EDSR INFORMATION 09-10-2012 INFORMATION
°` REQUEST FOR ACTION
Elk ,
River
TO ITEM NUMBER
Economic Development Authority
AGENDA SECTION MEETING DATE PREPARED BY
September 10, 2012 Clay Wilfahrt, Assistant Director of
Economic Development
ITEM DESCRIPTION REVIEWED By
Marketing Update Annie Deckert,Director of Economic
Development
REVIEWED BY
Cal Portner,City Administrator
ACTION REQUESTED
None
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the Economic Development Division's marketing
initiatives.
Branding
Numerous initiatives are in motion or have been completed to support the community brand:
• Partnered with the Star News,Sandhill Photography Club,and the Independence Day
Committee to host a photo contest.
• Worked with the Activity Center to hold a Powered by Nature writing contest.
• Filmed 20 promotional video testimonials featuring local businesses. They are available on
www.poweredbynature.blog.com and the economic development Facebook page.
• Met with Prime Advertising to redesign The Current to better reflect the brand.
• The Brand Champions developed the website www.poweredbynature.com as a resource for
those seeking to utilize or gain information about the brand.
• The Powered by Nature brand was featured at the August 9th and 10th International
Economic Development Council Marketing and Attraction Training Class.
Website
Staff is working with Civic Plus to build a new city website. The site is intended to be more user friendly,
have enhanced capabilities including GIS property listings,and will better incorporate the brand message.
The informational architecture is currently under development. The site is planned to go live in early
February of 2013.
Business Retention and Expansion (BRE)
Economic Development Staff made six BRE visits this year including Professional Services Bureau in
September and Cymbet in September. Planned future visits include Guardian Angels,Metal Extrusion
Technologies,and Elk River Machine
Marketing Materials
All Economic Development marketing materials were redesigned,updated,and incorporated the Powered
by Nature brand. The revisions also incorporated several new pieces including one piece promoting
restaurant development.
11 / E / EB BY
NATURE
Business Educational Series
The scheduled August 22 water conservation event was cancelled due to a lack of registrants. Information
was circulated about water conservation via Constant Contact. A grease disposal event is planned for the
fall of 2012. The event will inform business owners about proper disposal of grease to prevent
obstruction of sanitary sewer lines.
MNCAR
The Minnesota Association of Commercial Realtors (MNCAR)Annual Conference and Expo is
November 8,2012. Staff plans to exhibit and highlight Elk River's competitive advantages in data center
recruitment.
Realtors' Forum
The first City of Elk River Realtors'Forum held on August 8th had 19 realtors in attendance. Mayor Dietz
welcomed the group,and staff presented information encouraging realtors to use city resources. The event built
relationships between staff and realtors and encouraged open and active communication between them. Feedback
about the event from the realtors was positive;each indicated they would be interested in a similar annual event.
Staff met with the president of ReMax Results Realty to discuss the Micro Loan program as a result of the forum.
Keller Williams Party in the Park
The brand and city programs were promoted at the August 8th Keller Williams Party in the Park. Staff
engaged residents in conversations about the community brand and city programs and handed out a new
branding brochure which can be found on the city's website. Additionally,and estimated 75-100 attendees
were`branded'with the PBN tattoo.
Business Park Signs
The street department assembled and installed four signs promoting land availability in the Nature's Edge
Business Center and Northstar Business Park. The signs show available lots,uses and contact
information.
Manufacturers' Connection
Becker,Big Lake,Princeton,and Elk River collaborated to organize a Manufacturer's Connection event
scheduled for mid-September. Manufacturers and representatives of the respective school districts
received invites to attend and talk about how manufacturers and educators can work together to educate
youth about jobs in manufacturing.
www.elkriversites.com
The city purchased the web domain www.elkriversites.com,which will point to Economic Development's
Available Sites portion of the city web page. The web domain is perfect for use in marketing on print
materials,billboards,and flyers. Staff anticipates bringing forward an aggressive marketing strategy for
city-owned sites at a future meeting.
ATTACHMENTS
• Writing Contest Winning Entry
• Photos of`available lots'signs
C:\Documents and Settings\jjohnson\Desktop\Marketing Update 9-10-2012.doc
I.
The I Iealing Spot IIIIIIIIIIIIII
by Pamela K.Zaffke
Beneath our very noses,here in the lovely little town of Elk River,
Minnesota lies a spot as awe-inspiring as any on earth. It is the _ �'•".i
bend in the river, the Mighty Mississippi, and the park that lies -
just above it.Living in dose proximity to this natural wonder for a
period of time in my life when a healing spot was quite necessary r,� —\=' �_
and much appreciated, I called this area "my deck", and would
visit it often. Having moved on,I return whenever possible.
Oh, how many hours were spent in a silent reverie as my soul
came together over those ever-moving waters! Spring, summer,
fall or winter,weather mattered not. I observed the early spring
thaw, the silly antics of the male ducks as they showed off for
their prospective mates, only later to see them in pairs drifting __ __
lazily together.
Humanity came and went. Friendly city workers,like the suntanned
0„
young girl in a cap, or the slender, quiet man who was always , y i I
pleasant as he set about his work greeted me often. There were , sr l” - !! �
mothers with children,a couple with their wedding photographer ; • � In, I'�' c�It
deciding when and how they would pose when they were married
at this spot.How sincerely they loved one another!
T
Two young missionary men seemed quite concerned about my
one da unaware that the serene look r °"' k
welfare as they passed by y, F,°�
�a m'
on my face reflected my inner joy at being in the presence of such .,�,
r s„
awe-inspiring beauty!When my niece visited here from Las Vegas, ' ' : . 'k. , r
one of her fondest memories was skipping rocks across the top
of the water on this very spot. She has traveled to many beautiful
places in her life, yet this simple place touched her deeply, and
continues to do so. If one sits a the bottom of the hill on the
massive golden stones, to the left is the bridge reminiscent of
Europe.Directly ahead is a picturesque stone embankment, and
to the right the river's undulating panorama is a feast for the senses.
Verdant trees and foliage,wildlife and all manner of watercraft -_ - ...,
may be spotted as one luxuriates in the soft grass of the outdoor -
" a small trickle at its source,to the wide open,muddy, 'd.
"patio". _Ago 1 I!P..
lazy mouth,the Mississippi connects us all to people and places _
that we may not know personally, but who, like us here in Elk .
River,ponder and benefit from its presence. -`.. MA 11111111111
On my last day living across from the river,I went to the Healing v
Spot to say "So long" - never "Goodbye". Just as I was about IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMNI
to leave, a lone swan floated in from seemingly nowhere. I had
never heretofore,in all of my visits seen one of these magnificent
birds. Yet there it was in all of its pristine white splendor,floating
silently and alone. Thinking of my own solitary journey,a feeling O g r
of melancholy washed over me;but it soon changed to joy for as E
I got up to leave,the giant white bird began a long, slow ascent Q t w t 11 cera
away from me,all the while following the curve of the river before o
disappearing around the bend. Ivfy heart leapt as I realized the P i G a
dtsapp g v p �
significance of the swans'message. Life goes on.Get up,fly high. N s P■n e
Don't ever stop moving. Be like the river and flow on.
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