5.15. SR 06-03-1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

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For the past five years, Mr. Dowd has served as Community Development Specialist/Associate Planner with the City of Mankato reporting to the Community Development Director. In this position he supervises a total staff of 11, five of whom are graduate interns that serve for two years while finishing their degrees at Mankato State or other local universities. Mr. Dowd is responsible for staffing the Eastwood Industrial Center Development Corporation, conducting feasibility studies for companies seeking to locate in the community, negotiating property site acquisitions, conducting transit studies dealing with housing issues, and administering the City's business retention and growth program. He was responsible for and currently manages the City's incubator program. The City provides funding, training, subsidized rent, and central equipment and office support. They also sponsor workshops for individuals attempting to develop their business. He is extensively involved with business retention programs, primarily with face-to-face contacts and an annual business blitz. He makes an effort to visit every industrial owner annually and serves on the Advisory Board of the school business program. Downtown development efforts have included the acquisition and sale of all properties, involvement in the planning and visioning process, and the interim management of a semi- vacant mall which will soon be the home of the Mankato City Hall facilities. He has been involved in marketing programs including a Webb Page on the internet for the City of Mankato, working with the Valley Industrial Development Corporation, and serves on the Katoland Partnership. He is responsible for monitoring 21 TIF districts, is very familiar with individuals at DTED and has been successful in obtaining at least one grant per year for business expansions. He serves on an Advisory Board for the Initiative Fund and has written a number of grants. He uses a consultant for grant applications. He meets regularly with local bankers and leverages City money to do partnerships with local banks. He is involved in planning and zoning issues since it is part of the Community Development Department. Interns are responsible for completing planning and zoning reports. Currently, the City is building a Geographic Information System and Mr. Dowd is coordinating this project due to his strong computer background. He regularly attends City Council meetings and staffs the Real Estate Committee of the City Council. He is responsible for working with all departments including Public Works, Transit, and Planning and Zoning. Mr. Dowd is familiar with the strategic planning process, having facilitated a tri-city effort resulting in joint purchasing and street bidding materials. He was involved with the Cites of Elysian, Waterville, and Madison. He is active in regional and state affairs, speaks at NAHRO conferences, is on the Education Committee of EDAM, and regularly speaks on the visioning process. He is a participant in the Humphrey Institute Fellows Program which is a nine month executive leadership program. Mr. Dowd feels the Elk River position would be a good career move and he would like to get closer to the metro area. He learned about the opening on the internet and requested a copy of the Profile.