THE CORPORATION'S ACTIVITIES ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SMALLER, LOCALLY OWNED ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRMS TO BE NURTURED THROUGH THEIR FORMATIVE YEARS. RECRUITING AND ASSISTING THESE BUSINESSES, WITH HIGH POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH, EQUATES TO INCREASING JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED JANESVILLE AREA RESIDENTS. THE CORPORATION'S PRINCIPAL SERVICE AREA IS THE CITY OF JANESVILLE, WHICH HAS MET THE ECONOMIC DISTRESS CRITERIA AS ESTABLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPT. OF COMMERCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION. ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN THIS AREA INCLUDE HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT RATES THAN OTHER SECTIONS OF THE COUNTRY, LOW PER CAPITA INCOME, AN UNUSUALLY HIGH NUMBER OF PLANT CLOSINGS AND A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF LOST MANUFACTURING JOBS.