8. EDSR 08-08-2011I~Eht # 8.
MEMORANDUM
lover
TO: Economic Development Authority
FROM: Annie Deckert, Director of Economic Development
DATE: 8 August 2011
SUBJECT: Greater MSP- Mpls/St. Paul Regional Economic Development
Partnership
ATTACHMENTS:
• Greater MSP Operating Principles and Protocols
Greater MSP is a private-public partnership funded by business, institutions, and
government, whose mission is to stimulate economic growth and prosperity, and higher
quality of life for citizens in the Metropolitan region. Its primary role is to be a value-added
resource to all economic development organizations and activities in the region. In addition,
Greater MSP hopes to better coordinate the activities of the region's economic development
partners by providing vision, strategy, resources, and staff support to link state and local
governments and organizations involved with job creation, marketing, recruitment and
retention.
In July, staff attended a meeting held by Sherburne County in regard to Greater MSP
Economic Development Partnership, featuring speaker Ted Mondale, former chairman of
the Metropolitan Council and currently the chair of the Metropolitan Sports Facility
Commission.
Cities throughout Sherburne County have been invited to participate in a roundtable
discussion with Greater MSP on Thursday, September 8`'' from 8:OOam-11:OOam at Great
River Energy in Elk River. The purpose of this meeting is to engage Sherburne County
private and public economic development leadership with Greater MSP to assist them in
developing an aggressive regional economic development strategy. Greater MSP's CEO,
Michael Langely will be in the roundtable discussion regarding our current economic
development strategies and efforts and how we can best take advantage of Greater MSP's
functions and resources.
Each city in Sherburne County is allowed to bring one elected official, one staff member and
two optional (staff or elected). In addition, the County will be inviting local chambers, large
employers, banks, utilities and higher education representatives. There is no cost to the
City/EDA in partnering with Greater MSP. Staff is looking for an EDA member interested
in attending this meeting.
~ i m
Minneapolis Saint Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership
(GREATERMSP)
Operating Principles and Protocols
Background: The MSP Regional Economic Development Partnership
The GREATERMSP is aPrivate-Public Partnership (501C3), funded by business, institutions,
and government, whose mission is to stimulate economic growth and prosperity, and a
resultant higher quality of life for all citizens of the Minneapolis - St. Paul Metropolitan
Region (MSA). Its primary role is to be a value-added resource to all economic development
organizations and activities in the region. The efforts of the GREATERMSP, and the resulting
investment and prosperity, will lessen the burden of government and contribute to a
brighter future for all residents of the region.
The overall responsibility of a successful regional economic development partnership is to
better coordinate the activities of the region's economic development partners by providing
vision, strategy, resources, and staff support to link state and local governments and
organizations involved with job creation, marketing, recruitment and retention. There are
four specific activities that the GREATERMSP will lead or partner with existing organizations
in order to accomplish:
Set a Strategic Vision
• Create the regional strategic vision for economic development
• Define the tactical economic development agenda to guide resource prioritization
Brand and Market the Region
• Create regional brand to reflect strategic vision
• Market the region's vision and brand internally to align regional stakeholders
• Market the region to external site consultants, companies, and potential clients
Retain Current Businesses in the Region
• Conduct local business check-ups and solve company specific problems
• Connect businesses to, and raise awareness of, state and local resources
Attract Businesses to, and Expand Businesses in, the Region
• Aggressively pursue national and global business growth opportunities
• Serve as main contact for site consultants and relocating businesses
• Provide one-stop shop for regional data, permit processes, real estate information, etc.
• Serve as project manager for local expansions and new attraction efforts
• Connect companies with local resources and incentive programs
C~~~~~'"~~ • ~°MI Regional Economic Development Partnership 1 ~ ~ ~ ~ c
Document Purpose
This document outlines the standard practices of the GREATERMSP staff and regional
partners, comprised of public, private, and public-private economic development entities in
the greater Minneapolis -Saint Paul region who represent or serve either a portion of, or all
of, the Metropolitan Statistical Area. These principles attempt to articulate the basic
commitments of the GREATERMSP staff and partner organizations. Together, these
commitments represent the desired ethics and professional courtesies that will shape the
business development practices of the combined partners - as they relate specifically to
industrial and commercial (non-retail) economic development retention, recruitment and
expansion. In support of these commitments, the following sections of the document
establish the Operational Principles to be supported by each respective participant in the
GREATERMSP.
