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Community Assets & <br /> Development Department <br /> <br /> MEMORANDUM <br /> <br /> <br />DATE: July 30, 2015 <br /> <br />TO: Economic Development Commission <br /> <br />FROM: Janice Gundlach, Asst. Director of Community Assets & <br />Development/Planning Director <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Business Retention & Expansion Follow-Up <br /> <br />The purpose of the August 5, 2015 meeting is to continue the Commission’s May 6, 2015 <br />discussion of business retention and expansion and start to develop a plan on the topic of <br />business retention and expansion (BR&E). <br /> <br />BR&E Recap from May <br />In May, Brad Sanford with the Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce discussed with <br />the EDC the Chamber’s Grow Minnesota initiative. Based on discussion, not enough <br />was known about New Brighton-area businesses to gauge how well the community is <br />doing in terms of establishing a good reputation in its business community. There <br />seemed to be some interest in getting involved in business visits with the Chamber in an <br />effort to learn more, but the EDC did not make a specific commitment nor formulate a <br />definite approach to participating in the business visits. The EDC also reviewed the <br />informal business survey results from 2008-2009. There was consensus that business <br />visits take place in cooperation with the Chamber (or a similar authority) because <br />business visits under the auspices of the City alone have not proven successful. <br />Businesses were either unwilling to meet (low participation) or if they did agree to a visit <br />they were likely not forthcoming with information because of skepticism regarding the <br />City’s true intent. <br /> <br />The EDC also had an opportunity at the May meeting to review examples of BR&E <br />programs in place with the cities of Roseville and Shoreview. There appeared to be little <br />support for a massive survey or program similar to these examples. <br /> <br />Common BR&E Themes <br />Staff’s review of the BR&E programs of the sample cities established that the programs <br />have common themes, such as: <br /> <br />1) Identify the BR&E goals (build relationships/networking, promote reinvestment, <br />etc.)