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7.2 HRSR 08-03-2015 l Request for Action River To Item Number Housing Redevelopment Authority 7.2 Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by General Business August 3,2015 Amanda Othoudt, EDD Item Description Reviewed by EDA/HRA Strategic Plan Cal Portner, City Administrator Reviewed by Action Requested Approve,by motion, the 2017-2020 Strategic Plan for the HRA/EDA Background/Discussion Staff has included the 2017-2020 Strategic Plan to reflect the goals and objectives of the HRA through several discussions and workshop sessions over the past few months. Staff was directed to continue the following priority objectives and strategies for 2017-2020: • Business Development-Attract new businesses and support existing businesses to increase the city's industrial tax base, commercial base, and employment base. • Redevelopment&Rehabilitation- Undertake strategies to facilitate rehabilitation and redevelopment of aging commercial,industrial,and residential areas to ensure private reinvestment and sustainability. • Community Brand-Utilize community brand strategies to effect necessary change to strengthen and enhance community image. • Transportation -Advocate and support proactive planning for improvements to the local and area transportation system in a way that will support existing businesses and complement new economic growth. The strategic plan identifies new targeted industries such as craft breweries,manufacturing trades and medical device industries. In addition, the EDA and HRA were supportive of updating and revamping the EDA website to include an HRA component that will allow residents and developers to keep updated on upcoming housing programs,new policies, and residential development projects. The strategic plan also supports the development of new policies that target blighted and dilapidated properties within the city in an effort to preserve or enhance local tax base and create permanent,private- sector jobs to stimulate above-average economic growth. The programs would provide assistance with demolition and other redevelopment activities when either there is no current development plan or where future development visions are hindered by current blight. Upon approval by both the HRA and EDA, staff will update the city's website and the distribute plan to various staff, stakeholders, and community members. iOVEIE ® 1r NATURE Financial Impact None Attachments • 2017-2020 EDA/HRA Strategic Plan N:\Departments\Community Development\Economic Development\HRA\Administrative\Agenda\2015\8-3-2015\x7.2 sr HRA Strategic Plan.docx 2017-2020 EDA/HRA Strategic Plan BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Attract new businesses and support existing businesses to increase the city's industrial tax base, commercial tax base and employment base. INDUSTRIAL STRATEGIES > Promote available sites,encourage business retention and expansion to grow existing light industrial base with business recruitment/attraction techniques > Diversify economic base to include professional services,corporate campuses,energy- related companies,and technology businesses > Review existing programs, resources,and services and recommend improvements to increase competitive advantage and support goals > Explore creative economic development collaborations > Utilize Energy City and its tools to recruit new and assist existing businesses COMMERCIAL STRATEGIES > Promote available sites,encourage business retention and expansion to grow existing commercial base with business recruitment/attraction techniques > Diversify economic base to include a wide variety of retail and service industries,as well as additional fine dining opportunities > Review existing programs, resources,and services and recommend improvements to increase competitive advantage and support goals > Explore creative economic development collaborations > Enhance commercial district through business recruitment and activities ACTION STEPS • Complete minimum of one BRE visit a month with participation from EDA/HRA and Council members(manufacturers and top employers)and distribute Business Finance Toolkit,Available Sites, Community Profile, Energy City Brochure, Business Recycling Toolkit and other pertinent information. • Promote available sites through exhibits at various expos(minimum 2x/yr.) • Utilize 171St FAST implementation plan to create a marketing piece for Nature's Edge Business Center and an annual redevelopment action plan to monitor progress of implementation • Partner with ERMU to identify applicable rebates for available city-owned property 1 • Promote applicable incentives through direct mailings(minimum 3x/yr.) • Promote Elk River to the restaurant industry through website (www.elkrivermn.gov/restaurants), direct mailings,Constant Contact email blasts and other marketing venues • Partner with Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce to coordinate Chamber goals with economic development goals through various implementation tasks • Utilizing economic development publications make contact with businesses looking to expand, relocate,etc. • Review Micro Loan Program and recommend improvements to increase competitive advantage and support goals • Partner with ECC and ERMU to explore a joint incentive to attract energy-related technology businesses • Partner with local schools and manufacturers to hold quarterly meetings to encourage students to explore a career in manufacturing through plant tours,youth apprenticeship programs, energy city tours and programs,and job shadowing • Update a powerful website for the Elk River Economic Development Department and the Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Provide analytic reports on a quarterly basis. • Demonstrate support for existing manufacturers and raise awareness regarding their impact on the community through various promotional activities and tours during Minnesota Manufacturers Week • Identify target industries(e.g.craft brewery, manufacturing and medical device,etc.)and create specific marketing pieces to identify advantages and programs to assist in business recruitment • Host quarterly Manufacturers' Connection events with local manufacturers to promote financial incentives, resources and relevant topics to promote