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Page 1 of 3 <br /> <br /> EDC AGENDA ITEM –5A <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />DATE: February 26, 2025 <br /> <br />TO: Economic Development Commission Chair and Commissioners <br /> <br />FROM: Elena Fransen, Senior Planner <br /> <br />SUBJECT: In-Person Business Visits Strategy Next Steps <br /> <br />Requested Action <br /> <br />The Economic Development Commission should revisit the In-Person Business Visits strategy and <br />provide updates to each other and staff. Staff will review the strategy for the new Commission <br />Members and open the floor for returning commissioners to share their progress. The EDC will <br />revisit the approved procedure document and timeline for the visits. Staff will share the list of <br />business addresses for the group to discuss next steps for the business visits strategy. <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br />In 2024, the EDC started to discuss the group’s work plan for the year and what types of efforts <br />the group might like to work on. Strategies discussed included the following: <br /> <br />- Business resources webpage on City Website – including events <br />- In-person business visits <br />- In-depth business survey <br />- Hosted event with businesses <br />- Website business directory with business information and links to businesses <br />- Engagement emails/Listserv with businesses <br /> <br />At the May 22, 2024 meeting, the EDC discussed the top three strategies identified by <br />commissioners: <br />1. In-person business visits <br />2. In-depth business survey <br />3. Business resources webpage on City website – include events <br /> <br />The group discussed the strategies and elected to focus on in-person business visits to get started <br />and help inform future work of the EDC as well as to become better connected to the Arden Hills <br />business community and get feedback on how the EDC could support businesses. A sub- <br />committee was formed to focus more specifically on the questions that would be asked of each <br />business.