Attached to this document, as Appendix A, are more specific procedural protocols for the
GREATERMSP. These procedural protocols provide further guidance to the GREATERMSP
staff and partners regarding Project Vetting (lead generation and prospect conversion),
Project Management, and Confidentiality Practices. The appendix is intended to be
reviewed, updated regularly and modified as required by the Partner Advisory Council to
ensure that the manner in which the organization is executing its responsibilities is most
efficient and effective for all partners.
Supplemental to this document, it is the intention of the GREATERMSP to execute a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the State of Minnesota Department of
Employment and Economic Development (DEED), which will establish any required protocols
and procedures between GREATERMSP, including its regional partners, and DEED. Upon
execution, the MOU will become Appendix B to-this document.
Participation in the GREATERMSP is contingent on acceptance of these guidelines. Each
economic development partner organization is asked to review, sign and abide by these
principles to the absolute best of his or her organization's ability. Willful or repeated
disregard for the principles and/or protocols by any party to the agreement will be
addressed to the Partner Advisory Council for their consideration.
Definitions•
Client: Refers to an employer who is or may be engaged with GREATERMSP and regional
partners for retention, expansion or recruitment purposes. Clients may be also referred to
as customers or prospects.
Confidentiality: Refers to the need to protect client identity during the engagement
process. GREATERMSP will defer to client desired confidentiality needs and will share
information with regional .partners per client direction.
~~~~~ " M>~` Regional Economic Development Partnership 2 I rt t;
GREATERMSP Staff s Commitment to Regional Partners and Communities:
It is the responsibility of the GREATERMSP staff to execute the strategies and work plan
established by the GREATERMSP Board of Directors. In executing the retention, expansion,
and attraction goals of the GREATERMSP, the GREATERMSP staff is committed to
establishing and executing its role in complete fairness to all regional partners, maintaining a
"level playing field" at all times. The following paragraphs outline the concepts and principles
that the GREATERMSP staff is committed to in executing their responsibilities:
• Embrace a "One Region" philosophy
o Always position the Minneapolis -Saint Paul region as amulti-county
region. The GREATERMSP staff will be committed to locating and/or
keeping prospects in the Minneapolis -Saint Paul region and will work to
ensure that marketing materials, documentation, and web sites seek to
promote the entire area and its many advantages in an unbiased manner.
o Be as inclusive as possible. GREATERMSP staff will start its engagement
with a client and/or its representatives by assuming that they are
interested in the entire region and submit opportunities accordingly,
unless directed otherwise.
o Present data in a regional format whenever possible. The GREATERMSP
staff will communicate the necessity of breaking out certain data items
(e.g., tax rates or incentives) as needed or requested.
• Offer consistent project transparency to all partners
o Using the principle of "more information is better than ..less," the
GREATERMSP is committed to sharing among the regional partners as
much information as is necessary and prudent on any activity or situation
to allow for the best solutions to be identified and/or offered.
Information about client projects will be shared with all regional partners
even when their parts of the region may not be under consideration. The
only exception to this situation is when the ,client specifically prohibits this
or the project was generated by a particular partner.
• Respect the wishes of a client (assuming no conflict with operating protocol)
o Acknowledge that all work done for a client is driven by the wishes of the
company and its representatives, not the GREATERMSP staff or regional
partners.
o Respect and comply with requests for confidentiality from the client.
• Balance regional role with respect and support for partner efforts
o Partner generated lead: Any lead not originated with the GREATERMSP
o Respect the lead of any partner who develops a prospective client.
~~~~T~~ . `M aim Regional Economic Development Partnership 3 ~ ~ r~ ~ L
o In supporting Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic
Development (DEED) -managed prospective clients, the GREATERMSP's
goal is to get the Minneapolis -Saint Paul region into contention.
o As a general practice, it is the GREATERMSP's intent to be an impartial
observer in intra-regional relocations. In these instances, the
GREATERMSP staff will always communicate early, openly and often with
the regional partner(s) impacted by any potential loss.
