08-27-25 EDC Agenda Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION – JULY 23, 2025 9 Chair Murchie said that could be a part of the panel discussion. We can say there are resources and one of the things the EDC wants to do is share those resources with the businesses. Commissioner Poelzer said we could have a hand out or at least mention it. Chair Murchie said he and Senior Planner Fransen will think through what the key points we want to mention. That will include the big picture of what we want to do over time, as well as some specific and tangible examples to help the audience see what we’re trying to do. We can expand on that more during the table conversations, letting them know we plan to highlight specific things that we know are valuable to the business community. He suggested the Commission move on and discuss marketing and attendance. Senior Planner Fransen said she met with Commissioner Poelzer before the meeting. They talked through some of the details. The outreach can include email, door to door or a mailing. Commissioner Poelzer said when looking at invites she thinks when it is received matters. When thinking about all the mail and emails businesses receive. What do your eyes go to first? It will be thought of differently if it is received at the beginning of a week vs. at the end. If we are sending something in the mail, we need not put it in a white envelope. It should be yellow or beige, something that stands out. The size of the envelope matters, too. If we do a postcard, it should have color. A mailing label will not stand out as much as cursive writing. She hadn’t considered a point brought up earlier that the large businesses may not attend. She is willing to extend a personal outreach to those businesses. She understands the business list on the website are businesses that have completed the business license process. The list doesn’t include any contact information, other than the address. She presumes the City has emails and phone numbers. Senior Planner Fransen said the business license application doesn’t always provide local contact information. Commissioner Poelzer said if we are going to send an email or mailing we want to try our hardest to get 100% delivered without receiving a lot of return mail. She isn’t sure what is the best way to collect that information. She likes the idea of having some of the invites at some Arden Hills businesses. Senior Planner Fransen summarized possible strategies. Sending an email, if we have that information. Sending something in the mail is an option. She noted a personalized strategy of making phone calls or a drop in, are an option but the mail and email will have a wider reach. Staff can generate a mailing or email list. We could provide a personal touch by breaking down the list among EDC members so the invite is coming from an actual person vs. arriving in a white City of Arden Hills envelope. Commissioner Brausen said we could put it on Facebook. Commissioner Gronquist agreed. She said if we put it on the Arden Hills Facebook page everyone can link it and forward it. Commissioner Poelzer if we make it clear who we are trying to reach, that would work on Facebook.