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• Issues For Elk River To Address <br /> The final question of the survey asked businesses to identify one issue that the city <br /> should address to improve its business environment. The responses are grouped by issue <br /> and the number of responses for each issue are highlighted in parentheses. <br /> > The city must incorporate the expansion of local businesses into its strategy for <br /> industrial growth. (8) <br /> > The City should continue to work towards further development of an industrial <br /> base(5). <br /> > Better access to main roads from industrial areas is needed.(3) <br /> > The city is doing a good job of promoting business development and should continue <br /> on its present track. (2) <br /> > Lower taxes.(2) <br /> > Address issues surrounding the tight labor market—housing, training, etc... (2) <br /> > Growth increases taxes and creates competition for existing employees. (1) <br /> > The City should develop a clear consensus for community development. (1) <br /> > The community must be more welcoming of newcomers. (1) <br /> > City should not compete with the private sector in the marketplace. (1) <br /> > No comment. (5) <br /> RECOMMENDATIONS <br /> seInterestingly enough, business owners identified many of the same strengths and <br /> weakness that were identified by the EDA in its recent strategic planning session. <br /> Perhaps the primary example is the agreement between the private and public sector <br /> that more attention should be paid to the city's existing industries. As spokespersons for <br /> Elk River to other industries, their growth and satisfaction should be a primary concern <br /> of the community. This issue has been incorporated into the Economic Development <br /> Strategic Plan and implementation of various action steps has already begun. <br /> Several business owners discussed in their interviews the importance of providing areas <br /> zoned light industrial where smaller firms would be able to establish themselves in less <br /> expensive metal structures. This is a point that is not lost on the EDA or staff and which <br /> should be discussed among and between the city's various commissions. <br /> A third issue of great concern to both business and government is the shortage of <br /> available labor. A limited workforce restricts both business, and subsequently, <br /> community growth. Because this issue is not only a factor of a strong economy, but also a <br /> factor of demographics, it is likely to be a problem for many years, even in the event of an <br /> economic downturn. Moreover, no magic bullet exists to solve the problem and both the <br /> public and private sectors will have to work together to develop solutions. Education, <br /> training, housing, and transportation are areas where portions of an overall solution <br /> might lie. <br /> • <br /> 7 <br />