HomeMy WebLinkAboutEDAC Meeting Notes 07-28-09
CITY OF PRIOR LAKE
Economic Development Advisory Committee Meeting
Friday, July 28, 2009
Meeting Summary
Present:
Committee Members – Chromy, Presler, Howard, Fleck, Henry, and
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Facente
Council Liaison - Erickson
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Staff – Parr
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1. Approved July 28, 2009 agenda
(6-0).
2. Approved June 5, 2009 meeting summary
(6-0).
3. Consider feedback received from the City Council on July 20, 2009
regarding the EDAC objectives.
Committee member Howard shared the following feedback from the City Council:
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The City Council expects great things from the EDAC.
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The interactions with the City Chamber are key components.
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The City of Prior Lake needs to grow businesses.
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Need some systems in place with concrete ideas.
Councilmember Erickson stated that the organizing phase has ended and now
we need to look to recruit and retain. Erickson asked the questions of where we
go out to try and find businesses.
Chair Chromy added that he like the idea of concrete goals and ideas.
Parr stated that she would look at some actions or goals that the Committee
could incorporate.
4. Discuss Marketing (Related to Recruitment and Retention):
Vice-Chair Howard stated that the EDAC needs a good outline of questions so
that everyone is gathering the same type of information from everyone they meet
with.
Members Henry and Fleck agreed to gather questions and forward to Parr who
will compile the questions and share at a later meeting.
Erickson recommended we ask businesses owners what they like best about
being located in Prior Lake? Ask questions that evoke different kind of
responses, such as “If you use your imagination and could wave your magic
wand, what would you change”? In addition, ask the business owner how they’d
rate Prior Lake on a scale of 1-10.
Parr stated that it would be valuable to get positive information out there
reflecting why Prior Lake is a good place to have a business.
Erickson suggested that EDAC consider having the agenda contain a portion of
time that allows for each committee (Retention and Recruitment) to report on
their progress.
Chromy stated that a priority should be businesses that are looking to expand.
Erickson stated that the EDAC should create a database that compiles when
business leases are due to be up.
Howard stated retention is easier, but recruitment is just as important.
Erickson asked where the Chamber sees their businesses coming from.
Fleck responded that 30% of businesses come from home based businesses.
Howard and Erickson stated that on-line data bases exist (i.e.: Info USA) that are
valuable resources for locating information about businesses, such as # of
employees, revenues, etc.
5. Discussed the need to recruit more EDAC Members.
Erickson stated that the EDAC may want to focus on businesses with CEO’s who
live in Prior Lake.
Chromy stated that more people are needed to be a part of the EDAC.
Members were asked to have possible EDAC candidates contact Parr.
6. Adjourned at 8:35 am (6-0)