R357-19-4. Criteria for the Approval, Creation, and Oversight of Business Resource Centers

  (1) An existing Business Resource Center shall:

  (a) Be the access point to coordinated business assistance through partnerships with governmental entities, academia and other business resources in a local area;

  (b) In rural counties, utilize the connection between the Business Expansion and Retention Initiative (BEAR) and the services of the BRC to initiate, facilitate, and document more referrals to the BRC's associated service providers;

  (c) Initiate business education programs, including programs in coordination and collaboration with public, private, and governmental institutions;

  (d) Provide research, development, or training programs for new businesses;

  (e) Develop programs to aid business clients in finding the resource they need;

  (f) Work with the host institution in providing academic resources, including faculty and student participation and support for the programs, events, and daily operations of the BRC, as appropriate;

  (g) Develop programs for outreach to entrepreneurs in rural areas of the state as appropriate;

  (h) Develop, maintain, and report metrics to determine effectiveness of efforts;

  (i) Partner with and house the federal, state, and local business service providers;

  i. Potential business service providers are further defined in the BRC's agreement with the Office.

  (2) An entity establishing a new Business Resource Center shall:

  (a) Provide a physical office space in a regional area or county where no BRC currently exists to serve as an access point to coordinated business assistance through partnerships with governmental entities, academia and other business resources in a local area;

  i. Money awarded by the Office cannot be used to lease office space;

  (b) In rural counties, utilize the connection between BEAR and the services of the BRC to facilitate, initiate, and document referrals to the BRC's associated service providers;

  (c) Initiate and encourage business education programs, including programs in coordination and collaboration with public, private, and governmental institutions;

  (d) Provide research, development, or training programs for new businesses;

  (e) Develop programs to aid business clients in finding the resource they need;

  (f) Work with the host institution in providing academic resources, including faculty and student assistance, as appropriate;

  (g) Develop programs for outreach to entrepreneurs in rural areas of the state as appropriate;

  (h) Develop, maintain, and report metrics to determine effectiveness of efforts;

  (i) Partner with and house on an as-needed or regularly scheduled basis federal, state, and local business service providers, as listed below;

  (j) Enter into agreements and provide letters of commitment from service providers that their services will be available at the newly established BRC according to a regular schedule and/or on an as-needed basis. These service providers should include

  (3) An existing or new Business Resource Center may:

  (a) Provide a needs assessment relating to new or existing businesses in conjunction with other public or private economic development programs or initiatives;

  (b) Provide business incubator space or services, or both, to businesses based on criteria established by the Office in consultation with the board;

  (c) Participate with local business leaders and government officials to assist in formulating economic development direction or strategy for their communities;

  (d) Develop and establish web-based access to virtual business resource center services over the Internet to assist in establishing and growing businesses in the state, and particularly in those situations where traveling to the Business Resource Center site is not possible or practical.

  (4) The Office will facilitate a quarterly meeting with all BRC directors to discuss overall goals and progress.