NorthIowaToday.com

Founded in 2010

News & Entertainment for Mason City, Clear Lake & the Entire North Iowa Region

Pappajohn’s Zanios fires back at allegations made by Fosters on incubator

NOTE: The following information is in response to a recent video interview of Cyclone Steel owners Leland and William Foster, where they talked about their time at the NIACC Pappajohn small business incubator.  That story is here.

———

NIACC Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center

From Jamie T. Zanios, Vice President of NIACC’s JPEC –

Serious and inaccurate accusations have been made against the services provided by the North Iowa Area Community College John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center Business Incubator by a recent tenant. I would like to take this opportunity to provide correct information.

The NIACC JPEC Business Incubator’s goal, located on the NIACC campus, is providing nurturing, professional environment where new businesses can develop and grow during the challenging first few years of existence. There are many benefits to those who start and grow their business in the incubator.

In addition to reduced rent, free required consulting and networking with other business startup companies, they have free access to all kinds of technology at the college and computer stations loaded with appropriate business software, a printer, copier, conference room, fax machine, telecommunications equipment, and much more located in the main office. It’s all available free of charge by any of the Incubator tenants.

Also included is all heat, light, snow removal and other services as part of the lease, unless there is a separate meter required due to heavy electrical use. Incubator tenants have complete access to their rental space, 24/7 and are free to furnish their rental space as they see it, as long as it meets code and has gone through a risk analysis.

Rent is not charged to full-time NIACC students who start their business in the incubator, but rent begins once they graduate, if still occupying space.

Before moving in, tenants agree to certain requirements that are spelled out and reviewed with them in detail. These requirements are designed to instill the discipline necessary to run a successful business. Tenants agree to submit monthly financials and make themselves available for at least monthly consulting with the NIACC Pappajohn Center staff. Most incubator clients spend many more hours with our staff reviewing marketing plans, financials, hiring practices, process issues, and more. Rent is only part of the agreement for services, though like any other lease rent must be paid when due.

Typically tenants remain in the incubator for 18-24 months, but sometimes a little longer. Ideally, they move out within 36 months.

All tenants are held to the same standard and are only required to leave if they have not met the obligations set forward in the lease and consulting agreement. There was recently an eviction after a tenant failed to comply with their legal agreement. They failed to comply with the terms of the lease — including rental payments, meeting and reporting requirements and repeated failure to cure the deficiencies in the agreement despite a protracted and lengthy opportunity to do so, dating back to May of 2012. All this is documented and signed by the tenant in question. Tenants are free to leave at any time, if they don’t like the requirements, as the lease agreement has a 30 day cancellation opportunity for both parties.

It’s disappointing that the erroneous and false statements in a video were shared with the public. All accusations against the NIACC Business Incubator made by the evicted tenant can be refuted.

The Business Incubator is here to help businesses grow, not tear them down, and it is with reluctance therefor that we have responded to the accusations of a former tenant.

We are excited to welcome our new Business Incubator Director, Daniel Pitts Winegarden, who joins us this month. Upon arrival, his first task will be to contact previous occupants of the Incubator to ascertain the level of support they received; its value and determine if there is more that can and should be done to help our clients. This is an important piece of what the Incubator and the College try to accomplish. Continuous Quality Improvement is important and critical to future success, so a look back and any changes needed in this area will be made.

I would encourage anyone who is interested in starting a business to contact us here at the Pappajohn Center. Our dream is to grow more businesses here in North Iowa. Please contact us if you would like more information.

 

Thank you,

 

Jamie T. Zanios, Vice President

North Iowa Area Community College

John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center

Institutional Advancement

500 College Drive

Mason City, IA 50401

www.niacc.edu/pappajohn

Office: 641-422-4162

 

 

 

 

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

18 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Even more news:

Need help with your website?
Call your local professional,
Breakthrough Web Design:
515-897-1144
or go to
BreakthroughWebDesign.com

Copyright 2024 – Internet Marketing Pros. of Iowa, Inc.
18
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x