The screening of prospective clients is likely to fall within a range of 45 to 60 days with about one out of five to eight applications accepted.

Possible criteria for screening of prospective clients:

• Innovative technical ideas
• Legal patent protectability
• Product feasibility without undue risk
• Technical knowledge and edge
• Market niche and understanding of market
• Broad application base
• Growth and job potential
• Adequate startup funds
• Financial pro forma statements
• Professional experience and education
• Recognition of marketing
• Financial and management needs
• Community benefit/awareness
• Ecological benefit
• Entrepreneur's potential to become lead management in a growing company
• Entrepreneur's receptivity to learning
• Entrepreneur's realistic and common business sense

Proven performance expectations of prospective client:

• Applicants must show ability to pay rent, utilities, and fees charged by the Enterprise Center while developing positive cash flow.
• Applicants should present a management team that is capable of handling the technical aspects of the business or understands how to obtain needed technical assistance.
• Applicants should present a management team that is capable of handling the operational aspects of the business or understands how to obtain needed assistance.
• Applicants should identify products, technologies or services that can benefit from the value-added provided by the Enterprise Center and its resource network. At the same time, Enterprise Center management must feel confident that it has the capacity to help the business succeed.
• Applicants should provide economic benefits in the form of job creation or new business opportunities for community vendors or contract agencies. Alternatively, the business must be developing a product or service that will further the economic objectives of northeast Oklahoma.
• An applicant should not be considered that is in direct competition with another Enterprise Center startup.

Lease agreement fundamentals:

• Time Limit: A predetermined amount of time a client can receive services.
• Resource Commitment: A predetermined set of limits on resources that the Unit will commit to any one client (e.g., hours or assistance, rentable square feet occupied, etc.).
• Value: Unit's ability to provide continuing value to the client. Clients who have progressed beyond the Enterprise Center's capacity to provide sufficient value should graduate and begin utilizing private sector providers.

Summary of "Best Practices"

1. Utilize an extensive screening process to select clients that can benefit from the value added services the Enterprise Center provides.
2. Ensure that screening processes determine the needs of the applicant, the ability of the Enterprise Center to provide value to the applicant and the willingness of the applicant to accept the value provided by the Enterprise Center.
3. Establish appropriate graduation criteria.

For additional information about the application process, contact Scott Fry, Enterprise Center Manager: 918-825-4678.