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�.�' _ The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents i July 2015 Business Retention and Expansion program begins in Arden Hills hvsu.s�UncUthey ver the next several months, you will hear about a program called Business Retention and Expansion (BRE), which is being implemented in Ar- den Hills by the Economic Development Authoriry (EDA). According to Associate Planner Matthew Bachler, retaining and facilitating the expansion of existing busi- nesses is an important component of any ciry's strategic plan for economic develop- ment. Research supports planning Last year, the Ciry's Economic Develop- ment Commission (EDC) spent consider- able time discussing and researching the idea of implementing a BRE program in Arden Hills. The research shows that it is more efficient to focus on the growth of existing businesses, which create up to 80 percent of new jobs, rather than on attract- ing new businesses with some type of pub- lic subsidy. BRE program goals include: • Demonstrate to businesses that the communiry appreciates their presence. • Help existing businesses solve imme- diate problems. • Increase businesses' abiliry to compete in regional, national, and global markets. • Establish a strategic plan for economic development. • Build community capacity to sustain growth and development over the long terrn. The planning process Each city which implements a BRE program needs to identify targets specific to that community. The first step is to gather information on current conditions by reviewing data on the local economy and conducting interviews with select businesses. A volunteer group comprised of elected officials, city staff, residents, and members of the business communiry is usually responsible for completing these interviews. This group undergoes training in effective interview skills and use of the selected survey instrument. Following the data gathering, the r� search is analyzed to identify community strengths and weaknesses. Short-term problems, such as the imminent prospect of a business relocating to a different com- munity, may be addressed at this time. A summary report includes issue areas and suggested actions. The final step of a BRE program is imple- mentation. The Ciry Council will study the report and identify priority projects. The communiry may choose to develop a business visitation cycle to maintain the beneficial effects of the program. After completing a ten-week-long course with the Universiry of Minnesota Exten- sion on implementing a local BRE pro- gram, City staff requested proposals from the University and from the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce (SPACC) to set up and administer a BRE program in Arden Hills. The EDA accepted the SPACC proposal in January 2015, at a cost not to exceed $5,000. Key factors in their selection were the Chamber's established relationship with many City businesses and other local stakeholders and its extensive experience as one of the founding mem- bers of the Minnesota Chamber of Com- merce "Grow Minnesota!" BRE program. Jonathan Weinhagen, vice president of the SPACC, has been working with the Ciry to answer questions and develop the plan. The interview process The SPACC has recommended that 30 to 40 interviews be held. The companies contimred on page 3 Mnke pinns now for Night to Unite on August 4 It s time to get together with the neigh- bors and plan your annual Night to Unite event. The Ramsey Counry Sheriff's Department encourages neighborhoods to register their events with the Depart- ment. During Night to Unite, community officials, fire departments, and Sheriff's Office representarives will visit neighbor- hood gatherings. Unite Registration link (on the right- hand side) • E-mail—Complete and email a regis- tration form to: crimeprevention@co.ramsey.mn.us • Fag—Complete and fax a registration form to 651-266-7337 • US Mail—Mail a registration form to: Ramsey County Sheriff's Office Crime Prevention Services Here are four ways to register your event. 1411 Paul Kirkwold Drive • Online—visit www.ramseycoun- Arden Hills, MN 55112 rysheriff.us; click on the Night to . � Registration forms, resources, and other information about Night to Unite can be found at: ��' http://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/sheriff/crimeprevention/ntu.htm � �� to �� V I 1� �