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Economic Development, Greater MSP, etc. Web-based materials could also include <br />tracking available property, having demographic information easily accessible, or doing a <br />quarterly business spotlight where a New Brighton business is featured on the website. <br />Taking a passive approach by using the website to highlight existing programs could be <br />an appropriate way to ease into BR&E, with spending little to no money (other than staff <br />time), and hopefully starting to hear from local businesses. <br /> <br />Hybrid <br />Staff recently became aware of another approach to BR&E, which hasn’t been presented <br />to the EDC. This is a collaborative arrangement with Open to Business <br />(www.opentobusinessmn.org) who provides economic development services on behalf of <br />municipalities. Open to Business is an organization that evolved from the Metropolitan <br />Consortium of Community Development Directors and they provide a full array of <br />business assistance on the City’s behalf, including start-up and expansion financing, <br />business plan development, and licensing, zoning, regulatory, and financial management <br />assistance. Open to Business provides this on an annual fee-for-service arrangement with <br />the municipality and is an alternative to creating an “in-house” business development <br />programs. Their services are free to the business. Staff has reached out to Open to <br />Business, who indicated they would be willing to discuss their services with the EDC if <br />there is interest. The fee-for-service arrangement is a yearly commitment of <br />approximately $10,000-$12,500. <br /> <br />Ramsey County ARC <br />As staff has mentioned previously, Ramsey County is in the process of establishing a <br />county-wide economic development effort they’ve termed Accelerate Ramsey County <br />(ARC). What staff has learned more recently from other Ramsey County Community <br />Development professionals via ARC is that there is a need to provide BR&E types of <br />services in a cost-effective manner. This need evolved into a discussion about what <br />Hennepin, Anoka, Carver, Dakota, and Scott County have done, which is teamed up with <br />Open to Business. ARC is in its infancy stage and it is unknown what specific programs <br />and initiatives will come out of ARC and the timeline for those programs. In the future, <br />New Brighton’s business community will likely benefit from the work ARC is doing and <br />staff will report to the EDC on all ARC progress. <br /> <br />Staff Recommendation <br />1. Discuss the various active, passive, and hybrid approaches to BR&E as outlined <br />within this memo. <br />2. Staff recommends starting with a passive approach and building web-based materials, <br />including a quarterly “New Brighton Business Spotlight”. <br />3. Staff recommends hearing from Open to Business as this could be a great alternative <br />to costly in-house programs, yet still provides a full-array of economic development <br />assistance to our business community. <br /> <br />Staff looks forward to a good discussion! <br /> <br />Attachments <br />May & August Meeting Memos