Minutes - Economic Development Authority - 04/10/2008

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the Business Connection Meeting. He suggested the Board consider the following businesses for the 2008 award, noting that the first four nominations were obtained from the Business Connection Meeting: · LANG Equipment · Bank of the West · Village Bank · Coborn's · Sauter and Son's Excavating Economic Development Coordinator Sullivan stated all of these nominations appear to be good businesses to consider for the 2008 award. LANG Equipment has been in the community a long time; he has not seen a lot of job creation come from them, but it is a business that is nice to have in the community with what they offer. He stated Coborn's has stepped out and started the retail node in the Town Center project, and they donate to the community. Bank of the West is involved in Happy Days and gives to the community. Village Bank is the bank for the City and participates in community events. Member Kiefer presented the following information regarding the nominations for the 2008 Business of the Year Award: LANG Equipment Part of the community for 17 years; one of the owners is a Ramsey resident; has acquired four vacant buildings ofland; has made improvements of approximately $412,000; has attracted four businesses to the community; currently has 33 employees with approximately $1,900,000 paid in salaries. Member Kiefer reviewed the tax base improvements LANG Equipment has provided to the community. He stated with the explosion at the Premier Building, LANG Equipment put themselves and their equipment in harms way to aid the victims. To his knowledge they LANG has never received a thank you or compensation for their costs. They have contributed funds and equipment to Happy Days, the elementary school, scholarships, the Ramsey Police Department, the Police Retirement Fund, the Ramsey Fire Department, Safety Camp, the Anoka Sheriff, and they support the Anoka Area Chamber of Commerce. Bank of the West Part of community for 13 years; employs 12 full time employees; has attracted many businesses to stay in Ramsey; currently working on the financing of a new building in Ramsey that would create approximately 10 new jobs. Member Kiefer reviewed the tax base improvements Bank of the West has provided to the community. He stated they hosted the open house with the demolition of the Amoco site, they sponsored Happy' Days and participate in the parade, they have employees that participate in the Ramsey Rotary and the Anoka Area Chamber of Commerce, they are involved in the Highway Cleanup Program and the Adopt a Family Program. Economic Development Authority/April 10, 2008 Page 10 of 14