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<br />Request for Action <br /> <br /> <br />To Item Number <br />Economic Development Authority 6.2 <br />Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by <br />General Business October 16, 2017 Amanda Othoudt, EDD <br />Item Description Reviewed by <br />Director’s Report Cal Portner, City Administrator <br />Reviewed by <br /> <br /> <br />Action Requested <br />Information presented for discussion only in effort to keep the EDA updated on development activity. <br /> <br />Background/Discussion <br />BUSINESS VISITS <br />Fourteen BR&E visits have been completed this year. Seven more retention visits are scheduled with <br />Sammy’s Pizza, Big Tex Trailer World, Morrell Oversized, The Occasional Fling, Collyard Chiropractic, <br />Water Laboratories and Die Concepts, Inc. Watch for the emails and please RSVP to let us know if you <br />are able to attend. <br /> <br />GATR Trucking <br />Amanda, Colleen and Larry Toth met with Mike Parent of GATR Trucking for a business retention / <br />expansion visit this week. GATR Trucking employs 9 FT people. They are looking to hire 25 more <br />people in the next 2 years, specifically Diesel Mechanics and Detailers. They have inquired about the <br />Twin Lakes Road connection and asked when it is planned to be constructed. At the meeting Mike <br />suggested that Twin Lakes Road should be widened to a four lane to accommodate the wide turn radius <br />of their trucks. Overall, Mike indicated that the city was great to work with during the construction of <br />their project. <br /> <br />Gradient Technology <br />Amanda and Colleen joined the Mayor, Debbi Rydberg, and Congressman Tom Emmer on a tour of <br />Gradient Technology. Gradient invited the Congressman and local leaders to discuss the innovative <br />solutions provided for the US Department of Defense by Gradient Technology. The meeting was an <br />opportunity for the Congressman to meet with Gradient’s leadership about the services it provides to the <br />U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command, U.S. Army Crane Army Ammunition Activity, U.S. Army <br />Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force and various <br />prime contractors. <br /> <br />BUISINESS INQUIRES <br />I have fielded a few inquiries over the past months for new industrial development. Staff continues to <br />work with two local companies seeking to expand in Elk River. I have also received two inquiries about <br />opening a brew pub and opening a tap house in Elk River. They were very interested in our Revolving <br />Loan Fund program and had were enlightened to hear that the city of Elk River recently modified their <br />city ordinances to make it easier for Brew Pubs and Tap Rooms to locate in the community. <br /> <br /> <br />