6.0. EDSR 03-11-2002 • Item # 6
1./
City of
Elk -�--
River
MEMORANDUM
TO: Economic Development Authority
FROM: Heidi Hall, Economic Development Assistant
DATE: March II, 2002
SUBJECT: 2002 Strategic Industrial Marketing Plan Update
Attachments
*2002 Community Profile
*Advertisement, Twin Cities Business Monthly, February 2002
S "Establishing Your City's Image, Minnesota Cities, February 2002
*Tech Incubators Live On, Minnesota Business, March 1, 2002
2002 Community Profile
The 2002 Community Profiles became available in mid-February. The Profiles will be
included in the strategic industrial marketing folders and are available at the front desk
at City Hall.
2002 Advertisements
Softpac was featured in the February 2002 issue of Twin Cities Business Monthly. The
City of Elk River, First National Financial Services, and Reliant Energy Minnegasco
sponsored the ad.
The next two advertisements will appear in the May and June issues of Twin Cities
Business Monthly. The May issue will highlight Cymbet as an emerging company.
The June issue will feature Bixby Energy Systems or another small manufacturer as
part of a small business guide.
1110
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a City of
Elk
River
E 13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River,MN 55330
CommunityProfile 2002
Elk River, Minnesota
The City of Elk River is located 35 minutes north/northwest of Downtown Minneapolis.
County: Sherburne
County Seat: Elk River
Metro Area: Minneapolis-St.Paul MSA
Senate District 19: Senator Mark Ourada
House District 19B: Rep.Bruce Anderson
Congressional District#8: Rep.James Oberstar
Population
20,000- 16,447 80,000-
64,417
15,E- �- 60000-
11143. a
41,945
10,000- : u 40,E-
6,785 b y ; 29906
5000 2 252 �r �ti & � t 20,000_18,344
:ald'*�.'^ dy 1 .. b 5 3 t+'E'L,Y .M1. !t V -2- 1?.
1970 1980 1990 2000 1970 1980 1990 2000
Elk River Sherburne
2000 Median Age: 1998 Median Household Estimated
Elk River 32 years Income:
Sherburne County 31.4 years Sherburne County $55,447
State of MN 35 y State of MN $45,311
Phone: 763.441.7420
Fax:763.441.7425
www.ci.elk-river.mn.us
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City of -
Elk
River
E 13065 Orono Parkway
V Elk River,MN 55330
Employment
Major Employers Product/Services = Full-Time Employees PartTime Employees Total
Independent School District 728 Education n/a n/a 1160
Sherburne County Government n/a n/a 490
Guardian Angels of Elk River, Inc. Nursing/Housing 143 229 372
Great River Energy Electric Utility 322 8 330
Wal-Mart Retail Store n/a n/a 325
Cub Foods Grocery Store 50 150 200
Menards Retail Store n/a n/a 195
Tescom Corporation Pressure Control Devices 187 2 189
Coborns
Grocery Store 27 153 180
Alltool Manufacturing Metal Stamping n/a n/a 155
The Cretex Companies,Inc. Precast Concrete Products n/a n/a
Employment Estimates - Occupation and Wages
Sherburne County
Types of�.:; ,„ ' _ Average Monthly ,
Employment A..", x �.:Exr Employment. n<Occupationx` k-fourly Median Wage ,
Goods producing Computer programmer $25.98
(Construction and manufacturing) 4,500 Tool&die maker 22.06
Service Producing Welder 16.00
(Transportation,wholesale and Machinist 17.29
retail trade, services, etc.) 14,653 Assembler 12.89
TOTAL 19,153 Data Entry 11.43
Labor Force:35,747 Source:Minneapolis-St.Paul MSA Third Quarter 2001 Salary Survey,
November 2001 Unemployment Rate: 3.6% Minnesota Department of Economic Security
Source.MN Dept of Economic Security:2000 Annual Employment&
Wages,Sherburne County
Transportation
Highways Air
Interstate Highways 7 miles to I-94 Anoka County/Blaine Airport
Federal Highways U.S. 10,U.S. 169 St. Cloud Regional Airport
State Highways 101 Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport4111
Rail Intra-City & Intro County
Burlington Northern Line Pioneer Taxi
Sego Taxi and Package
Bus River Rider Heartland Express
Greyhound Bus Lines
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Taxes
.2Qa F Elly River.Tax Dollar r4 Tax Capacity Rates
t 3_ s .;,
,. � freax- Total=�2ate4 ' -3°Cid fie
School District 728 49.7% 2002 estimate 138.835 43.544
City of Elk River 23.8% 2001 128.544 30.596
2000 119.450 30.250
Sherburne County 25.2%
1999 121.130 29.324
Misc.Jurisdictions 1.4% 1998 111.504 26.255
1997 112.767 24.255
Commercial/Industrial Taxes:
Minnesota real estate taxes are based on fair market value estimates. Tax capacity times the tax capacity rate
equals property taxes.Tax capacity is the value of the property under $150,000 times 1.5%plus any value
over$150,000 times 2.0%.
