BRIC manager to act as business counselor

A wrinkle is being added with the Carson City Business Resource Innovation Center's hiring of a manager - counseling.

Michael Salooga started at BRIC Nov. 28 and will be trained as a small-business development counselor, Carson City Library Director Sara Jones said. Salooga also will be in charge of running the center, which is designed to provide business with information, and "really help the business community anyway he can."

The library, which operates the BRIC in coordination with the city, searched for the center's first manager for three months and interviewed dozens of applicants. Jones said they all needed to present small-business plans to show their knowledge of those they'll be helping.

"In the end, Michael rose to the top and we're really glad he took the job," Jones said.

She said the addition of Salooga doesn't change the intent of the center - to help people start small businesses and to help them expand.

The center, at 108 E. Proctor St. in Carson City, opened in summer 2010 and helps businesses by gathering data for their markets and providing other information.

Salooga's salary is being covered by federal stimulus money. Jones said the money will last until mid-2013, at which point they'll re-evaluate the situation and look for other grants. She said the position epitomizes the goal of the stimulus.

"I think that's kind of what you hope with the stimulus money," she said. "You want to promote and stimulate business and hiring."