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<br />City of Arden Hills <br />Economic Development Commission, May 4, 2016 <br /> <br />Page 2 of 2 <br />Staff recommended to the EDA that the City focus its BRE visits on the Red Fox/Grey Fox <br />business district in 2016 due to transportation issues, new businesses in the Red Fox Business <br />Center, and recent business turnover in the area. The implementation plan sets a goal of visiting <br />6 to 8 businesses during the remainder of the year. Staff is recommending the following next <br />steps for this priority project: <br /> <br />• Work with SPACC on modifications to the BRE survey to include questions specific to <br />businesses in the Red Fox/Grey Fox area. <br />• Update business community newsletter with relevant news and information to distribute <br />at business visits. <br />• Identify priority businesses and coordinate visits with SPACC and Greater MSP. Set <br />goal of completing one visit per month. <br />• Notify EDC members of scheduled visits and invite them to participate. <br /> <br />Project 2: Commercial Real Estate Broker Roundtable <br />The purpose of the second project is to gather information from commercial real estate brokers in <br />Arden Hills on local office, industrial, and retail market dynamics. SPACC has expressed a <br />willingness to convene this roundtable discussion in the upcoming months. Brokers will be able <br />to comment on the facility needs for different commercial users and where Arden Hills is <br />meeting or not meeting these needs. Staff will prepare a summary report based on the discussion <br />and present the findings to the EDC and EDA. <br /> <br />Project 3: Explore the City’s Role in Workforce <br />One of the main issues that came out of the BRE program was the challenge businesses face <br />finding skilled workers. The third project recommends that the City gain a better understanding <br />of what workforce development resources are currently available through Ramsey County, the <br />State of Minnesota, and Greater MSP, and to begin building relationships with local community <br />colleges and Mounds View Public Schools. <br /> <br />Staff would like to complete additional research on workforce resources and set up a meeting <br />with the Director of Community Partnerships with Mounds View Public Schools this summer. <br />Identifying and meeting with community colleges would begin in the fall. The information <br />gained from these efforts could be provided to businesses at future BRE visits and posted on the <br />City’s website. <br /> <br />The EDA encouraged staff to complete all three projects this year, but identified Project 1 as a <br />high priority, Project 2 as a medium priority, and Project 3 as a low priority. Therefore, staff will <br />focus its efforts on completing Project 1 and work on Projects 2 and 3 as time allows. <br /> <br />Attachments <br /> <br />• Arden Hills BRE Program Priority Projects Implementation Plan <br />