Council Economic & Community Development Committee
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Summary
Meeting Overview
The Economic & Community Development Committee met on February 8, 2011, at 1:00 p.m., with Chair Beard presiding. The committee addressed three agenda items during the session, all of which were presented on an informational basis. The meeting included one public comment and no formal votes were taken. The committee heard presentations on fostering richer entrepreneurship in Lexington, Fresh Start Initiatives, and items referred to the committee for consideration.
Attendance
The following individuals were present at the meeting on February 8, 2011:
- Beard
- Stinnett
- Gorton
- Ellinger
- Crosbie
- Myers
- Lane
No absences or late arrivals were recorded.
Public Comment
Paul Schart presented on behalf of the American Heart Association. The presentation included remarks from Reagan Judd, a survivor who shared her personal experience with a serious medical procedure and subsequent recovery. The presentation emphasized the importance of heart health awareness and the role of community support in patient care and recovery.
Fostering Richer Entrepreneurship in Lexington (1-14)
The committee discussed the Business Innovation Factory's Entrepreneur Experience Lab, a collaborative initiative developed in partnership with Babson College. The program is designed to reinvigorate entrepreneurship across the United States through a national conversation focused on entrepreneurial experiences and practices.
The Entrepreneur Experience Lab aims to capture diverse entrepreneurial experiences through research and storytelling methodologies. By documenting and sharing these varied perspectives, the initiative seeks to broaden understanding of what entrepreneurship means beyond traditional business models and to highlight the range of ways individuals engage in entrepreneurial activities.
This agenda item was presented as informational, providing the committee with an overview of the collaborative effort between the Business Innovation Factory and Babson College and their vision for fostering a richer entrepreneurial ecosystem in Lexington and beyond.
Fresh Start Initiatives (15)
The committee reviewed the broader Fresh Start Initiatives, which encompass the Student Experience Lab and Elder Experience Lab as part of the Business Innovation Factory's mission to transform systems in education, aging, and innovation.
Key Focus Areas
The discussion centered on two primary laboratory initiatives:
- Student Experience Lab: Focused on transforming education systems through student-centered design approaches
- Elder Experience Lab: Aimed at improving systems related to aging and elder care
Discussion Themes
The committee emphasized the importance of real-world experimentation as a core component of these initiatives. The discussion highlighted the need for practical, hands-on approaches to system transformation rather than theoretical frameworks alone. Student-centered design principles were identified as central to the work, ensuring that those directly affected by educational and aging systems have meaningful input into their redesign.
Outcome
This agenda item was presented as informational, with the committee receiving an overview of the Fresh Start Initiatives and their scope within the Business Innovation Factory's broader mission to drive innovation across education, aging, and related sectors.
Items Referred to Committee (16)
The committee received an informational reminder regarding its jurisdiction and referral procedures. The committee was reminded that it has oversight responsibility for matters related to the Office of Economic Development, the Division of Community Development, and partner agencies.
The referral process was reaffirmed according to Council Rules & Procedures, Section 2.102(1). This procedural reminder established the framework under which items would be directed to the committee for consideration and action.
No specific debate or concerns were raised during this agenda item, which served as a clarification of the committee's scope and the formal process for referring matters to its jurisdiction.