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begin in 2016 with development occurring in 2017. He questioned if the EDC was interested in <br />becoming engaged in business retention and expansion efforts. <br />Todd Kruse, President of the Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce, introduced himself to the EDC. <br />He discussed the regional happenings of the Chamber with regard to housing. He noted the Chamber <br />holds over 100 networking opportunities over the course of each year. He was in favor of working <br />jointly with the EDC to engage and grow the business community. He provided further comment on the <br />Grow Minnesota initiative. He encouraged the EDC members to attend the free scheduled Chamber <br />events and to also attend the upcoming August 28th Chamber Board meeting. He discussed how <br />economic growth would lead to increased tax revenues for the City. <br />Commissioner Garcia -Perez questioned how many site visits the Chamber conducted on a monthly <br />basis. Mr. Cruise estimated that 30 site visits were conducted each month. <br />A member didn't understand how the City could create an outreach program that would be effective in <br />keeping businesses in New Brighton. <br />A member believed that the EDC had to create some end goals before it could properly develop BR&E <br />process. <br />Commissioner Garcia -Perez questioned what type of relationship the chamber members had with their <br />own cities. Mr. Kruse discussed the different type of work environments there were throughout the <br />State and how this impacted Chamber and community involvement. He discussed the huge disconnect <br />between jobs and a properly trained workforce. He provided comment on the importance of businesses <br />coming together with the school district to explain their training needs. <br />Chair Zisla inquired if the Chamber believed business retention surveys and visits had value as a City <br />program. Mr. Kruse stated for the general Chamber membership no, but for the City yes, this <br />information could be valuable. He stated the main issue would be what the City did with the data <br />gathered. <br />Commissioner Garcia -Perez was of the opinion that conducting further surveys was not necessary. <br />Commissioner Benke stated the EDC would have to consider what it would do with the research and <br />data collected. He encouraged the City to have a climate with which businesses could approach the City <br />with their needs and concerns. He was in favor of casual contacts between the City and local businesses <br />rather than structured interviews or surveys. <br />Commissioner Murlowski agreed with this assessment stating that he questioned how surveys would <br />benefit the City. <br />A member discussed his recent trip to Meridian, Idaho and how the City has changed over recent years. <br />He saw that New Brighton's issues were not new development but rather proper redevelopment. <br />Commissioner Peck agreed with this assessment and noted there were areas in the City that could be <br />made better. <br />Chair Zisla feared the City does not collectively know what businesses were looking for in order to be <br />properly retained. <br />Lotter discussed numerous ways in which business retention could be defined and addressed by the City. <br />He stated that it may be in the City's best interested to engage with its businesses in order to say that <br />they have tried. He discussed the huge response rate that the City receives from its residents in the <br />