business retention and appreciation • Produce an energy conservation best-practices brochure to provide to businesses • Coordinate with Energy City to plan and market energy city events e.g. Energy City Business of the Year • Partner with Energy City and the Streets Department and continue to promote proper disposal of Fats, Oils and Grease through videos,flyers, emails,social media, and other media • Host and Promote a quarterly business rountable event with local business leaders and community stakeholders. • Partner with the Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce to hold annual event to promote economic development resources and incentives(Juice Up Your Morning,Chamber luncheon, Money Breakfast,etc.) • Continued contact and relationship development with Twin City commercial real estate brokers/developers 2 REHABILITATION AND REDEVELOPMENT Undertake strategies that facilitate rehabilitation and redevelopment of aging commercial, industrial and residential areas to ensure private reinvestment and sustainability. COMMERICAL/INDUSTRIAL STRATEGIES > Maintain a listing of available commercial/industrial sites > Promote available sites through various marketing initiatives > Identify and examine potential areas for revitalization > Review existing programs, resources,and services and recommend improvements to increase our competitive advantage and support goals > Enhance downtown commercial district through business recruitment and people- generating activities > Develop and implement a blighted properties program for both commercial and residential properties ACTION STEPS • Identify target areas for the blighted properties program • Partner with downtown business association and civic groups to promote existing and explore new downtown activities(i.e. BNI, Chamber Connections,etc.). • Partner with Elk River Area Arts Alliance to explore funding concepts for an arts center within the downtown study area • Create and distribute a survey to businesses to identify recommended improvements to existing programs, resources and services, in addition to identifying preferred methods of communication to improve Elk River business climate • Identify current property owners'and businesses' interest in redevelopment efforts both north and south of HWY 10 and in 171st Focused Area Study area • Create a redevelopment policy regarding capitalizing the HRA development fund and identify parameters for purchasing parcels • Create and distribute comprehensive business directory to promote downtown Elk River • Update short videos promoting available sites and applicable initiatives to distribute through social media outlets,constant contact and website 3 RESIDENTIAL STRATEGIES > Maintain listing of vacant/foreclosed properties > Address housing gaps with Comprehensive Housing Market Study recommendations > Proactively review neighborhoods annually to ensure all home are properly maintained through the code enforcement process > Seek and promote available programs to improve existing housing stock and incentivize homeownership through CMHP > Provide educational opportunities regarding foreclosure prevention and housing assistance programs by developing brochures/pamphlets ACTION STEPS • Distribute MN Home Ownership Center foreclosure prevention, Energy City conservation brochure,and Elk River Housing Toolkit information to local lenders, realtors, churches, non- profits, builders,etc. (minimum 4x/yr.) • Partner with applicable non-profits(MNHOC,Tri-CAP,etc.)to hold educational events to promote foreclosure prevention and housing programs(minimum 2x/yr.) • Continue to partner with the CMHP housing organization to fund and support a selective housing removal and rebuilding program • Host an annual Realtors' Day to educate realtors about the programs, processes and amenities offered by the city 4 COMMUNITY BRAND Utilize community brand strategies to effect necessary changes to strengthen and enhance community image STRATEGIES > Continue to implement and enhance marketing plan that reflects the Powered by Nature brand, identifies desired target market(s),and complements other local efforts to promote the community internally and externally > Maintain existing and build new community support for the Powered by Nature brand > Establish benchmarks for performance measurement ACTION STEPS • Distribute window clings and larger windows signs of the logo • Promote the brand,engage residents,and distribute materials at expos(3x per year)and at events such as Realtors' Day, Leadership Elk River,and Manufacturers Connection • Create profiles on first-tier business owners in Salesforce—a tracking software used to record information on local businesses and visits • • Benchmark the impact of the Powered by Nature brand with data from Google Analytics and a search engine optimization analysis. • Promote Public Art Installation and research opportunities to expand public art within the city. 5 TRANSPORTATION Advocate and support proactive planning for improvements to the local and area transportation system in a way that will support existing businesses and complement new economic growth. STRATEGIES ➢ Advocate regional and local transportation improvements ➢ Encourage transportation improvements as part of redevelopment/development opportunities ➢ Support efforts to leverage local funds with state/federal resources ACTION STEPS(submitted by City Engineer) • Increase contact with legislators for state highway transportation improvements • Complete low cost/high benefit enhancements to improve traffic flow through the existing street intersections • Advocate for the continued use and expansion of Northstar commuter rail service. • Continue implementation of transportation improvements as detailed in the 171st Focused Area Study • Assure all proposed development improvements are consistent with our local and regional transportation plans. • Leverage State and Federal investment for mobility improvements to TH 169 and TH 10 with the already spent local dollars for the planning of improvements to these sections. • Evaluate all available grant opportunities to determine if the local matching amounts are a cost effective and feasible solution to support our objectives and strategies. • Promote the Quiet Zone, Northstar Commuter Train and Bike paths. 6