow time for developers to submit proposals to the Agency. A Developer's Packet containing application material is available for each of the programs. Please specify which program when requesting a packet from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, Suite 300, 400 Sibley Street, St. Paul, MN 55101, or when calling 612/297-3294. St. Thomas Opens Enterprise Center in Chaska The College of St. Thomas Enterprise Center, an incubator for small businesses, opened last month in the Jonathan Industrial Park. Designed to serve the noeds of young. growing business by providing space and shared office services, incubators are proving helpful during the early stages of business growth. Robert Kramarczuk, director of both the Enterprise Center and the college's nearby Peavey Center, said the project will link the resources of the college; the city of Chaska; and industry to create an environment where entrepreneurship and small business, especially in the high- tech field, can flourish. The Enterprise Center will provide its tenants affordable space and a comprehensive package of services that help reduce overhead, including data processing, duplicating, telephone answering, word processing and secretarial as- sistance, Most services will be provided in the monthly rental, although some will be available on a pay-as-you-go basis. The development of such facilities is rapidly increasing across the country and the St. Thomas project will be the fifth in the Twin Cities area. In addition to creating jobs for the community, Kramar- czuk said the self-sustaining incubator will enhance programs at the college by providing internships and other learning situations for students, and consulting opportunities for faculty members. While St. Thomas is the center's primary sponsor, the college has retained Pryde, Roberts and Co., a Washington, D.C.-based firm with experience in developing and managing incubator facilities, to help establish the project. The city of Chaska has contributed toward the incubator's start-up costs and is lending the time and support of the city's economic development director, Clark Arneson. A $ i million seed capital fund is being developed for either equity investr~ents or loans to incubator firms that need such financing. The center's staff will also help arrange counsel from attorneys, accountants, marketing consultants, technical advisors and others for occupants of the facility. Kramarczuk said many of the firms will be compatible with the centers and programs offered by St. Thomas, such as its Small Business Development Center, Small Business Institute, and Management Center, and its undergraduate and graduate programs in business and entrepreneurship, software engineering, quantitative methods and computer science. It is expected that approximately 20 firms will be based at the incubator within its first year. As the center grows, Kramarczuk said, other floors of the 100,000 square foot Hazeltine Gates Building could be used to house additional tenants. About half the firms are expected to be in the high-tech field, a quarter will be service businesses, and a quarter will be miscellaneous smalYbusinesses. Although formal marketing efforts have not yet begun for the Enterprise Center, it already has four tenants and as many will be moving into the incubator later this month. "We are presently evaluating another dozen business pro- posals,'' Kramarczuk said, "and expect half of those to begin operations in 60 to 90 days." For further information about the new Chaska incubator, call the College of St. Thomas Enterprise Center, 612/448- 3534, or Clark Arneson at the city of Chaska, 612/448-2851.