6.1 EDSR 08-15-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Maximize and leverage state,regional and local financial incentives to enhance economic development. • Continue to participate in the Department of Employment and Economic Development's Positively Minnesota Marketing program. • Celebrate and grow our existing businesses by conducting 24 BR&E visits in 2017. • Market the city of Elk River as a destination. Major Changes Direction from the budget workshop included the following changes: Office Supplies Office Supplies were decreased by$2,500 in 2017 due to the purchase of a new office computer and computer software in 2016. Legal Fees Legal fees were decreased by$4,000 for this budget cycle. Other Professional Services The Powered by Nature branding plan has been successfully established and$3,000 has been incorporated into advertising and marketing in 2017. A separate line item for Powered by Nature brochures and promotional items is no longer needed,resulting in a deduction of$2,000. Telephone Cell phone reimbursements were added for 2017. Overall, this is an increase in the overall line item by $650. Conferences and Schools Adjustments were made resulting in a decrease of$10,550 over last year, eliminating National Development Council (NDC) training and travel, Hamline Economic Development Certificate and League of MN Cities trainings for 2017. Staff realized cost savings related to travel in 2016 by attending trainings held in Minneapolis.Attendance at the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) conference will be budgeted for every other year.Additions were made to this line item to include increased conference registration and travel to the annual Site Selector Guild Conference. Advertising and Marketing Additions to Advertising and Marketing in 2017 include advertising production and publication for global and national publications,resulting in an increase of$1,700 over the previous year. A decrease of$1,500 was accounted for in 2017 for direct mailings,which is a direct result of efficiencies made internally by sending email blasts to the local business community. An increase of$1,000 for the purchase of promotional items, an increase of$2,000 for new sponsorships, a reduction of$600 for the Zoom Prospector application on the website, and an increase of$4,950 for attending Trade Shows related to marketing the four targeted industries. Additional line items include Promotion and Awards,Powered by Nature and Holiday Card marketing,resulting in an additional$4,250 budgeted for 2017. The net increase in Advertising and Marketing efforts over the previous year is $7,750 or 10.6 percent.