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2001 Comprehensive Plan <br />Amended February 26, 2002 <br />location of Anoka-Hennepin Technical College nearby for employee training programs <br />and the ability of the City to provide financial incentives to prospective businesses. <br /> <br />Because of the reasons sighted above, it is anticipated that industrial development will <br />continue to be of high demand in Ramsey, provided land can be made available. As <br />employment numbers are expected to increase sharply over the life of this plan it is <br />important to ensure adequate commercial and retail services are available to serve the <br />basic needs of this employment base. The future land use plan shows a mixed-use site <br />located within the heart of Places to Work. Small-scale retail, general services, <br />restaurants, civic green space and a transit element may be included within a mixed-use <br />concept, all of which provide the employment base with much needed ancillary services <br />and amenities. <br /> <br />A significant piece to the success of the economic development in the City of Ramsey was <br />the creation of the Economic Development Authority and the Economic Development <br />Commission in 1993. State enabling legislation in 1987 gave municipalities the ability to <br />establish a separate public body with its own rules and taxing authority to promote and <br />facilitate economic development. The City of Ramsey has recently consolidated its EDC <br />and EDA into a single entity, the Ramsey Economic Development Authority (EDA). <br /> <br />Major tasks of the EDA include: <br /> <br />· Recommending goals and policies for housing, economic development and <br /> redevelopment. <br />· Implementing housing redevelopment projects and economic <br /> development/redevelopment projects. <br />· Financing programs for first time homebuyers, housing rehab or start up businesses. <br /> <br />B. The Plan for Economic Development <br /> <br />Future economic development should be a coordinated effort between the City Council, <br />the Ramsey Economic Development Authority and the business community. Decisions <br />should be guided and based upon a set of goals and policies that are community driven. <br /> <br />Economic Development Goals <br />The following are the City's goals for economic development: <br /> <br />1. To assist local businesses with growth and expansion needs (business retention and <br /> development.) <br /> <br />2. To provide livable wage job opportunities for Ramsey residents. <br /> <br />3. To diversify employment opportunities and thus increase the range of jobs for Ramsey <br /> residents to choose from. <br /> <br />4. To diversify the property tax base and lessen the tax demand on residential homes. <br /> <br />5. To have high quality commercial and industrial development that increases property <br /> values and casts a good image on the community. <br /> <br />2001 Ramsey Comprehensive Plan <br />Amended February 26, 2002 <br /> <br />Page XII-2 <br /> <br /> <br />