2019.10.02 EDC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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REQUEST FOR COMMISSION CONSIDERATION ITEM DESCRIPTION: Open To Business Updates DEPARTMENT HEAD’S APPROVAL: CITY MANAGER’S APPROVAL: No comments to supplement this report ___ Comments attached ___ Recommendations:  Listen to status report of activities for the first 7 months of 2019, and get updates on the latest happenings with regards to County-wide service  No action needed History:  In 2015, the City entered into a contract to provide Open To Business (OTB) services to New Brighton Businesses and entrepreneurs  In the subsequent three years; 89, 67, and 109 hours of OTB staff time were devoted to helping new or expanding business ventures within the City. Summary:  Staff will be taking a brief opportunity during the meeting on the 2nd to give an update on OTB performance over the first six months of 2019, and will review the pending expansion of services to the entire County and what that will mean for New Brighton.  Over the first seven months of 2019, the City was on pace for its lowest utilization of OTB since the program began in 2016. This is likely a factor service hours provided (bi-monthly office hours rather than monthly office hours), the City focusing on other priorities (finalizing the comprehensive plan and facilitating the review of Midtown Village), and OTB concentrating on the pending County-wide expansion of their services.  Staff is pushing for the new Ramsey County office for OTB to be located in our available office space on the first floor of City Hall. This would bring a bit of revenue into the City, but more importantly would draw aspiring business owners to New Brighton when meeting with OTB staff and ideally make us a potential first-look location for these new enterprises. Agenda Section: VI Item: 3 Report Date: 09/24/19 Commission Meeting Date: 10/02/19