7.4 HRSR 02-06-2017
Request for Action
To
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
Item Number
7.4
Agenda Section
General Business
Meeting Date
February 6, 2017
Prepared by
Amanda Othoudt, EDD
Item Description
Consideration of Staff Assignments from Strategic
Plan
Reviewed by
Cal Portner, City Administrator
Reviewed by
Action Requested
Consider priorities for inclusion in the Strategic Plan
Background/Discussion
The HRA Bylaws, as part of the Annual meeting, suggest that the HRA consider assigning staff projects
for the year. The City of Elk River utilizes the adopted City Council Vision and Goals, the adopted
Strategic Plan, as well as the Mississippi Connections Plan and budget performance measures to structure
the annual work plan.
The HRA reviewed these goals and performance measures during the July 5, 2016, budget workshop and
approved them on August 1, 2016. Based on these documents, staff’s priorities will be:
Promote new applications for the Elk River HRA Rehabilitation program by identifying the
percentage of response from direct mailings and educational meetings. Track which
marketing source the applicant obtained the information from.
Promote new applications for the Blighted Properties Commercial/Industrial Forgivable
Loan Program. Identify Response rate and track which marketing source the applicant
obtained the information from.
Promote Preservation of Community Housing Stock.
Promote a vital downtown.
Enhance Redevelopment Opportunities for Commercial/Industrial Properties.
In addition to these published priorities, the HRA approved the strategic plan in the second quarter of
2015.
Financial Impact
N/A
Attachments
2016 Strategic Plan
2017 Budget Goals
1
2016-2020 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
2
• 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
3
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
4
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
5
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.
6
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.
Division:Economic Development\HRA
Completed by:Amanda Othoudt, EDD
Date:June 1, 2016
Performance Measure 2015 Actual 2016 Estimated 2017 Projected Notes from HRA Discussions at the 7-5-
16 Worksession Meeting:
Promote new applications for the Elk
River HRA Rehabilitation Program
by identifying the percentage of
response from direct mailings and
educational meetings. Track which
marketing source they obtained the
information from.
500 Direct Mailings Sent. Four projects were
completed in 2015 resulting in a .8%
response rate.
500 Direct Mailings Sent. Four
projects were completed in 2016.
Two more applications are estimated
to be submitted by December 2016.
Resulting in a 1.2% response rate.
500 Direct Mailings will be sent to
residential homeowners and three
educational meetings will be
conducted . Estimating Five to Six
projects to begin in 2017 resulting in
a projected 1.2% response rate.
Work with Community Education, Possibly host a
class. Participate in the Chamber Business Expo,
Display marketing fylers and information related to
the program. Connect with local realtors, host an
informational session regarding the program.
Submit informational article promoting the program
including sucess stories to the local paper.
Promote new applications for the
Blighted Properties
Commercial/Industrial Forgivable
Loan Program. Identify Response
rate.Track which marketing source
they obtained the information from.
1 property has been rehabilitated
through the Commercial/Industrial
Loan Program.
1 property is estimated to be
rehabilitated through the
Commercial/Industrial Loan
Program.
Work with Community Education, Possibly host a
class. Participate in the Chamber Business Expo,
Display marketing fylers and information related to
the program. Connect with local realtors, host an
informational session regarding the program.
Promote Preservation of Community
Housing Stock
Targeting individuals that maybe interested
in the blighted properties program and the
HRA Housing Rehab program.
Promote a vital downtown Mississippi Connections
Enhance Redevelopment
Opportunities for
Commercial/Industrial Properties
Targeting business owners that maybe
interested in redeveloping blighted
commercial/industrial properties.
Research redeveloping downtown north of Hwy 10.
Division Performance Measures & Goals for 2017
Work with Sherburne County staff to identify Tax Forefieted properties that
could utilize the newly created Blighted Properties Residential Forgivable
Loan program. Collaborating with Building Inspections to create a Point of
Sale program. Protection of rental properties. Strengthen rental properties
program.
Work with the building department staff to identify properties that could
utilize the newly created blighted properties commercial/industrial program.
Related Vision Statement
Goal/ObjectiveDivision Goal Comments