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9b. Attachment A <br />and how that impacts the real estate market. (And concomitant impacts on the fiscal strength <br />of local governments.) It will focus on the emerging importance of walkable communities with <br />and without transit access, with new research results providing quantitative evidence. We will <br />examine what those trends suggest for St. Paul and Ramsey County. <br />We then discuss the most promising strategies for revitalizing older portions of your <br />community. This would be treated both for traditional "downtowns" and "main streets," and in <br />places that may not have an older, declining central area, but need to "retrofit" suburban <br />commercial centers that need new vitality. <br />The second part of each workshop would focus on the specific challenges in the communities in <br />question. In the Larpenteur Corridor workshop this will likely involve the specific considerations <br />and techniques needed for successful corridor revitalization. In the broader Ramsey County <br />workshop this will likely focus on the need to focus economic development efforts in specific <br />places, identifying the types places where that focus will likely pay off, and the steps needed to <br />move forward with economic development efforts. In each case we will facilitate discussion, <br />attempt to identify consensus goals, and lay the groundwork for the formulation of an action <br />plan. <br />Expected audience: Elected leaders and key appointed officials (e.g., city managers, economic <br />development directors, planning directors, etc.). Possibly other stakeholders, as determined. <br />Time frame: Latter half of September, to allow sufficient preparation. The workshops would <br />be held on successive days. <br />Engagement includes: <br />a) A preliminary assessment, during which SGA will work with ARC/SPACC to understand <br />the communities and begin engaging the key players, in advance of the workshop; <br />b) A follow-on memo after the workshop, with recommendations. (Recommendations <br />would include a semi-tailored list of policies to examine / change.) <br />Travel: We anticipate that the only travel will be for the actual delivery of the workshops. We <br />will arrive a day early for meetings and tours of the area. <br />Outcomes: Given our understanding of where the ARC process is, we believe that of both <br />workshops is essentially the same; to <br />get participants excited about the economic development effort; <br />provide a common language, understanding of trends, and shared understanding of <br />strategy (creating walkable economic centers with diversified economic bases) for the <br />economic development efforts; <br />