3.0. EDSR 05-18-2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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■ Geothermal Heat Pump Rebate Application ■ Lighting Retrofit Rebate Application ■ New Construction Lighting Rebate Application ■ PTAC,Mini-Split Water Source HP Rebate Application ■ Rooftop, Split System,ASHP Economizer Rebate Application ■ VFD and ASD Drives Rebate Application At their January 22, 2019, meeting,the EDA approved the Economic Development Energy Incentive program. The program allows the city to waive the applicable PILOT for an approved applicant and redirect that amount as a credit distributed through the applicant's monthly ERMU electric service bill for up to two years. The Energy Efficiency Improvements Loan is available to property owners of commercial or industrial buildings in Elk River to provide low interest loans to businesses to invest in energy efficiency and improve their profitability through reduced energy costs. In addition,the microloan program helps the city of Elk River use energy conservation as an economic development tool. Applicants may apply for the cost of improvements up to $74,999 Do these current rebate programs offered by ERMU and the EDA meet the needs of the business community?Are there additional energy related rebates that the EDA is willing to consider? Concern#9: Can there be a proactive approacb to business development such as educating builders, contractors, on,,ners before a project is submitted? Staff meets with pre-applicants to discuss new projects, or developments. This is an informal meeting with staff to address the concerns and questions an applicant has prior to submitting an application for formal review. Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) visits conducted by staff from economic development, planning, environmental and engineering. It is at these meetings that we learn if a business is seeking to expand,which gives us an opportunity to educate owners on the process. Concern#9: Communications regarding process requirements for Building permits, Codes, Loan programs and Ordinances needs to be timely, consistent, clear, transparent, and communicated upfront, before excessive money is spent. Staff met with Minneapolis planners regarding their Small Business Navigator Office. They redeployed three staff people within the city development agency to the Small Business Navigator Office. The core function of this department is to establish a phone number, e-mail, and a website for people to call and ask questions on starting a business in the city. Their website, the Minneapolis Business Portal provides entrepreneurs and business owners with valuable information and resources to plan,launch, and grow a business The City of Minneapolis also features a Business Technical Assistance program. The Business Technical Assistance Program or B-TAP program was created to provide consulting support to businesses located in the City of Minneapolis.