Valley County Economic Development Council
December 18, 2013, 4-6 pm
McCall City Hall
216 East Park Street
Directors Present: Don Bailey, Karla Miller, Ken Minshall, David Papiez, Rob Terry, Jonne Hower and David Carey
Directors Absent: Bill Willey, Scotty Davenport
Non-Directors Present: Michelle Groenevelt
Non-Directors Telephonic: Kendra Kenyon and Randy Shroll
Presiding: Don Bailey and David Papiez
Presentations:
ICOG Update (Kendra Kenyon & Randy Shroll) – Kendra Kenyon updated the Council on several of ICOG’s current projects including Idaho Pathways, various statewide economic development projects, economic development funding priorities and the latest Harvard report on Idaho competitiveness.
New Business:
Jonne Hower Council Appointment – Following her nomination to the Council as a third at-large Director during the November VCEDC meeting, Jonne circulated a narrative that further described her background and interest in the Council. Following a review of this material and brief discussion the Board took the matter to a vote and unanimously approved her appointment as a third at-large Director.
Grant Opportunities – Prior to the meeting Director Bailey circulated two possible grant opportunities to the Council. Directors Bailey and Hower further presented these two grant opportunities to the Council while Kendra Kenyon and Randy Shroll were conferenced into the meeting. It was determined that the two grants were not particularly applicable to VCEDC and this lead to a conversation of the need to better understand and vet specific financial needs before pursuing compatible grant opportunities. Further, VCEDC needs to finalize its 501(c)(3) designation before grant applications can be submitted. Kendra Kenyon and Randy Shroll had the following suggestions:
Idaho Dept. Commerce Grants: The Idaho Department of Commerce grant previously discussed by the Council to fund an employee position comes available every three years. Thus, this opportunity will not be available again until 2016.
Regional Funding: Fundraising or financial commitments from the regional private and/or business communities may be another vehicle to fund an employee position for the Council.
RCAC: The Rural Community Assistance Corporation (www.rcac.org) was mentioned as another possible resource to aid the Council on possible fundraising opportunities.
Sub Committee Updates:
Incorporation Committee – Directors Papiez and Bailey updated the Council on the status of the VCEDC Bylaws. The Incorporation Sub Committee will have a final meeting with attorney Steve Lord to review all remaining questions and comments on the current draft of the Bylaws in advance of the January 22nd meeting at which the Bylaws are set to be adopted. The January meeting will serve as the 2014 “annual meeting” as described in the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. As such, officers will be nominated and elected and the 2014 meeting calendar will be approved.
Project Updates:
Business Plan Competition – Director Miller updated the Council on the status of the Small Business Competition. As of the date of this meeting, the submission period (Dec 15th – Jan 15th) for all participants is underway and she expects somewhere between 5 and 10 total submissions. The competition is still short $1k for the total $6k in prize money. A date will be set in March for finalist presentations and winner selection.
Website Management – Directors Papiez and Miller updated the Council on the effort to assume control of the VCEDC website. Director Miller is in communication with Wim Braak to better understand the transition process and Director Papiez plans to solicit a quotation from local website managers to assume oversight of the website.
Round Table, Calendar & Public Input:
SWOT Survey – Kendra Kenyon provided the Council with a survey that she requested we review and submit. Directors Papiez, Miller and Hower agreed to meet on January 9th to review and the survey and prepare a draft response.
END