Laserfiche WebLink
Minnesota School of Business- Elk River Campus <br /> Staff met with MSB Business Program Chair to discuss potential service learning projects between Elk <br /> River MSB students and small businesses. MSB Business instructors work with their students and small <br /> business owners to assist in the creation of business plans,financial analyses, etc. This is a great tool to <br /> add to our business finance tool-kit. Staff has provided the MSB resource to several local businesses. <br /> Additionally,there maybe an opportunity for staff to partner with MSB students in the creation of the <br /> housing intern posting. <br /> Powered by Nature Community Brand <br /> The Powered byNature brand was featured at the August 9`''and 10±International Economic <br /> Development Council Marketing and Attraction Training Class. Elk River's progress implementing the <br /> brand impressed IEDC instructor Linda DiMario who decided to use Elk River as an example of a <br /> community that"has taken control of their"ground game" to build momentum for their community <br /> identity". <br /> Staff was approached by the City of Clearwater to discuss the success of Elk River's Powered by Nature <br /> Community brand. The City of Clearwater plans on beginning the branding process,utilizing Elk River's <br /> process as their model. <br /> Downtown River's Edge Business Association <br /> The Downtown River's Edge Business Association was formed in 1982 to enhance downtown Elk <br /> River's image and promote the retail, service,restaurant and professional businesses. The association is <br /> comprised of several area business owners and meets monthly to discuss upcoming events,promotional <br /> opportunities and other miscellaneous issues which will ultimately strengthen and inspire people to visit <br /> downtown. Membership fees go towards downtown advertising,the Art Crawl,the annual Halloween <br /> event,Santa in the Park,flowers for the downtown planters and Chamber of Commerce Dues. City staff <br /> attends the monthly meetings to support continued communication between the city and downtown <br /> business owners and is working with the group on the creation of a new business directory. <br /> The business association maintains a website (www.erriversedge.com) and Facebook page (Elk River <br /> Downtown River's Edge) in efforts to promote the downtown. Staff invited members of the Downtown <br /> River's Edge Business Association group to provide information to the HRA regarding their marketing <br /> initiatives,upcoming events and the impacts they've seen from Granite Shores,the Farmer's Market and <br /> the completion of Main Street Parking Plaza at their October 1 meeting. Additional information is <br /> attached. <br /> Initiative Foundation <br /> The Initiative Foundation awarded a grant to the Economic Development Authority in the amount of <br /> $1,150 for tuition for the Assistant Director to attend a National Development Council finance course in <br /> October. The finance course will focus on credit analysis,fixed asset financing, real estate finance,and <br /> economic development finance programs. This is the second course of a four course program in the <br /> Economic Development Finance Professional Certification. <br /> ATTACHMENTS <br /> • IEDC Press Release <br /> N:\Departments\Community Development\Economic Development\EDA to move\Agenda\Year2012\10-8-12 EDA Agenda\Executive Director <br /> update 10-8-12.doc.docx <br />