'Total tax rates do not include Market Value School Excess Levy Referendum rate of 0.08241%
2001 City Budget:$ 7,215,500
City Bond Rating: A-3 Moody's
Housing and Development
" New Resrcdentlaf Canstructiot- Value 1 `1' New Cornmercialf/fncfustnaf'`Constructiot Value
40M
$38,613,.,454,$41877,967 40M
}
$32,723381 r
000.:',-*,,,, *„ , "0 9 30M-
30M $26255626 4�t{ �' y°n a�u' "
c t` $25 690,122le r as- sk $23,920,652
20M lAVF-`fir A 1 20M- $8943 050 $4 529 366 ,
$6,341,570
14 '^' , or . r? 461424200 air swims. sti*'r�s 'rn.;uat we
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
New Housing Unia z„
E�x,tstng Home Sales
Yeasf -.1.,,,i"-.-",,
cti� : �* S'Sg1y Aw 'nte Me
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2001 256 1632001 280
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$184,445 n/a
2000 284 172 2000 306 $174,820
$160,000
1999 205 177 1999 340 $153,004 $142,559
1998 289 201 1998 346 $139,470 $127,800
1997 224 182 1997 253 $129,263 $120,900
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41,
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ct` City of
Elk .y
River
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River,MN 55330
Business and Community Services Utilities and Services
Medical Services Water
Three Family Practice Clinics Municipal water source: Wells
Two Urgent Care Centers Storage capacity: 2,500,000 gallons
Nearest Hospitals Pumping capacity: 6.7 mgd
Mercy Hospital— Tapwater hardness: 17 grains of 213 ppm
Coon Rapids, 14 miles Average demand: 3,700,000 gallons per day
Monticello/Big Lake Community Hospital— Peak demand: 5,300,000 gallons per day
Monticello, 12 miles Rates and billing: Elk River Municipal Utilities
- Dentists, chiropractors, and other health care spe- (763) 441-2020
cialists have practices within the community. Electricity
Electric utility: Elk River Municipal Utilities
Mail Services (763) 441-2020
First Class Post Office and Express Service available Electric utility: Connexus Energy •
(612) 323-2600
Banking and Finance Natural Gas
Financial Institutions and Deposits Gas service: Minnegasco
First National Bank of Elk River—$323,992,000 Rates and billing: (763)372-4727
The Bank of Elk River—$173,287,000 Sanitary Sewer
Sewer service: Municipal
Retail Gross Sales — 1998 Plant capacity: 1,640,000 gallons p/day
Sherburne County—$428,390,759 Average demand: 937,000 gallons p/day
Elk River—$299,228,618 Rates and billing: Elk River Municipal Utilities
Source:Minnesota Department of Revenue Sales&Use Tax Statutes 1998 (763) 441-2020
Newspaper Telecommunications
Elk River Star News (weekly) Company: Qwest Communications
Star Tribune and St.Paul Pioneer Press (daily) Rates and billing: 1-800-244-1111(Residential)
1-800-603-6000 (Business)
Company: NorthStar Access
Rates&billing: 1-877-225-6754
Refuse/Recycling
Provided by the city through contracts with private
haulers
Rates and billing: Elk River Municipal Utilities lip
(763) 441-2020
Cable TV
Cable service: Charter Communications
Rates and billing: (612) 682-5980
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'' Elk .�.
