7.1. EDSR 08-18-2014 hit „..,, Request for Action
River
To Item Number
Economic Development Authority 7.1
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Advertising/Branding August 18, 2014 Colleen Eddy, Economic Development Specialist
Update
Item Description Reviewed by
Marketing,Advertising and Branding Update Brian Beeman,Director of Economic
Development
Reviewed by
Jeremy Barnhart, Deputy Director CODD
Action Requested
Item presented for information.
Background/Discussion
Throughout the first half of 2014, Economic Development staff utilized a number of marketing
initiatives to promote development, city land, the brand, and other city events and initiatives. Economic
Development staff has scheduled weekly marketing meetings with Communications Staff which helps to
streamline time lines and verify the communication guidelines are being followed. Here is a list of some
of the more notable accomplishments with applicable results:
Marketing materials—Staff is in the middle of updating marketing brochures due to changes in
financial programs and business resources. New marketing brochures will be created by a graphic
designer and content will be supplied by a copywriter,which is a new venture for the Economic
Development Division. The new marketing brochures will project a more impactful Elk River story.
Advertising—Several advertisements have been created and submitted to various industry magazines,
which have an outreach of over 100,000 subscribers. Trade industry magazines consisted of Site Selector
Magazine,Business Xpansion,Trade and Industry, and Enterprise Minnesota. Copies of all the industry
magazines that include our advertisements are available for review.
Promo items -As staff attends various trade shows,new promotional items were purchased to help
attract and distribute to businesses—new items consist of 2G flash drives,pens, tablecloths,travel mugs
and soft sided coolers. The new items will be distributed at various shows which will increase the reach of
the department.
Trade shows—Staff partnered with Elk River Municipal Utilities to promote Elk River at the Minnesota
Real Estate Journal's June 6 Data Center Summit and the June 10 Energy Summit. The Summits attracted
realtors from all over the Twin Cities metro area. Staff had a booth at the event, and also provided
materials promoting Elk River's competitive advantages in data center and energy recruitment to each
attendee. Staff met with about ten potential developers and added around 50 new contacts to the
department's developer contact list.
I P O I V E R E D ® r
Template Updated 4/14 NATURE
EDA owned property—New signs will be installed on Highway 10 to help advertise the available lots in
the Nature's Edge Business Center and the current signs in the Northstar Business Park are in the
process of being updated with new maps to help define the two lots for sale. The current sign located on
Highway 10 is not visible as cars are going 60 mph,the new sign will utilize the allotted 64 sq. ft..
maximum,which will increase the exposure.
Branding—New Powered by Nature logoed zip down jackets were purchased and the request for
proposal was advertised for the public art installation. The new artwork will be displayed on city property
and will create a memorable and sustainable public art display.
Social media—The new Economic Development Intern has posted weekly updates on the Economic
Development Twitter and Facebook pages,which has increased our Twitter followers by 16 and
Facebook by 6. The posts have promoted the new Property Assessed Clean Energy PACE program, the
available site database, the housing rehabilitation program and included helpful business resources.
Press releases —Over three press releases have been submitted to local media to help promote the
PACE program, new housing rehabilitation program, and Public Art Installation Request for Proposal.
Videos—Staff developed two videos to promote the PACE and housing rehabilitation programs.The
videos are posted on the city's YouTube site.
Industry specific informational packets—Four new packets were created to help promote the city's
four targeted industries: data centers, medical device, energy and manufacturing. The packets will be
distributed to potential site selectors who have shown interest in developing in Elk River.
Community events —Economic Development staff attended the Annual Night to Unite event. Staff
passed out Powered by Nature tattoos and rulers from the Environmental department.
Financial Impact
N/A
Attachments
• Sherburne County Activity Update
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2013/2014 Commercial/Industrial Countywide Projects
Baldwin Township
Abra Auto Body—Purchased and remodeled vacant building off of Hwy 169.The completed remodeling
project equated to approximately$17,000 of taxable value and fills an existing property that had been
sitting vacant for several months.
Chenny Auto- Began construction of a new 2,040 sq ft office building on a previously vacant site.The
project has an estimated cost of$75,000.
SRW Products—Completed expansion of a 2,992 sq ft shop building and in the process of constructing a
9,472 sq ft cold storage building. In addition,they are remodeling their existing offices.These completed
projects will equate to approximately$150,000 of taxable value.
Zimmerman
UMA Properties—Recently completed construction of a new 25,000 square foot manufacturing property
that equates to approximately$1,200,000 of taxable value and was built on a previously exempt vacant
site.
Whistling Pickle- Purchased and remodeled vacant building into a restaurant.The completed
remodeling project equated to approximately$53,400 of taxable value and fills an existing property that
had been sitting vacant for several years.
Clear Lake
Netter Enterprise—Began construction of two new mini-storage facilities totaling 18,320 sq.ft.The
completed project will equate to approximately$311,500 of taxable value.
Elk River
Starbucks—A portion of the former Hollywood Video building is being remodeled into a Starbucks.The
completed project will equate to approximately$39,000 of additional taxable value.
