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ARDEN HILLS EDA JOINT MEETING WITH EDC—JANUARY 26, 2015 5 • BRE efforts can require a large time commitment from the leadership group. SPACC anticipates that it will be able to provide a program overview and complete the training for the leadership group over the course of a one hour session. • SPACC would use a survey instrument developed by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Greater MSP. This survey is relatively short and direct, which is important considering the limited amount of time business owners have. Additionally, data collected on Arden Hills businesses could be compared with data collected from other communities using this same survey. • The proposal from SPACC emphasizes putting in place a sustainable approach for on- going BRE efforts after the first round of business visits is completed. This is critical as cities need to regularly assess conditions in their business community and engage with new businesses that have recently relocated to the City. Associate Planner Bachler requested that the EDA approve the Business Retention and Expansion Service Proposal submitted by SPACC. He explained the EDC reviewed this proposal at their meeting on October 1, 2014, and voted to recommend that the EDA contract with SPACC to implement a Business Retention and Expansion program. Jonathan Weinhagen, Vice President of St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, thanked the EDA and EDC members for their time. He was excited to talk about business retention with this group and commended the City for engaging in this conversation prior to the development of TCAAP. He discussed the role the City can take within the initiative along with the information that should be gathered over the next year. He then provided comment on the two phases for SPACC's business retention and expansion plan. EDA Commissioner Holden questioned what would be the size of the businesses contacted. Mr. Weinhagen commented that the program would focus on the growth industries and businesses that are in Arden Hills. The goal would be for the City and staff to build long-term relationships with these local businesses. This would help ensure that business owners would contact the City first if additional space or an expansion was needed. EDA President Grant inquired how the City would measure the success of this program. Mr. Weinhagen stated that once the City has identified the core set of businesses and a relationship has been established, this would be considered a success. He indicated that long term, the program would provide the City with powerful business relationships and a sustainable business retention strategy. EDA Commissioner Holmes discussed Smiths Medical noting that this company recently relocated to Plymouth, Minnesota due to economic incentives that were provided by that community. She asked if the proposed plan would assist in avoiding this scenario in the future.