The Economic Development Administration has expressed interest in funding fifty percent of a feasibility study that would explore the feasibility of a Shakopee-based innovation center for the region.  The CDA has offered for the EDA/City of Shakopee to submit for up to $30,000 in a match for the feasibility study costs.

We already have a number of potential partners that have expressed interest in participating in the exploration and feasibility of being tenants and supporting the facility.  The feasibility study would examine what the market needs and would support along with operational and funding costs.

Some of the interested parties include the Minnesota State University-Mankato, which would assist in supporting local entrepreneurs, existing companies and new companies looking at Shakopee and Scott County.  Other organizations that have expressed interest in supporting the needs of entrepreneurs and programming at a possible facility include SCORE, First Stop Shop and Open to Business.

Offering higher education courses in Shakopee has been a long term request from both businesses and residents.  A higher education location would be able to offer pre-college courses for high school students, credits for those wishing to complete a college degree, credits for those in an advanced degree program, and training for local business and industries for specialized skills.  Minnesota State University-Mankato already draws many students from the region and has many alumni in the area and has a number of programs that they could offer in the community based on their experience with a facility in Edina.

As part of the Comprehensive Plan, the lack of entrepreneurial programs, innovation space and co-working facilities was noted as a community deficiency and also noted as an opportunity based on research by HR&A. The University has a similar concept in Mankato in cooperation with the Small Business Development Center.  There is a possibility that their SBDC could also provide some assistance here.

Other components of the facility might include "landing space" for companies looking for a Shakopee or Scott County location.  This has become popular in other locations since it allows a company to establish itself and move critical staff to an area to test a market or to acquire a site and coordinate new business development.  This is very common for companies that are located outside of the United State looking to move or expand production into the United States.

The facility could also include a component for existing companies to allow their employees to work off site on problems or to outsource problems to a non-company team.  This is being supported by a number of companies nationwide.  Target has a facility that is retail focused in the Twin Cities.  Stanley-Black & Decker runs a studio in Connecticut that is exploring new tooling technology and uses for tools that has more than a dozen start-up companies working on new ideas.

The facility also may have the potential to offer space for companies to train employees on new equipment or technology.  Manufacturers will often install state-of-the-art equipment for training purposes that can also be used to show potential customers.  If that piece is sold, they typically replace it with the latest model.  This is common in facilities for items like 3D printers, high quality digital printers, or smaller super computers. Some facilities also house auto lathes, waterjet cutting technologies or other high tech cutting machines.

The EDA would solicit proposals through a Request for Proposal process under the US EDA requirements and bring back for consideration to the community partners  proposals that meet the federal requirements and then staff would make a recommendation for a contract to the Shakopee EDA.