Preferred Powder Coating—Recently completed construction of a new 100,000 sq.ft. manufacturing
facility that equates to$5,000,000 of taxable value and was built on a previously exempt vacant site.
Cornerstone Auto(Kia)—Began construction of a new 16,108 sq.ft. Kia auto dealership.The project has
an estimated cost of approximately$2,000,000.
Forced Air One—Completed construction of a new 480 sq.ft. retail/storage facility on a previously
vacant property.The project will add approximately$8,600 of taxable value.
Nature's Dry Cleaners—Recently remodeled the old vacant Hardee's located on Hwy 10 into a retail dry
cleaning business.The project will add approximately$70,000 of taxable value.
Noodles and Company- Remodeled vacant property off of Hwy 169.The completed remodeling project
equated to approximately$10,500 of taxable value.
Midwest Mini-Storage- Recently completed construction of two new mini-storage facilities totaling
10,020 sq.ft.The completed project will equate to approximately$185,000 of taxable value.
Alliance Machine—Completed a 17,200 sq ft manufacturing expansion.The completed project added
$625,000 of taxable value.
Elk River LLC- Recently remodeled the old vacant Saxon Auto sales office located on Hwy 10 into a
medical office clinic.The project will add approximately$271,200 of taxable value and filled an existing
building that had been sitting vacant for several years.
Ralphie's Victory Lane—Purchased and remodeled a vacant building into a convenience store.The
completed remodeling project equated to$30,600 of taxable value and fills an existing property that
had been sitting vacant for several years.
Big Lake
Commons of Big Lake—Completed construction of a 13,440 sq.ft. retail center.The property currently
has two tenants, a dentist and a hair salon.Approximately 75%of the building is available for lease.The
completed project will equate to approximately$950,000 of taxable value.
Cargill—Began construction of a 4,740 sq.ft.warehouse expansion.The project will add an estimated
$185,000 of taxable value.
Kelco—Purchased, remodeled and constructed a 24,724 sq ft manufacturing facility.The completed
projects added $384,300 of taxable value and filled an existing property that had been sitting vacant for
several months.
Dill Dental—Constructed a new 3,530 sq ft dental office facility.The completed project,which was built
on a previously exempt vacant site,added $559,600 of taxable value.
Big Lake Township
Govesco Properties—Completed construction of a 2,618 sq.ft. mini-storage expansion.The project will
add approximately$28,500 of taxable value.
MLBL—Completed a 12,794 sq.ft. office remodel and expansion.The completed project equated to
$315,000 of taxable value.
Becker
Raking LLC—Began construction of a new 3,120 sq.ft. retail facility on Hwy 10.The project has an
estimated cost of$84,000.
Structural Complex—Recently completed construction of three new mini-storage facilities totaling
10,720 sq.ft.The completed project will equate to approximately$187,000 of taxable value.
Snap Fitness—Purchased and remodeled vacant building off of Hwy 10.The completed remodeling
project equated to approximately$12,500 of taxable value and fills an existing property that had been
sitting vacant for several months.
Lear Holdings-Purchased and remodeled the old vacant liquor store building off of Hwy 10 into
commercial office space.The completed remodeling project equated to approximately$19,900 of
taxable value and fills an existing property that had been sitting vacant for several months.
Kaseman Machine—recently completed construction of a 8,400 manufacturing and office expansion.
The completed project added $365,900 of taxable value.
Becker Township
Vonco—Completed construction of a new 6,912 sq.ft. storage shed and a 672 sq.ft. office/break room.
The projects equate to approximately$91,500 of taxable value.
Element Arms—Purchased and remodeled a vacant building off of Hwy 10.The completed remodeling
project equated to approximately$27,500 of taxable value and fills an existing property that had been
sitting vacant for several years.
Santiago Township
Centra Sota Cooperative—Completed construction of a 12,480 storage shed.The project equates to
approximately$57,500 of taxable value.
Princeton
MN Industrial Coatings- Began construction of a new 30,000 sq ft manufacturing building on a
previously vacant site.The project will equate to approximately$1,125,000 of taxable value.
Biomatrix—Constructing a 9,600 sq ft expansion to their existing facility.The completed project will
equate to approximately$300,000 of taxable value and was made possible with the help of a city and
county tax abatement financing agreement.
Inline Packaging—Completed an 8,750 sq ft manufacturing expansion.The completed project added
$302,200 of taxable value and was made possible with the help of a city and county tax abatement
financing agreement.
Princeton Auto Center—Completed a 1,548 sq ft auto dealership expansion.The completed project
added $53,000 of taxable value.
Haven Township
Courtesy Auto Transport-Completed construction of a 468 sq ft office expansion.The project equated
to$37,600 of taxable value.
Pearson Investments—Purchased and remodeled the former Denny Hecker's auto lot off of Hwy 10.The
completed remodeling project equated to approximately$22,000 of taxable value and fills an existing
property that had been sitting vacant for several years.