Small business incubator — MAEDC and UM help fledgling companies with business resources during development

February 1, 2008

Dick King knows a good bet when he sees one - especially when it comes to entrepreneurs and their value to the economy when they set up shop in western Montana.

As head of the Missoula Area Economic Development Council http://www.maedc.org , King helped form the Montana Technology Enterprise Center http://www.montec.org in 2000 through a collaboration between MAEDC and the University of Montana. The main goal was to provide a small business incubator to commercialize research at the university level.

MonTEC offers discounted space to fledgling companies - enterprises which might not otherwise be able afford office space, telephones, business equipment and Internet access while mired in the development stage of a product.

"It helps them have a presence and semblance of a fully operating business that will attract investors as they develop," said King.

By LORI GRANNIS

Full Story: http://www.mtinbusiness.com/inbiz-0802/bus12.php