Plans for an Albert Lea business incubator cleared a hurdle Thursday when $100,000 in state funding was approved as part of an omnibus spending bill from the House Jobs Finance Committee.

Friday, April 27, 2001

Plans for an Albert Lea business incubator cleared a hurdle Thursday when $100,000 in state funding was approved as part of an omnibus spending bill from the House Jobs Finance Committee.

Approved by a 71-59 vote, the bill allocates $100,000 to the Albert Lea Port Authority and Greater Jobs, Inc. to help remodel a building in the North Aire Industrial Park to eventually house the incubator.

&uot;I was relieved it passed unammended,&uot; said Rep. Dan Dorman, R-Albert Lea, after the vote. &uot;We’ve got a few more steps to go, but this was a big one.&uot;

Bishop said the state funding would provide some much-needed capital to get the project off the ground this summer.

&uot;We’re so pleased with the progress, and grateful that this project is getting some notice,&uot; Bishop said. &uot;The money would be a tremendous boost.&uot;

Dorman originally sponsored a bill requesting $500,000 for the incubator. After testimony from Albert Lea officials, including Mayor Bob Haukoos and Greater Jobs Director Pam Bishop, the request was trimmed to $100,000 by the committee and included in its omnibus spending package.

A similar package in the Senate allows for $250,000 for the incubator, said sponsor Sen. Grace Schwab, R-Albert Lea. She said the Senate economic development omnibus bill may see a vote next week. Any bill providing funds would also require the signature of Gov. Jesse Ventura, she said.

The incubator will be designed to aid start-up businesses and entrepreneurs in technology, food processing and service industries.