05-07-1987 EDA MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD AT FIRST NATIONAL BANK ELK RIVER MAY 7. 1987 . Members Present: Chairman Cliff Lundberg (7:15). Vice Chair Jeff Gongoll. Wade Turner. Larry Toth. Carol Mills (7:10). Chamber Representative Jackie Schuelein. Past Chairman Dick Gongoll Members Absent: Lloyd Brutlag. City Representative Pat Klaers Other Economic Development Commission Members Present: Elaine Anderson. Jerry Hagen (7:13) The meeting of the Economic Development Task Force Committee was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Vice Chairman Jeff Gongoll. Vice Chairman Gongoll gave a report on the meeting of the Elk River City Council at which three firms came in to introduce themselves and inform the City Council on what they have to offer as an Economic Development Consultant. Gongoll stated that Mike Mulrooney representing Business Development Service. Inc. was the consensus of the Council to act as Economic Development Consultant with his specialty being marketing. The basic purpose of this meeting was to brainstorm and come up with ideas on duties the Consultant should preform. The Economic Development Commission along with the Chamber of Commerce would like to see a clerical person hired for the Chamber and the duties of this position should also be discussed. . A main concern of the Committee short term basis because of the also raised. "Can we afford companies? " was finances. It was suggested minimal finances available. The to hire this firm for recruiting to look at a question was out of state The business retention surveys that have been done for Elk River were discussed. The Business Survey is expected to be updated some time between July and September. There are currently no plans to update the Labor Survey. The duties the Consultant would be asked to perform include looking at the current surveys and deciding whether or not they need to be modified and how best to use the results. Vice Chairman Gongoll went through a list of questions he had drawn up which he feels should be addressed by the Consultant. This list included questions such as: How do we fund expansion of the Industrial Park? What are available funding services? When should a Economic Development Coordinator position be established? Help in the development of an effective business retention program? How do we plan for future retention of existing businesses and provide for additional future businesses? What kind of budget do we need to establish an Economic Development Coordinator? . The question was then raised. "What are other cities providing?" Elk River's neighboring cities such as Becker and Monticello were then discussed. A number of positive items about Elk River were then pointed out such as railway transportation. location. and access to the metro area.