EDSR INFORMATION 12-12-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Staff has worked closely with Elk River Meats in regard to project communication. Elk River Meats will be closed for business during the time of anticipated demolition. At the November HRA meeting, the HRA directed staff to explore potential uses for this site after demolition. Staff will be researching this topic and report back the HRA at a future meeting. Elk River Axea Axts Alliance (ERAAA) The ERAAA has relocated to 310 and 314 Jackson place and held their grand opening on December 10`h. The ERAAA indicated this is a temporary location. Region 7W Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CFDS) In 2009, staff and a few EDA, HRA Commissioners and the Mayor participated in public information meetings to develop economic development strategies fox the Region 7W (Stearns, Benton, Wright, Sherburne Counties). The CEDS analyzes the regional economy and serves as a guide for establishing regional goals and objectives, devising and implementing a regional plan of action, and identifying investment priorities and funding sources. A CEDS is required by the US Dept. of Commerce in order to access federal economic development grants for infrastructure, disaster recovery and some stimulus funding programs. The CEDS plan was recently completed and submitted fall 2010. Staff attends periodic meetings to discuss this plan and to learn about potential grants and programs which we may be eligible fox. Branding Implementation The Powered by Nature brand is growing quickly. Numerous businesses and organizations utilize the brand, and staff continues to move forward with brand implementation. Staff created a Powered by Nature blog, and the logo can be seen on city materials including emaIl signatures, business cards, letterhead, agendas, memos, receipts, and more. The City's branding steering committee developed a list of the 23 most high-impact and important goals and assigned a responsible party and timeline fox each. The branding subcommittee is working to branch out by identifying and assembling a Brand Champions Team led and chaired by the private sector with a staff liaison. Social Media Evaluation Staff is working to review, evaluate, coordinate and benchmark city social media presences. This process begins by critically analyzing social media presences to determine audience, voice and consistency. Following the analysis is development of a plan to optimize social media presence by targeting each voice at its audience and maintaining a consistent presence through message automation. Finally, staff is setting benchmarks fox each social media presence and measuring success accordingly. This evaluation is anticipated to be complete early 20]2. Tan Law Earlier this year, a brewer taproom license (otherwise known as the "Surly Bill" and "Minnesota Pint Law" (Subd. 6, Section 340A.101) was approved by the MN Legislature. Included in the annual omnibus liquor bill (HF 1326), this gives production breweries such as Surly, Schell's, Summit, etc. the opportunity to sell pints of beer at their brewery. N:ADepartmennVCommunity DevelopmentAI'.amamic DevelopmentANDA In moecAAgrndaAYeallVll \M1:~eeutirc Dfreao<<epoa 12- 12-17.doc