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E 13065 Orono Parkway
V Elk River,MN 55330
K-12 Education
'#D strict 28 Public Schools
umber ,Enr'olfinent G rad`es
Elementary 7 5,170 K-6
Junior High 4 2,486 7-9
Senior High 1 1,913 10-12
Area Learning Center 1 367 8-12
Efk River Parochial/Church Schools
St.Andrew's School 332 K-6
Affiance Christian Academy 300 K-12
St.John's Lutheran School 220 Pre-K-8
Solid Rock Christian Academy 35 K-12
Area Post Secondary Schools
Technical college: Anoka-Hennepin Technical College
Distance: 9 miles
Community college: Anoka-Ramsey Community College
Distance: 15 miles
Universities: University of Minnesota
St. Cloud State University
Distance: 35 miles
Community Contacts
Catherine Mehelich Jeff Gongoll
Director of Economic Development President
City of Elk River Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce
13065 Orono Parkway 509 Highway 10
Elk River,MN 55330 Elk River, MN 55330
(763) 441-4905 (763) 441-3110
cmehelich@ci.elk-river.mn.us eracc@onrampinc.net
WWW.ci.elk-river.mn.us www.elkriverchamberorg
Business Financing and Incentive Programs
The City of Elk River and its EDA and HRA participate in and have access to the following programs: Tax
Increment Financing,Tax Abatement,Industrial Revenue Bonds, SBA Loan Programs,Local Micro Loan
Fund, Initiative Foundation,Minnesota Investment Fund,Sherburne County Business Development Fund,
and the Elk River Business Incubator.
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°- city of
River
E 13065 Orono Parkway
V Elk River,MN 55330
Commercial and Industrial Areas
5 Commercial
6 1.Central Business District
193"Avenue 2.Elk River Plaza Mall
7 3.Barrington Retail/Office
A 4 GO
g 4.Elk Park Center
I:.
c School Street
5.Hillside Crossing 11
0 2 3
6.Hillside Crossing
F Main street 1 7.Hillside Crossing South
MISSISSIPPI RIVER Industrial411
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A.Elk River Industrial Park
N
AB.McChesney Industrial Park
173"Avenue f C.Rall 10
101
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D.RR Industrial Park
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E.Ar-Mon Industrial Park
F.Elk River West Business Park
G.Elk River East Business Park
H.Cascade Industrial Park
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Phone: 763.441.7420
Fax:763.441.7425
www.ci.elk-rive%mn ils
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SoftPac Benefits From
Seamless
Site Selection Expertise.
"Opus,Colliers-Towle and the City of Elk River worked smoothly together
to identify the right site for our 75,000 square foot highly specialized
industrial facility.Elk River fulfills our transportation needs with access to
Highways 10, 169 and 101 and serves as a convenient halfway point
between our Foley plant and our corporate headquarters in Plymouth.
Our unique water and work force needs were also met.Our new location
has been highly successful in attracting the skilled work force living in the
northern tier,from St.Cloud,the Twin Cities and the outlying rural areas."
John Dennis,Vice President of Operations
SoftPac Industries,Inc.
For a free Location Site Guide,induding expansion and relocation -
opportunities,financing information and much more,
e mail hholl@ci.elk-rivecmn.us or call(763)441-7420.
1l�..First National Bank \Reliant
� .mw. cn r \Energy. ;Minnegasco
wwwbuabanketmm E"yl ...�.. - www..minngaswcan
River
- - _ The Light Industrial Hub of the Northwest Metro
30 FEBRUARY 2002 TWIN CITIES BUSINESS MONTHLY
•
SOLVING THE PUZZLE : WHY " MARKET " YOUR CITY ?
•
Establishing
Your City's .
In a time of economic uncertainty, the tendency is to cut the marketing budget
or eliminate it altogether, dismissing it as `fluff"one can't afford.
Effective marketing, however, is a city's greatest tool when faced with tough times.
