9. EDSR 11-13-2006ITEM ~ 9.
rover
MEMORANDUM
TO: Economic Development Authority
FROM: Heidi Steinmetz, Assistant Director of Economic Development .~J
DATE: November 13, 2006
SUBJECT: Strategic Industrial Marketing Activities Update
The marketing activities update report format has changed due to the updated Strategic
Industrial Marketing Plan, adopted by the EDA in September. Marketing activities may not
occur monthly fox each of the seven strategies, which is why not all strategies are listed
below.
Strategy #I: Broaden the Primary Target Market
One of the marketing tactics fox this strategy is to continue to host and enhance the
Manufacturing Week event.
Approximately 60 people attended the October 17`h Manufacturing Week event. Noxthstax
Business Park tours took place, including tours of Crystal Distribution, Inc (CDI), Alliance
Machine and lyledical Extrusion Technologies (MET). A luncheon was held at Pullman
Place and featured speakers David Gaither, the Governor's Chief of Staff and Jill Brown of
the Noxthstax Corridor Rail rluthoxity.
Strategy #3: Leverage Northstar Commuter Rail and Additional
Differentiated Community Assets
Staff is working on the below activities regarding leveraging additional differentiated
community assets.
Energy City
Staff is administering the marketing of Energy City's first annual conference on Apri121,
2006. The conference subcommittee recently chose to enter into a contract with Wolf
Marketing & Media as the marketing consultant for the conference.
Downtown Revitalization Project
Construction activities downtown axe proceeding. MetroPlains reports a total of 35 condo
sales to date. The Bluffs contractor has begun to set the 4`h floor. Jackson Place contractors
continue to pour footings and lay block. The Bank contractors axe continuing to finalize the
Strn[c~c Indu.nial Marketing Update
November 13, 2000 P:DA Meeting
Page 2 of 2
exterior building work and the park contractors installed the sidewalk and alley pavers this
past week.
Staff continues to administer project communications. Some of the activities/materials
include attending Rivers Edge Downtown Business Association meetings to provide project
updates and answer questions, a "Vision Piece," which is a flyer containing images of the
project's end result. The piece will be available at downtown businesses during the holiday
shopping season. A downtown commercial will be updated this month and an ad featuring
the Rivers Edge Downtown Business Association's December 2"~ holiday open house will
appear in the November 29`x' Star News.
Strategy #5: Continue to employ about the same mix of marketing tools, but
with greater emphasis on public relations and events
Ads
As in previous years, a "Thank You" ad listing Elk River manufacturers appeared during
Manufacturing Week in the Stax News. An ad will also appear in the fourth quarter MN
Leasing Guide featuring Medical F,xtrusion Technologies' positive comments about Elk
River.
Economic Development Newsletter
Staff and Wolf Marketing & Media axe currently working on the 11"' edition of the
Economic Development newsletter. The purpose of the newsletter is to provide
manufacturers and site selectors information that is useful to their operations and to present
an "open fox business" image. The newsletter is distributed in the Economic Development
marketing packets, is available fox download on the Economic Development page of the
City's Website and is distributed directly to approximately 550 people representing the
following groups:
• Elk Kivex manufacturers
• Manufacturers located in Anoka, Sherburne, Wright and Hennepin Counties
• Past & present prospects/inquiries
• Key accounts (site selectors, bankers, etc.)
Holida~Card
Holiday greeting cards will be sent to approximately 175 people, including Elk River
manufacturers, prospects and key accounts. Similar to the last three years, the holiday card
will be custom designed, incorporating the City's logo into a holiday theme on the front of
the card.
Strategy #6: Facilitate the preparation and marketing of the new Gateway
Business Center
Staff is proceeding with the work plan adopted by the EDA in September.