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7. EDSR 08-13-2007Item # 7 fiver MEMORANDUM TO: Economic Development Authority FROM: Heidi Steinmetz, Assistant Director of Economic Development ~~ DATE: August 13, 2007 SUBJECT: Strategic Industrial Marketing Activities Update This report is formatted based on the 2007-2009 Strategic Industrial Marketing Plan, adopted by the EDA in September 2006. Marketing activities may not occur monthly for each of the seven strategies. Strategy #I: Broaden the Primary Target Market, which includes the tactic to place more emphasis on assisting existing manufacturers. • A "Tools for Existing Businesses" link was added to the Economic Development page of the City's Website. • Per recent Finance Committee discussion, a direct mail piece promoting the Micro Loan Fund will be sent to Elk River manufacturers and area bankers. • As in past years, staff will co-sponsor this year's Manufacturing Week event with the Chamber of Commerce. The event will be held in October. • Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) visits were held in June with Cymbet Corporation and Sportech and in July with Elk River Machine Company. • Wolf Marketing & Media is currently reexamining the City's mailing list, which includes "Key Accounts" and other prospect lists, to make sure the list sufficiently reflects the City's expanded target: medium to large light industrial manufacturers. Strategy #2: Increase Marketing Efforts Targeting Industrial Brokers There is no new information to report. Strategy #3: Leverage Northstar Commuter Rail and Additional Differentiated Community Assets The Northstar logo and link was added to the top of the Economic Development page of the City's Website. A news release featuring downtown redevelopment activities was released on June 14, 2007. Strategic Industrial Marketing Update August 13, 2007 EDA Meeting Page 2 of 2 • Staff continues to monitor Downtown Revitalization Project activities. The construction fence for Jackson Place is anticipated to be removed in late September, followed by street restoration work. It is anticipated that businesses and residents will occupy The Bluffs of Elk River later this month. • Staff is managing the Mississippi Connections Redevelopment Framework process. The Task Force has entered into the public input phase of the project, which began with property owner input on July 24. The plan will be refined by the Task Force this fall as input is considered from City Boards/Commissions and the general public. It is anticipated that the earliest the plan could be considered for approval by the Task Force, HRA and City Council is December. Strategy #4: Leverage the fact that two Fortune 50 firms recently selected Elk River for new facilities, which adds credibility and suggests that the City is ready to take industrial development to a higher level • The Summer 2007 Economic Development Newsletter included a feature story on the UnitedHealth Group data center. • A news release featuring UnitedHealth and Target Corp. data centers was released on June 27, 2007. Strategy #5: Continue to employ about the same mix of marketing tools, but with greater emphasis on public relations and events Staff and Wolf Marketing & Media are currently working on the Fall 2007 edition of the Economic Development newsletter. The purpose of the newsletter is to provide manufacturers and site selectors information that is useful to their operations and to present an "open for business" image. The newsletter is distributed in the Economic Development marketing packets, is available for download on the Economic Development page of the City's Website and is distributed directly to approximately 550 people representing the following groups: • Elk River manufacturers • Manufacturers located in Anoka, Sherburne, Wright and Hennepin Counties • Past & present prospects/inquiries • Key accounts (site selectors, bankers, etc.) Strategy #6: Facilitate the preparation and marketing of the new Gateway Business Center The EDA provided direction to staff for the layout of Gateway Business Center at their meeting in June. The EDA's direction was to facilitate the area as primarily a commercial center and to discuss the plan with adjacent property owners. Further updates are expected in September, with construction anticipated for late 2008/2009. Strategy #7: Conduct aCity-wide Market Study to Determine the Locations, Size and Phasing of Additional Industrial Land Inventory There is no new information to report.