By Tom Bullington
very city has its pros and cons. few miles to another city? Again, right ing the tough questions, such as: What
But which would you rather have or wrong, these indicators send up "red is our city's image? What do we want
people concentrate on when they flags" about your community—and our city to be known for? What are our
think of your community? Is there that's something you can't afford. attributes? What are our advantages?
an information vacuum in your Cities that win the big develop- What are our disadvantages? and so on.
city just waiting to be filled by a ments and enjoy a healthy stream of Try to be as honest as possible, realizing
cub reporter with visions of becom- incoming residents have, in one way or you might not want to hear all of the
ing the next Carl Bernstein? Or do another, effectively marketed themselves. answers.
you have a plan to drive media coverage Whether that's through a communica- When you have the answers, get to
by proactively marketing and promot- tions or economic development staff or work on planning your next action
ing your community as a great place to an outside firm, landing the big deals steps. Ask more tough questions as you
've, do business, and spend money? and touting oneself as a great place to begin to plan. Do you want to have a
Obviously, everyone would prefer live pays handsome dividends. - new logo or tagline to accompany your
to have positive media coverage all the marketing effort? Is this a short-term or
Getting started
time. But this simply isn't a realistic a long-term effort (before you start the
expectation. Negative situations will The power of marketing any product, next one)?Who are your key audiences?
inevitably arise no matter how rosy the or in this case, a city, simply cannot be What are the key messages you want to
picture may seem now—businesses will underestimated. Want to get started? convey to these groups? What are some
close down, accidents will happen, Here's how: realistic goals and outcomes to expect
industries will fail, and some residents First, municipal marketing campaigns from this process?
will unfortunately turn to crime and need the unwavering support of city
anti-social behavior. administrators and city councils in City case studies
So if you don't actively promote the order to be successful. From the onset, Since every city is different, it's impos-
good things, invite new residents and the staff working on the campaign need sible to point to one example as the
to have clear direction as to what is perfect model. Yet, there are several
businesses while letting those already
there know you value them as resources, desired by the city such as outcomes, cities across Minnesota and the nation
people will use the negative things that goals, and reasonable budget parameters. that have reaped the benefits of mar-
occur in your city to judge you, right or Once the outcomes, goals, and keting themselves. Here are just a few
wrong. In other words, the old adage budgets are set and approved, your city examples:
"perception is reality" is quite true. must undergo a thorough planning Mankato and North Mankato.
process. If this is a city-only effort, get a Regional cooperation between corn-
It's not"fluff" variety of employees involved in brain- inunities is the hallmark of the new
Effective marketing is certainly a city's storming—not just top management. marketing effort now underway in
greatest tool when faced with tough The best ideas often come from where Mankato and North Mankato. Accord-
times. How else will prospective residents you least expect. If this is a community- ing to Shelly Schulz, public information
and businesses know what you have to wide campaign using other organizations director for the city of Mankato and
offer if you don't tell them? What will such as chambers of commerce, tourism Mankato Area Public Schools, the new
your current residents and businesses boards, school districts, etc., make sure campaign was spearheaded by the
hink when they see surrounding cities everyone gets a seat at the table (they Mankato Area Chamber and Conven-
ceive more positive press coverage, may also be helpful financially). tion Bureau, Mankato City Manager
witness their neighbors leaving for Pat Hentges and others in the area.
Start asking questions
"greener pastures," or see businesses "Pat Hentges had a vision that this
close upand move down the road a When the group is assembled, start ask-
close campaign would be productive for
FEBRUARY 2002 MINNESOTA CITIES , 7
Mankato," she said, noting that Hentges Your Community," has been Mankato's Tacoma, Washington. Tired of
believes such work would "position the inspiration (read more about Renton playing second fiddle to its larger _
entire region for success." below). neighbor to the north, Seattle, Tacoma
Others involved in putting the cam- Schulz is optimistic the Mankato hired a New York-based public relations
paign together include North Mankato campaign will work, but she has no firm in 1998 to rework its image. The
City Administrator Wendell Sande, Burt illusions about the work involved. transformation has been dramatic—
Lyman, executive director of the Mid- "This has to stand on its own merits," more than 50 new companies have
west Wireless Civic Center, and repre- she said. "We're going to have to work located in Tacoma, it was named an
sentatives from the Valley Independent hard. But we really need to point out All-America City by the National
Development Corporation, which works our strengths and reasons for being here Civic League, and Toyota even named
on behalf of both cities. and coming here." a truck after the city.
