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(3) Sophia- Ramsey Agreement Termination Request <br />Update <br />Staff presented the termination request to the Council on January 14t Council made a motion to <br />accept Sophia - Ramsey's request for termination realizing a savings of $3,524.80. Council's direction <br />mirrored the recommendation of the EDA. <br />(4) Prospect Updates <br />Staff has been and will be reaching out to existing and potential prospects (existing businesses) in <br />conjunction with the BR &E effort. <br />(5) <br />Prospect Alpha <br />A Ramsey precision manufacturer is experiencing significant growth and is looking to expand at <br />their existing location in 2014. However, due to size limitations of their existing site, this <br />manufacturer is also looking for a long term solution. Staff is working with this prospect to provide <br />options for expansion on their existing site as well as other locations in Ramsey. NOTE: Staff has <br />worked with this prospect multiple times over the past few years. This prospect has indicated <br />interest in utilizing State and City loan funds for the purchase of a 5 -axis CNC machine. Prospect <br />was offered assistance in filling out the applications (walking them through the process) — <br />applications were provided. No feedback to date. <br />Staff brought the prospect's expansion plans to the Development Review Committee. The <br />Committee agreed to entertain the requests of the business. The Committee requested a sketch of <br />the building layout from the prospect to provide greater detail /understanding of the variance <br />requests that will be brought to the Planning Commission for review. <br />Update <br />Prospect Alpha has adjusted its focus to satisfy its expansion in the short term. This solution may <br />include up to a 10,000 sq. ft. facility expansion at their existing site in Ramsey. Future needs are <br />projected to include a up to a 100,000 sq. ft. facility. Staff and select EDA /Planning Commissioners <br />that attended the meeting expressed our desire to assist them in expanding here in Ramsey. <br />Business Retention & Expansion Program (BR &E) <br />EDA agreed to tap into the BR &E resources that Greater MSP has to offer — creating local <br />efficiencies (recording, developing reports, tracking, etc.) and greater regional cooperation to drive <br />economic development. Staff has started to combine Ramsey's specific survey with Greater MSP's <br />for use in visits in 2014. A priority list of businesses has been created (prior to Ted's arrival). EDA <br />requested EDA Members be involved in business visits. <br />Update <br />Staff has created one survey for use in Ramsey for BR &E visits —the survey is attached for your <br />review. The following visits are in the process of being scheduled, have been scheduled, or <br />completed with Anderson Dahlen, GMI, MMI Precision, Altron Manufacturing and MN Waterjet. <br />• Altron Manufacturing: 4 February, 12:30pm <br />• Anderson Dahlen: 14 February, 1pm <br />