• Recognize, respect and support efforts of all partners
o Work in partnership with the state and community partners to jointly
announce all successes, taking special-care to recognize all who played a
part.
o Treat all project-specific information gathered from various communities,
counties or other partners as confidential and never share it with anyone
other than the company
o After a project has ended, GREATERMSP staff will provide feedback to
partners to promote continuous improvement for competitiveness
regionally and globally.
• Be a resource (e.g. data, project management technical assistance) to regional
partners as they purse their own respective partner generated leads as
GREATERMSP capacity allows.
Regional Partners' Commitment to GREATERMSP Staff:
Regional partners are comprised of the region's economic development organizations and
units of government throughout. the region who are investors and members in the
GREATERMSP. In order for the GREATERMSP to function as a successful private-public
partnership, regional partners must commit to work closely and collaboratively with the
professional economic development staff of the GREATERMSP, led by the GREATERMSP CEO.
The GREATERMSP staff should be considered a tremendous value-added resource to each
regional partner, bringing resources and expertise to every economic development project
where coordination and assistance is needed or warranted. The following paragraphs outline
the concepts and principles that the regional partners are committed to in executing their
responsibilities:
• Embrace a "One Region" philosophy
o Support the GREATERMSP staff to always position the Minneapolis -Saint
Paul region as amulti-county region. Regional partners will be committed to
locating and/or keeping prospects in the Minneapolis -Saint Paul region.
• Operate in a manner which is in line with partnership protocol
C~~'~1-~T~Fa " M~ Regional Economic Development Partnership 4 I :~ r~ ~ f;
o Recognize and respect the role of the GREATERMSP staff to coordinate
regional marketing, economic development strategy, retention, expansion,
and attraction prospects and projects within the region
o Maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the project management process
insofar as possible, with the understanding that all projects will include a
public element at some point in the process.
Support regional objectives through showcasing of local resources
o Be fully prepared to plan for, and participate in, visits by prospective clients
and business sector leaders, media representatives, and other economic
development professionals that visit the region.
o Regional partners are encouraged to keep all site and building information for
their area on the MetroMSP.org web site current as a way to help maximize
the separate and combined efforts of all partners.
Regional Partners' Commitment to Each Other:
Positive promotion of, and cooperation within, region in all instances
o Acknowledge and understand that various communities or site/facility
options within a region may be in competition for a particular project.
o Regional Partners are encouraged not to disparage other partners or areas of
the Minneapolis -Saint Paul region verbally, in marketing materials or in
written communications.
o Avoid proactively marketing to individual businesses in the region in a manner
that overtly encourages intra-regional relocation unless it is in response to an
inquiry by a business.
o Share a mutual goal of locating prospects -expansions and new projects -- in
the Minneapolis -Saint Paul region over other alternative locations outside
the region.
• Respect confidentiality
o Support all confidentiality agreements executed by GREATERMSP staff and
other regional partners
o Keep regional partners' matters and clients within the group.
• After a project has ended, regional partners contribute feedback to promote
continuous improvement for competitiveness regionally and globally.
Suggested Approach for Dealing with Inquiries from Existing Businesses within the Region
(Piracy Policy):
It is understood that industry relocations between communities and counties within the
Minneapolis -Saint Paul region do not, in and of themselves, increase net regional wealth.
GF~~T~ ``"'" " Regional Economic Development Partnership 5 I ~ rt ~
Any gains associated with such relocations come at the expense of a partner community
and/or county. Therefore, regional partners should not initiate contact for the purpose of
business recruitment with an existing business located in the jurisdiction of another partner
without permission, except in such cases where the existing business also maintains a
presence within the initiating partner's jurisdiction (multiple facilities) and has been
contacted by said business.
The above paragraph notwithstanding, it is recognized that situations may arise where an
existing business is contemplating an expansion or relocation, and due to labor,
transportation, real estate, or other factors, may elect to initiate contact with other states or
communities -including other Minneapolis -Saint Paul region economic development
organizations - as part of an internal site selection process.
