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i North Branch Marketing Plan Outline Two areas of focus for the marketing plan will be the remaining acreage in the North Branch Industrial Park and the new development of the business park area of the ESSBY neighborhood. The consulting team recognizes the Industrial Park as the current hub of economic activity for North Branch. ESSBY is the focal point for future business activity and represents a significant development in the community and the region. Due to this conclusion, the majority of the marketing plan will discuss strategies for the ESSBY business park and the largest allocation of financial resources will be spent in this area. North Branch Industrial Park Critical Market Information The expansion of the North Branch Industrial Park (NBIP) is limited due to geographic and zoning constraints. Essentially, the city has an inventory of 16buildable acres in the Park and is focusing future business development in the ESSBY area. The NBIP is geared toward smaller users seeking a site between 1 and 9 acres. Typically, these businesses have fewer employees, have been in business less than five years, and require outside storage. • The site is in a JOBZ zone and has the infrastructure in place. There has been discussion among city, county and state officials to allow re-designation of the JOBZ to the ESSBY area. The opportunity to place a large manufacturing facility in the NBIP has been diminished with the current land supply and configuration. The JOBZ resource would better serve the community in the ESSBY area. Active marketing of the NBIP would diffuse city staff and financial resources. The best strategy is to "be prepared to react." City should maintain a fact sheet on the sites available with in the NBIP, update the MNPRO system, and design a page within the City's web site, all of which can quickly distribute information. ESSBY Development Area Critical Market Information National trends indicate the primary concerns for businesses considering relocation are the availability of a skilled workforce,proximity to educational and training programs, local costs and the availability of utilities. These same items coincided with the EDA evaluation of community assets, with the exception of proximity to educational programs. To establish partnership with higher learning institutions is a key item in the EDA's Work Plan for 2005. • Informal interviews with real estate brokers with interests in Metropolitan Area were conducted. The results of the survey indicated that users contemplating expansion into metro fringe communities prefer spaces averaging 30,000 to 100,000 square feet. The North Branch Marketing Plan Page 1