Entrepreneur Center Search update

Nashville Technology Council CEO Tod Fetherling tells VNC that Entrepreneur Center supporters have done well enough, already, to surpass their initial $200K target for raising money to enable the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce-linked EC to proceed with hiring its first executive director. Further, said Fetherling, there's now a strong field of candidates and someone could well be in-place by late January, and possibly announced even sooner. Fetherling said that Janet Miller has led the fundraising, with Fetherling and EC Project Manager Joe Kustelski also contributing to the effort.

Fresh off NYC success, Chamber targets California

We asked Janet Miller (at left), chief economic development and marketing officer for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and Partnership 2010, where she's targeting next after the recent team mission to New York City, told VNC yesterday that two missions to California are likely in the coming months: perhaps Los Angeles-area this spring, then the SF Bay Area in summer, the latter targetting technology firms. The Big Apple trip drew about 80 New York analysts, investors and execs to the Harvard Club, for a program chaired by HCA's Jack Bovender. The same evening, about 100 invitees attended an NSAI-led event at XM Sirius. There also ensued 36 one-on-one appointments with execs in NYC-NJ-L.I. Miller said the emphasis was on "companies who already have major employment operations here (including a number of music companies), site consultants actively working relocation projects, finance and equity companies like JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley, and health care industry reps. The purpose was to explore expansion opportunities... and thank them for their investment in Nashville." For other Venture Nashville coverage, visit here. UPDATE Feb. 13: WSJ reports on competition to lure California firms to other states.