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�Economic gardening grows in Anoka Coumty ( StaxTribune.com Page 2 of 4 There are no fees for businesses entering the county-sponsored program. The idea is that the 6usinesses, the county and potential customers afl wili benefft. The businesses must meet certain criteria to qualify, including having 99 or fewer empioyees. "We bring the infrastructure so someone like Anoka County can jump in," said the Lowe Foundation's L.ange. "The county pays for the program and, in return, establishes a culture for entrepreneurial growth. "Anoka County is rewarded with job growth, tax revenues, increased wealth, The companies give back and build the communities. The payback spills to multiple levels." From the ground up Steven Daas, who owns the Maple Grove-based professional- services firm Global Tax Network, recently completed Hennepin County's 12-month pilot program. He said 15 CEOs of what he describes as "Stage 2" companies attended monthly meetings in which they discussed business issues and how each member settled problems. Some entrepreneurs, such as Erik Saltvold (a.k.a. Erik the Bike Man), talked abaut how they built their companies from the ground up, Daas said. The Edward Lowe Foundation offered.an e-mail list with 200 potential co.ntacts, many of them being other enfrepreneurs who have survived their own growing pains and can affer advice, Daas said. A foundation.representative also offered tips concerning customer relatians and described ways of customizing companies' internal systems, Daas said. "I've been in two other CEO peer groups, but this one really meshed well," Daas said. "All the companies were similarly sized, in the same growth mode. The progr�m was so focused on what we needed now." The Edwa�d Lowe Foundation, established 25 yea�s ago, has an (nternet site, YourEconomv.orq, that offers a subscription.service with tips from economic-growth professionals. 7he roundtable aspect.of the program was introduced fast year in Hennepin County, Lange said. Hennepin and Anoka counties are considered "program pioneers.° The Anoka County program was introduced earlier this month at the 3M Champio.nship at the TPC 1'win Cities golf course in Blaine. Sixty people attended a brief seminar. "7he hum of the business community was. very strong," said Skepper, who is meeting with city councif representatives to spread word of the program throughout the county. "There are no catches to this," Skepper said. "We're not going to put competing businesses together. The discussions are open and frank. http://www.startribune.com/local/north/165876516.htm1 8/15/2012