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Page 1 of 2 <br /> <br /> EDC AGENDA ITEM –3A <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />DATE: April 23, 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. <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br />At the May 22, 2024 meeting, the EDC discussed and elected to focus on in-person business <br />visits to get started and help inform future work of the EDC as well as to become better <br />connected to the Arden Hills business community and get feedback on how the EDC could <br />support businesses. A sub-committee was formed to focus more specifically on the questions that <br />would be asked of each business. <br /> <br />At subsequent meetings the commission reviewed the questions drafted by the sub-committee, <br />approved a handout to be used for the business visits that could be left behind for a business <br />representative to review and complete the visit questions at a later time and also reviewed a drafted <br />procedure document and timeline document for approval. <br /> <br />Staff made preparations for the visits by compiling a list of business addresses for each commission <br />member to use. Staff divided up the business addresses among the six commission members who <br />were to complete the visits. Six lists of 29-32 business addresses were created for the commission <br />members. Addresses were provided in list form in addition to a map of where the businesses are <br />located within the city. EDC members picked up materials and planned to start their visits in <br />September. The group next met on October 23, 2024 to discuss the progress of the visits. <br /> <br />At the February 26, 2025 meeting, the EDC discussed the in-person business visit strategy and <br />next steps. The group decided to redistribute the remaining business address lists to two of the new <br />commission members. Staff also shared a high-level overview of the business visit results that <br />have been entered using the Survey Monkey. <br /> <br />