Agenda - Economic Development Authority - 01/08/2009

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30 Track B: How to Do It Track C: Case Studies Track B: How to Do It Come listen and participate in this session with two Economic Development professionals — one with an extensive background in construction /development and the other with great experience in finance. This will be an open session where participants can discuss the benefits and challenges of partnerships and collaboration. Avoiding the Shelved Plan: What Communities Should Know Before Starting a Strategic Planning Process — Danny Klingler, Project Manager, Angelou Economics Far too often, communities depend on the prevailing wisdom in thinking about the scope of work for their next strategic plan, leading to a typical three -phase project that includes a SWOT analysis, target industries and action steps. Unfortunately, the result is often a glossy 200 -page report with only limited value to the organization despite its high cost. Moreover, when the process is over communities are often left scratching their heads as to how to implement the plan after the consulting team is gone. Using examples from projects conducted across the country, this presentation looks at the "do's and don'ts" of strategic planning and examines ways communities can dramatically enhance the value of a strategic plan by taking simple steps to increase preparedness beforehand. Integrative Leadership: Application of BR &E in /Transit Oriented Development — Claudia Cody, Assistant Extension Professor Integrative leadership is displayed in the Big Lake BR &E process through multilateral participation of organizations and diversely talented people. The public - private entities involved are unified in cross - disciplinary strategic action for the betterment of the economic common good. This session demonstrates the Business Retention and Expansion program in the City of Big Lake as an integrative leadership economic development tool in Transit Oriented Development. Presenter will also share the utilization of scheduling principles utilizing Excel spreadsheets, and TOP Action Planning in team capacity building. 10:45 to 11:00 a.m. Break 11:00 a.m. to noon Session Six Track A: What Are You Thinking? Brain Gain of Newcomers into Rural Minnesota and Strategies to Capture Them — Arthur Nash, Extension Educator, Community Economics and Ben Winchester, Extension Community Vitality Research Fellow This session looks at the movement of people and families across the state of Minnesota and efforts of local communities to attract newcomers. Given NW Minnesota's current insulation from national and Minnesota economic woes, there is an acute labor shortage for skilled and technical labor. While there has been notice of the "graying" of rural towns and often a brain drain of exiting 18 -25 year olds from rural Minnesota, there has been documented a brain gain for newcomers of ages 30 -44 into these rural areas. These rural newcomers can be a vital source of community and economic energy of our rural communities. While much of the impetus and decision of migration is of the newcomers, an analysis of NW Minnesota communities' recruitment strategies, incentives, and efforts to attract will be presented. Groundbreaking research in this area allows us to view the rural areas in the positive light they contribute and deserve.