Minutes - Economic Development Authority - 01/01/2009

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. o Consensus was reached to discontinue until there is another business park to market Continue Zip Code creation for Ramsey o Consensus was reached that continued efforts in this area should include contacting Representative Bachmann's o{l!ce for assistance. Continue to promote Ramsey Town Center / 16i Node o Consensus was reached to add: Develop a Set of Actions / Strategies to Promote 16th Node . Communication · Business Connection Meeting (November ??) o Consensus was reached to discuss further · Conduct Survey of Ramsey Retail Businesses o Consensus was reached to explorefacilitating "Grow Minnesota" (contracted with Anoka Area Chamber of Commerce) to interview local businesses. · 2009 Business Expo (Service and Retail???) o Consensus was reached to provide information to residents on the connection and benefits of "Shopping Ramsey First" through the Ramsey Resident. Education/Potential Partnerships · Central Minnesota Development Company (CMDC) o Consensus was reached to add: Possible Seminar on How to Start a Business in Minnesota. · Consensus was reached to add the following partnership with Economic Development Coordinator Sullivan as the EDA representative on the Board: Economic DevelopmentAssociation of Minnesota (EDAM). Miscellaneous · Complete "Cost of Doing Business Study" o Consensus was reached that the frequency of the study be set at every other year unless there is a major change to consider. · Conduct Business Impact/Mitigation Study (Medians) o Consensus was reached to continue to be active in this area through providing information to impacted businesses · Consensus was reached to discuss the role of the EDA in Ramsey Town Center in a joint City Council/EDA meeting. Case #2: 2009 Business Expo Economic Development Coordinator Sullivan reviewed that in 2007-2008, the EDA was asked to increase its activity in the Retail/Service sector of the community. As part of that initiative the EDA became more involved with the Town Center and Sunfish Commons signage. He stated staff has been contacted by a member of the business community about doing a business expo for retail/service businesses. Both staff and Jeff Bulger of Culligan Water have been contacting Ramsey businesses to see if there is any interest in doing an expo of some sort. The response has been overwhelming in support of doing an event that could help market Ramsey bUsinesses to Economic Development Authority/January 8, 2009 Page 3 of6 .