02-25-2026 Workshop Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Staff Report To: Chair Fischer and Officers of the Little Canada Economic Development Authority From: Ben Harrington, AICP, Community Development Director Date: February 25, 2026 Re: EDA - Economic Baseline Review and Strategic Goal Setting Actions To Be Considered To review Understanding Little Canada’s Local Economy and begin discussion of strategic goals and priorities for the Economic Development Authority. Background At the previous meeting, the EDA discussed its statutory role, powers, and tools available under Minnesota law, including TIF authority, property acquisition, and housing-related financing tools. We also reviewed the Authority’s current budget and standing capacity. As the EDA becomes more active, it is appropriate to establish clearer strategic direction. While the Authority has existed since 1989, it has historically operated on an as-needed basis. Moving forward, intentional goal-setting will help align EDA activity with Council priorities, the Comprehensive Plan, and available staff capacity. The goal of this meeting is to initiate that discussion and for staff to get general direction from the EDA. The Community Development Department has prepared Understanding Little Canada’s Local Economy (Attachment A), a consolidated reference document and report summarizing employment trends, commuting patterns, land use allocation, fiscal productivity, housing structure, and retail performance. The report does not advance specific recommendations. Its purpose is to provide a factual baseline to inform strategic choices. Shoreview’s adopted EDA goals are included as Attachment B for comparative purposes. They are provided as an example of how another community has formalized its priorities, not as a proposed template. Understanding Little Canada’s Local Economy – Key Findings Key findings from the report include: 1. Little Canada operates as a regional employment center with steady long-term job growth. 2. The city is deeply integrated into the metropolitan labor market and functions as a net importer of workers.