7. EDSR 12-12-2011ITI~I 7.
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Economic Development Authority
FROM: Clay Wilfahrt, Assistant Director of Economic Development
DATE: December 12, 201 1
SUBJECT: Business Retention & Expansion Program
Attachments
• Manufacturers List
Background
Staff and EDA Commissioners have a long history of conducting business retention and
expansion visits. These visits help build relationships between the EDA and manufacturing
businesses. Considering that studies estimate that as many as 80 percent of new jobs axe
created by existing employers, it is imperative to maintain a positive relationship with current
employers and to maintain afree-flowing stream of information between the two parties. In
the past, meetings have ranged from formal surveys to informal meetings and tours of
facilities. Staff has found the informal visits to be the most beneficial.
Staff Recommendation
There axe approximately 50 manufacturing companies in Elk River. Staffs goal is to meet
with several manufacturing firms each month with the ultimate goal of visiting every
manufacturing business in Elk River within two years. Previously, one or two EDA
Commissioners and one or two staff members have attended each tour and lunch. Staff has
found this personal approach to be very effective and beneficial to all parties To further
promote Elk River Municipal Utility's programs and rebate opportunities, staff invites and
ERMU staff member when feasible.
Attached is a list of manufacmxexs in the area. The list was developed by staff and checked
by the Chamber of Commerce fox consistenc}' Please indicate five companies you have an
interest in visiting. If possible, please indicate manufacturers you have not visited before and
those that have not been visited in the past five years. Additionally, staff will follow up with
each Commissioner individually to schedule appointments.
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Manufacturer Contact Name
Aggregate Industries * Dan Quie
Alliance Machine Bryan Provo
AIITooI Pinnacle Design & Mfg* Randy Krenz
AME Group* John Dietz
Blaha Machining* Ron Blaha
CDI, O'Brien Holdings Pat O'Brien
CDM Systems Inc.*
Classic Acrylics Stuart Patterson
Contour Mold* George Adamski
Cretex Lynn Schuler
Custom Cutter Grinding Kermit Bode
Cymbet Corporation Bill Priesmeyer or Steve Grady
Diamond Lake Tool, Inc.* Larry Foss
Dynetic Systems Co.* Dave Fergus
E & 0 Tool and Plastics Jay Caswell or Tim Osterman
Elk River Machine Company Jim Barthel or Todd McChesney
Faribault Foods (formerly SoftPac Industries) John Anderson or Chris Ambrose
Gradient Technology* Duane Goetsch or Eric Haehn
Great River Energy* Tim Steinbeck
Industrial Hardfacing* SEE MN FABRICATION & MACHINE
Integrlte Manufacturing Corporation* Doug Mordal or Michael Leistico
J & J Machine Inc.* John Lenz, Sr
Lake Assault Custom Boats* Jerry Atherton
M & M Precision Machining, Inc. Matt & Mike James
Marketech, Inc.*
McChesney Cabinets* Tim McChesney
Metal Craft Machining & Engineering/NEOS Jack, Sean & Tricia Mowry
MET (Medical Extrusion Technologies) * Tom & Rikki Bauer, Tim Lund
MFR Metals Cherie Manning
MN Fabrication & Machine, Inc.* Ken Millsagle Steve Dittbennen
New Plastics Plus Charlie Elsberry
NRG/RRT* Ed Stoutenburg
Orluck Industries Mark Orluck
Pomeroy Tool Inc.* Long Do
Promo Products* Duane Hass
ProTech Engineering* Brad Butalla
Quality Label* Jon Jacobs or Chad Johnson
Riverside Manufacturing*
Shiely Masonry Products*
SolarAttic*
Solors Optional Axis Dave or Colleen Solors
Sportech Chris Carlson
Stoneworks Architectural Precast, Inc' Plaisted Company
Superior Tool Grinding' Jim Deschenes
Supermats, Inc.' Bryan Jones
Tadson' Tom Droegmuller
Tescom' Joe billion
Timron Precision Gear' John Grunewald
Ultra Image Powder Coating`
Vision Mold & Engineering ` Bill Dukowitz
'Indicates that manufacturer has not been visited in the past 5 years as part of the BRE.
Please select these businesses first.