5.0 EDSR 03-12-2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Memo February 2, 2007 To: City Economic Development Authorities in Sherburne County City Council Members From: Brian Bensen, Sherburne County Administrator Re: County Board consideration of a County EDA CC: County Commissioners Kathleen Heaney, County Attorney Greetings. Over the past 2 years Sherburne County has been studying our Economic Development needs. The result was an Economic Development Strategic Plan that provides a road map for our continuing efforts. A major thrust of our Economic Development Plan is to provide assistance to local governments in a way that compliments rather than competes with local efforts. Coupled with another goal to preserve an available supply of industrial land for the future, the County Board is studying how to proceed. The County Board, following the requirements laid out in Minnesota Statutes 469.1082, Sub 2, appointed the Economic Development Structure Taskforce. The takforce was defined as a committee "to recommend a County Economic Development Service Provider" in the County Board resolution dated April 11, 2006. (A copy is included in the materials.) The Taskforce members appointed included citizens, local EDA and HRA members, City Council and City EDA staff members, town board members, County Board and County HRA members, Sherburne County Economic Development Alliance members, and business/industry representation. The Taskforce met over the summer to review the history of the County's economic development efforts, study the current County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, the cities and their governance, and finally different options which the County could implement. The Taskforce recommended to the County Board the creation of a County Economic Development Authority (EDA) to work in cooperation with the cities. I am now meeting with the cities EDA's and Councils to inform you of the process and the recommendation which will go to the County Board. I will ask your EDA and City Council for a resolution of support to be forwarded to the County Board of Commissioners.