Mentor Technology Greenhouse, a public-private business accelerator program to help grow start-up companies, is having start up troubles of its own and now faces an uncertain future.

Despite marketing efforts, the program has been unable to attract start-up firms, though there have been about half-dozen inquiries from entrepreneurs.

The city of Mentor has advertised MTG in local business publications and radio programs and distributed leaflets about the program at Lakeland Community College, Lake Erie College and the Mentor Public Library. Additionally, the program has gotten local media coverage.

Earlier this month, MTG was set to accept its first tenant Dynamic Surgical Devices LLC. But the company decided not to enter the program hours before Mentor City Council was expected at its Nov. 15 meeting to review a grant proposal for the company.

Dynamic Surgical Devices President Hank Schenk said he received a better offer from his Willoughby property owner.

Housed at 7200 Center Street (Polo Building), 11 of the remodeled office suites have remained vacant since August 2010. MTG was formed as a public-private economic development program by the city of Mentor, CADVenture Inc., Lake Erie College and Mentor Economic Assistance Corporation.

"There is a ton of uncertainty about it," said Rich Shriner, co-owner of CADVenture. "It (Mentor Technology Greenhouse) has been at a standstill."

Nevertheless, Shriner expects to meet Thursday with Mentor city officials "to find a way to make the (Mentor Technology Greenhouse) work for everybody."

"It’s discouraging that it hasn’t been successful to date," said Ron Traub, Mentor Economic Development Director. "But not every economic development initiative, as they say, bears fruit. I still think there is a need for an incubator here in Mentor and Lake County."

CADVenture was the name of Shriner’s business, which sold SolidWorks engineering software solutions. Shriner and his business partner Ken Zebracki sold their company at the beginning of this year but they kept the CADVenture name, which manages MTG’s assets, including 11 office suites, equipment and software.

Shriner estimates CADVenture has invested $80,000 in MTG, plus it is paying lease payments for space that has remained vacant for more than a year. From a business standpoint, Shriner said, it doesn’t make sense to continue paying the lease if the accelerator program cannot attract start-ups.

The city of Mentor contributed $10,000 to renovate the accelerator’s office suites.

Although the program has been designed to provide free or low-cost services for start-up firms, businesses accepted into the accelerator would be required to pay a $10,000 participation fee, but $4,000 would be paid for by a city grant and a forgivable loan.

The remaining $6,000 would be paid by the start-up in the form of a $500 a month for rent for 10 months, plus a $1,000 upfront fee to pay for the first and last month rent.

"There is some aspect (of the business accelerator) that we are attempting to do that hasn’t been successful," said Traub. "There are some incubators functioning in Northeast Ohio that are attracting tenants and (our issue) could be as something as simple as not bringing enough financial resources to the table.

"(Start-ups) need more (financial) assistance and what we are proposing is quite modest. If you were to look at the MAGNET incubator, and ones at Shaker Heights and Lorain Community College, they are providing substantial financial resources."

Although start-up companies are always looking for money to finance their operations, Shriner said it’s essential that the start-ups also invest their own funds to spread the risk.