Laserfiche WebLink
ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL EDA MEETING—MARCH 28, 2016 2 <br /> A. Business Retention and Expansion Program <br /> Senior Planner Bachler stated that the Economic Development Authority (EDA) reviewed the <br /> Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Program Report completed by the St. Paul Area <br /> Chamber of Commerce (SPACC) on January 25, 2016. The EDA requested that the data related <br /> to the NAICS industry categories be reviewed to ensure that the number of educational service <br /> jobs in the City was accurately represented. Additional revisions to the report included an update <br /> to the employee migration data and the inclusion of sources for the data used. Staff is requesting <br /> that the EDA review and adopt the final draft of the BRE Program Report. <br /> Senior Planner Bachler indicated that the Economic Development Commission (EDC) <br /> discussed the recommended next steps in the BRE Report at their meeting on March 2, 2016. <br /> Based on the feedback provided by the EDC, staff worked with SPACC to identify the priority <br /> projects the City may want to focus on over the next several months. Staff is requesting that the <br /> EDA review the draft implementation plan for these projects and provide comments. Staff <br /> expects to begin working with the EDC on the projects at their next scheduled meeting in May. <br /> Jonathan Weinhagen, Vice President of SPACC, presented the BRE Program Report and the <br /> draft Priority Projects Implementation Plan in further detail with the EDA. He drew attention to <br /> the changes that were made to the report regarding jobs and job changes in Arden Hills. He <br /> provided comment on his findings regarding educational service jobs. He reviewed the feedback <br /> received from the EDC. <br /> EDA President Grant understood that education and health services were tied together. He <br /> questioned if these two sectors could be separated. <br /> Mr. Weinhagen indicated that SPACC could work to break down this information into <br /> subsectors and micro datasets. <br /> EDA President Grant indicated that 24 companies were visited to assist with the drafting of this <br /> plan. He asked if the City would be keeping in touch with any of these businesses based on their <br /> needs. He commented that he did not want the City to be dealing with another Smiths Medical <br /> situation. <br /> Mr. Weinhagen stated that this would be an ongoing discussion of how the City continues to <br /> engage with businesses and how it can identify sustainable businesses going forward. <br /> Commissioner Holmes requested further information from staff on the recommendations being <br /> made at this time. <br /> Senior Planner Bachler explained that the BRE Report included recommendations for four <br /> projects the City could work on: continued engagement in transit improvement conversations; <br /> fostering relationships with local colleges to address workforce training; tracking companies that <br /> are planning or positioned for growth; and establishing a plan for ongoing BRE visits. He noted <br /> that as a follow-up to these formal recommendations, SPACC has prepared a draft <br />