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<br />4 <br /> <br />report summarizing the findings from the surveys and facilitate the retreat. The expectation <br />would be that discussions during the retreat would generate approximately ten project ideas, and <br />that three or four of these would be identified as the best options. Since most BRE projects <br />would require a commitment of some public funding, the selected projects would be presented to <br />the EDA or City Council for final approval. <br /> The Community Development staff would largely be responsible for the implementation <br />of the priority projects. Project teams that included outside assistance would be organized on an <br />as needed basis depending on scope of the project. For example, if the goal of a project was to <br />connect skilled workers living in Arden Hills with local jobs, staff might form a project team <br />with a representative from the Department of Employment and Economic Development to help <br />with this initiative. Staff would prepare quarterly reports that would be distributed to the Task <br />Force detailing the progress on each project. Additionally, more formal presentations on the BRE <br />projects would be made at the annual State of the City event and at the first EDA meeting of the <br />year in January, which the Task Force Team would be invited to. <br /> Focusing on the expansion and retention of existing businesses is a beneficial economic <br />development strategy, but the success of these programs hinges on careful planning and the <br />ability to galvanize political support for implementing priority projects. Before a community <br />decides to undertake a BRE program, it should evaluate whether it will be able to follow through <br />on the projects it has committed to undertake for the business community. To help ensure the <br />successful implementation of a BRE program in Arden Hills, this paper has attempted to outline <br />the important milestones that will need to be met and to identify key community members who <br />should be involved over the course of the initiative. <br />