About 20 companies and 90 jobs have been created directly through the entrepreneurial leave of absence program at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

PNNL, which is operated by Battelle for the Department of Energy, started the program two years ago to help "grow" new jobs in the Tri- Cities that are less dependent on Hanford.

Entrepreneurs no longer receive PNNL paychecks, but they can keep their medical benefits. Part-time PNNL jobs can be arranged while the new business is getting going, and a person can return to PNNL if necessary. Employees with a technology-based business idea go through a screening process in PNNL's Economic Development Office.

A business plan must outline how the person plans to take the technology to the commercial market, as well as the financing options. The company must produce a product or service beyond consulting, and it must be based in the Mid-Columbia.

Ventures that are approved get access to all kinds of help, ranging from assessment by Seattle business consultants to arranging commercial licenses for PNNL-developed technology.

But this could be the last year of the entrepreneurial leave of absence program because there's no money for it in the 2000 budget, said Marv Clement, manager of the entrepreneurial leave program in the Richland laboratory's economic development office.

It costs an average of $20,000 to help each new company get started, Clement said, adding he's searching for new financing.

"I like to do six to 12 (entrepreneurs) per year," he said. "I need $100,000 to $200,000 per year. We could do a lot with that." The entrepreneurial leave of absence program is almost identical to PNNL's educational leave program. Especially for those supporting a family, it's designed to give peace of mind while they take a chance.

"This is a bit of an educational leave, too. Some of these people get a real education," Clement said.

Since its inception, 190 of PNNL's 3,400 employees have asked about the program.

In all, 32 people have submitted business plans and been approved for the program, said Clement.

"Four to six of them probably will be successful," he predicted. "The (other businesses) may not die, but they may continue to provide employment for about four people and not really grow. Only five or six have closed their doors and given up." Success stories include Credit Card Solutions Inc. - the first to graduate from the leave program - and Mundo Communications Network, maker of the El Toro prepaid long-distance phone card.

Some of the other companies started include Integrated Environmental Technologies and Current Environmental Solutions.

"We've only had one or two people who wanted to come back,"Clement said. "The thing to remember is we'll try to help them find a job, but it's not a guarantee." Most of the PNNL workers who show interest are good scientists and engineers, but they don't know how to start a company or grow a business around a product, he said.

"I often say it's very important to know what you don't know and get some help. ... You want people with complementary skills," he said.

Some help is available to would-be entrepreneurs who don't have any PNNL connections, he said. Clement's office has offered help to established companies expanding to the Tri-Cities, including a titanium manufacturing plant and a locomotive repair shop.

"The other thing we're trying to do is recruit small companies from the Seattle area to come work with us." For more information, call Clement at 375-2789.