Have you ever thought of starting a food business? Do you have a favorite family recipe you would like to bring to the marketplace? Are you a producer considering adding value to an agricultural product? Maybe you are a restaurateur or chef exploring the marketing of a house specialty. Or perhaps you've been selling your product at farmer's markets and want to get it in grocery stores.

According to Jill Gifford, manager of the University of Nebraska Food Processing Center Food Entrepreneur Assistance Program, this is a description of many of the individuals that participate in the program. "Since 1989 the Food Entrepreneur Assistance Program has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs throughout the United States investigate and realize their dream of starting a food business," explained Gifford. The Iowa Lakes Corridor has contracted with the University of Nebraska to bring this program to entrepreneurs in Iowa for the third time.

"The program was designed specifically to assist food manufacturing entrepreneurs," said Kathy Evert, president and CEO of the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation. "It begins with a one-day From Recipe to Reality seminar that provides entrepreneurs with an understanding of the key factors that need to be considered when starting a food manufacturing business. In one day, entrepreneurs will gain valuable insight on the basics of starting a food business that could take them months or even years to research on their own. We are very excited to be able to provide this valuable seminar to entrepreneurs in Iowa."

 "From Recipe to Reality" will be offered from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, February 16, at the Clay County Regional Events Center in Spencer. Early registration is encouraged due to limited space. To receive a Food Entrepreneur Assistance Program information packet and registration form, contact the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation, 520 2nd Avenue East Suite 2, Spencer, IA 51301, 712-264-3474 or 1-800-765-1428 or email bdalziel@lakescorridor.com. Registration can also be downloaded here.

Scott Pyle, owner of Boji Custom Metal Works, created a ticket scanner and laundry cabinets for his international clients.

MILFORD - When Scott Pyle took the Iowa Lakes Corridor's FastTrac entrepreneur training course two years ago, it was because of a CNC plasma table he had at home. "It was time to get it out of the garage and make a business of it," said Pyle.

That gave way to Boji Custom Metal Works. In his building in rural Milford, Pyle has his plasma cutter and two brake presses. One aspect of his business is building custom trailers for the food industry business. What sets his trailers apart from others is that his are 100 percent aluminum; most other trailers have steel frames that will eventually rust. Using aluminum also keeps the cost down for consumers.

The Oak Tree BBQ trailer that had been stationed at the Spirit Lake Wal-Mart during the summer was built by Pyle.

Pyle commented on a statement that struck him during FastTrac. During a discussion on entrepreneurs versus hourly workers, the risk the worker takes is having only one source of income. As the manager of Arnolds Park Amusement Park, he had just that. Now as an entrepreneur, he has income from many different clients.

One of Pyle's clients put him in contact with a cruise ship company. The ships use a cashless payment system. Each passenger gets a card similar to a credit card, that is used as a room key and payment system. Pyle has been building cabinets for the laundry machines on the ships. Passengers will be able to swipe their card and choose which laundry machine they want to use. Approximately 10 cruise ships will have six to 12 of Pyle's cabinets; the cruise ships are based in Italy. Pyle's company builds the frames; a separate company will create the electronic aspect.

It's not common for an entrepreneur to start their business with mainly international customers. "Most people just look locally for work," said Pyle. "There's a lot of work if you look beyond your region."

The same client that put Pyle in touch with the cruise line also connected him to a new soccer stadium going up in Dubai. Pyle is designing the box that will hold the scanners to allow entry. Attendees will be able to scan their own tickets and the turnstiles will admit them automatically.

Pyle calls his trailers the "bread and butter" of his business. While tailgating at an Iowa State Football game, he came up with the idea for a tailgating trailer. The prototype is in production in his shop. It features a bathroom with a shower, bunk beds, a space outside for a 55" flat screen television, and a swing out barbeque with a sink. And he already has a client interested.

Pyle had worked in the manufacturing industry for nine years, and always enjoyed it. "It's nice to see things you create at the end of the day."

Boji Custom Metal Works is located at 22904 Horse Creek Lane in Milford.

FastTrac NewVenture

The Iowa Lakes Corridor is again sponsoring the Kaufman FastTrac® NewVenture™ entrepreneurial training course, beginning Tuesday, February 26. It will be held every Tuesday from 6:30-9:30 p.m. through April 30, at Emerald Hills Golf Course. This program is best-suited for entrepreneurs in their early stages of business development. It provides the tools to develop a business concept, determine the viability of the business concept, and outline the critical steps to a successful business launch.

Registration can be downloaded here. Hard copies are available in the Corridor office, 520 2nd Avenue East Suite 2 in Spencer. The cost for the 30-hour program is $199 and includes all materials, a business coach, and guest speakers at each session. The program will be facilitated by Brian Dalziel, senior vice president of the Iowa Lakes Corridor.