As such, regional partners should accept that one partner's retention client could, under the
circumstances described above, legitimately become another partner's recruitment
prospect. Therefore, a partner may respond to a request from a business located in another
partner's jurisdiction, provided that the prospect is promptly advised that prior to providing
assistance of any kind, the contacted partner will notify, only with permission from the
company, the partner in the company's present jurisdiction that acompany-initiated contact
has occurred.
If such permission has been granted, the notifying partner is not obligated -and may not be
permitted due to a written or verbal confidentiality agreement - to share project details
beyond the company name, initiating contact person, and date that contact occurred.
Following this notification, it is understood that each partner will respond independently as
they deem appropriate, with no further obligation to communicate project status or the
content of their community's proposal.
In the event that the company objects to this notification, the contacted partner will 1)
respect the company's request and keep all information related to the contact strictly
confidential, and 2) may continue discussion/assistance until such time that the company
will permit notification as described above.
Insomuch as possible, a regional partner should notify another partner(s) prior to public
announcements that have community impact.
Ca~T~F% "" ' ~ Regional Economic Development Partnership 6 ~ ~~rl f;
We, GREATERMSP and our regional partners set forth the above guidelines and principles of
behavior as a guide in our mutual efforts to promote the long-term health of the
Minneapolis -Saint Paul region and its numerous individual communities. We fully realize
that no Code of Ethics or operating principles are of value without an inherent level of trust
in the integrity of one another and a commitment from each of us to conduct ourselves at
the highest levels of professional courtesy and conduct. In that spirit, we sign our names in
agreement.
Endorsed by the Board of Directors of the GREATERMSP and signed by its Chairmen and CEO
on the Day of , 2010.
Chair, Greater MSP
CEO, Greater MSP
Signatures Representing Regional Partner Organizations
Ca'i=T~~ %M~ Regional Economic Development Partnership ~ I ~ ~
APPENDIX A
This appendix contains operational protocols which support and supplement the
GREATERMSP Operating Principles and are intended to provide further guidance to the
GREATERMSP staff and partners regarding procedural approaches to 1) Project Vetting (lead
generation and client conversion), 2) Project Management, and 3) Confidentiality issues. This
appendix is intended to be reviewed, updated regularly, and modified as required by the
Partner Advisory Council to ensure that all required situations are addressed, and to allow
the organization to execute its responsibilities inthe most efficient and effective manner for
all partners.
GREATERMSP Staff / Re>ional Partner Protocol
1. Project Vetting
o If the GREATERMSP staff has resources available and is requested to assist a
regional partner, the GREATERMSP staff will work exclusively on their behalf until
the originating partner's community/area is eliminated from consideration.
o If it is discovered that a prospective client has simultaneously contacted the
GREATERMSP and/or a regional partner, the GREATERMSP will work on the
regional partner's behalf as per the client's wishes.
o If the GREATERMSP staff is aware that two or more regional partners have been
contacted by a company, and the company is in agreement, the GREATERMSP will
disclose that information. If the company requires confidentiality, the
GREATERMSP staff will abide by that request.
o Regional partners will work to provide their organization's local information to
ensure regional marketing materials, documentation, and web sites seek to
promote the entire area and its many advantages in an unbiased manner.
o Respective regional partners will act as the local host for client visits in
accordance with information/detail that the GREATERMSP staff has been able to
provide. While the GREATERMSP staff may be in charge of setting up and
executing a trip to the region by the company, the particular regional partner will
be expected to be the particular expert/salesperson during their portion of a
visit/tour.
2. Project Management
• GREATERMSP staff will be the central point of contact for project management for
projects initiated through GREATERMSP, including coordination of site visits and state
incentives. At such time as a client has narrowed its choice to a single
option/community in the MSA, the GREATERMSP staff will seek to transition from
being the primary point of contact in an appropriate professional manner to the key
_ _ __
Ca~'~,~T~` Regional Economic Development Partnership g ~ ~~ r~ G
regional partner for the remainder of the decision-making process unless that is
counter to the company's wishes. As long as locations outside of the MSA remain in
serious contention, the GREATERMSP staff will remain an integral part of the team
including serving as primary point of contact if appropriate or requested by the
company.