Mankato officially got down to Roseville. In Roseville, the nearly Tacoma has also received plaudits
business in December 2001 when the 4-year-old Roseville Visitors Association from the local and national media due
Chamber held a televised press confer- (RVA) is helping bring visitors and in great part to its self-branding as
ence announcing a collaborative, multi- tourists to this Twin Cities suburb with "America's #1 Wired City." This
jurisdictional marketing campaign. the support of city government. Rose- nationally award-winning tagline has
The announcement followed a request- ville established the RVA in March played up the significant high-tech
for-proposal process that culminated 1998 as part of passing a 3 percent local industrial opportunities available in
in the hiring of Meyocks and Priebe lodging tax. According to Assistant City the city and its affordability compared
Advertising, Inc. Manager Christine Butterfield, "the to Seattle.
Schulz said the selection committee RVA's role is to help support Roseville Tacoma has also established several
was quite impressed with Meyocks and as a destination point and promote the targeted web sites to provide informa-
Priebe, an Iowa-based firm that has also hotels, motels, and recreation amenities tion to various audiences. The www.
worked with marketing the cities of in the city." tacomaspace.com web site helps
Des Moines and Council Bluffs, Iowa, in Butterfield said Roseville officials visitors find available properties in down-
addition to companies as diverse as formally meet with the RVA quarterly town Tacoma, and www.districtspace.
Delta Dental, St. Paul-based Ecolab, to discuss latest steps and ways for the corn locates properties in Tacoma's
Gateway computers, Dupont, and Farm city and RVA to "collaborate on vari- numerous business districts. Businesses
Bureau. And, according to Schulz, the ous communications pieces." can even download the "wired city"
firm's web site address (www.outof Communicating the latest RVA logos and information from the site fo.
thebox.com) says it all about where efforts is important to the city, she said, their own use in promoting Tacoma as
they want to take marketing for the therefore every bi-monthly city news- a place to do business.
Mankato area. letter contains information about the 1
Schulz said the campaign is presently association's activities. For example, news Other award-winning cities
in its first phase of research, and she about the city's "Roseville Glows" Each year, the City-County Commu-
anticipates embarking soon on the event and the annual Rose Fest are nications and Marketing Association
creation of a logo and a branding style always publicized and covered for resi- (3CMA) recognizes many municipal
guide. A marketing plan will follow as dent consumption. marketing plans and campaigns. Cities
the second phase, before implementa- Renton, Washington. Considered of various sizes and budgets are involu-
tion is complete later this year. one of the nation's better municipal ed—all recognizing the great potential
Asked why the Mankato area is marketing plans, Renton's campaign and importance of marketing them-
embarking on such an aggressive cam- was given life in 1998 when the city, selves,With smaller cities such as Las
paign, Schulz said the answer is simple. Renton Chamber of Commerce, local Cruces, N.M., and West Valley City,
"We want people to come to this hospital, school district, and college Utah, and larger locales as San Antonio,
area," said Schulz, noting that the group committed to a three-year, $600,000 Texas, and Tallahassee, Fla., participat-
wants to launch the campaign in time effort to market Renton locally, region- ing, they all understand the value of
beingproactive.
for tourism season this summer when ally, and nationally.
the city's noted trails are in use and the Keeping true to a year-by-year, Remember, if you wait until the
Vikings start up camp at the second- ; month-by-month strategic communica- "bad times"hit, it will likely be too late
oldest training campsite in the National tions plan as they went along, the to make much of a difference in what
Football League. The group is also campaign included advertisements on others think about your city. Be the
floating the concept of sponsoring television, radio, and in the print media; first one to establish your city's image.
riverboat tours in town to boost tourism. creation of a new tagline—"Renton: Don't let someone or something do it
The challenges are many for such an Ahead of the Curve"—and logo; and a for you. r
effort, she said, adding that the inspira- web site (www.rentonmarket.com).
tion for Mankato's campaign came from One of the more significant payoffs
a similar program underway in Renton, came when a$300 million office/hotel Tom Bullington is communications manage
Wash. A copy of the Renton Economic development located in Renton, a with the League of Minnesota Cities.
Development Department's article 48,000-resident southern suburb of Phone: (651) 281-1243. E-mail:
entitled, "Think Like a Business—Brand Seattle. tbulling@lmnc.org.
8 MINNESOTA CITIES FEBRUARY 2002
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