• GREATERMSP staff will provide prompt and timely communications with regional
partners, in accordance with the protocols set forth within these operating principles
and protocols.
• If there are not multiple options identified within the region, the GREATERMSP staff
will act as a support for the community or entity that is being reviewed. If only one
location or entity is in contention, that partner should be the lead point of contact
with DEED.
• If contacted concerning an intra-regional move and no representation is made that
the company may leave the region, the GREATERMSP staff will quickly extricate itself
from direct involvement. If contacted about a potential relocation within the region,
when a credible threat to leave the area entirely also exists, the GREATERMSP staff
will remain involved in a manner that suits the particular situation.
• Regional partners will respect the GREATERMSP staff's lead on projects the
GREATERMSP generates, refraining from contacting a company or its representatives
until requested to do so by the company or GREATERMSP staff.
• In situations involving clients from DEED, regional partners can elect to work with
GREATERMSP staff to be part of a potential regional response, seek GREATERMSP
staff advice and assistance (if resources are available) and/or submit its own
response directly to DEED. If a partner elects the third option, the GREATERMSP staff
asks that the partner simply alert GREATERMSP staff so that they can be aware that a
partner's area may be in contention for a prospect.
3. Confidentiality
• GREATERMSP staff will be responsible to ensure that proper confidentiality
agreements and/or documentation are executed with regional prospects/projects.
• GREATERMSP staff will coordinate with DEED on behalf of the region to ensure that
confidentiality required with state-generated projects is communicated fully to
regional partners.
• GREATERMSP staff will protect the confidentiality needs of regional partners to the
maximum extent possible, and will request permission to share any local information
deemed confidential by the regional partners.
• Regional partners will adhere to the confidentiality requirements established by
GREATERMSP prospects.
• Regional partners will adhere to the confidentiality requirements passed to the
GREATERMSP from DEED.
Regional Partner ~ Regional Partner Protocol
GII~~~~ Regional Economic Development Partnership 9 I I} r~ ~ E;
1. Project Vetting
• Regional partners shall jointly participate in lead generation activities with the
GREATERMSP staff through tours, marketing missions, trade missions/shows,
as well as other events sponsored by GREATERMSP.
• If a partner cannot meet the needs of a prospect situation, the partner is
encouraged to communicate with GREATERMSP staff and regional partners to
try and satisfy the requirement elsewhere in the region.
• Regional partners shall work together to provide their organization's local
information to ensure that regional marketing materials, documentation, and
web sites seek to promote the entire area and its many advantages in an
unbiased manner.
2. Project Management
• Regional Partners shall assist other regional partners in any way possible in
pursuing projects, once the client company has selected a location, as the
economic benefit to the region and surrounding communities through
workforce development and subsequent community investments will be of
importance to all communities in the region.
3. Confidentiality
• There may be instances where some regional partners are involved in other
geographic regions or states beyond the Minneapolis -Saint Paul region.
Those partners shall keep all GREATERMSP matters (prospects and/or other
sensitive issues) confidential. There may be cases where a prospect contacts
other regions, but a partner should maintain a firewall as much as possible
between his or her competing economic development commitments.
APPENDIX B
~~~~~~~ ', M Regional Economic Development Partnership l~ I D
This operating protocol was developed by a diverse group of economic development leaders
throughout the region. The task force was comprised of the following individuals:
Name Oreanization
Ruthe Batulis Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce
Cecile Bedor City of Saint Paul -Planning and Economic Development
Denise Biegbeder Ramsey County - HRA/Community and Economic
Development
Bill Blazar Minnesota State Chamber and Grow MN!
Patrick Connoy Hennepin County -Department of Housing, Community
Works and Transit
Louis Jambois Saint Paul Port Authority
Todd Klingel Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce
Matt Kramer Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce
Michael Langley Greater MSP
Mark Lofthus DEED
Russ Nelson Nelson, Tietz & Hoye
Bruce Nustad Twin West Chamber of Commerce
Cathy Polasky City of Minneapolis -Community Planning and Economic
Development
Kathy Schmidlkofer Greater MSP
C~~FI~T~F~ ~~r;~M~ Regional Economic Development Partnership l l ~ ~ ~