Laserfiche WebLink
Executive Summary 2 <br />1. Executive Summary <br />In December 2006, the Anoka County Board of Commissioners appointed an <br />11- member Economic Development Exploratory Committee to review current <br />economic development, housing and community development programs in the <br />County, to identify gaps in the level of existing services provided, to assess the <br />capacity of existing agencies to expand their services to fulfill these needs, and <br />to formulate a recommendation on the need for a County economic <br />development organization. <br />The committee completed an inventory and gap analysis based on information <br />collected through community surveys and other available background material, <br />studied the four statutory organizational options available for County <br />involvement in economic development, and issues this report and its <br />recommendations in accordance with Minnesota Statutes Section 469.1082. <br />Findings made by the committee include: <br />1. Anoka County is forecast to experience continuing growth through <br />2030. <br />2. Three distinct development patterns exist in Anoka County: fully <br />developed areas, developing areas and rural areas. More than one <br />development pattern may exist in a single community. <br />3. 10 of the 21 Anoka County communities surveyed have a city <br />Economic Development Authority (EDA). <br />4. Tax base growth and job creation are major themes that emerged from <br />the committee's review of responses to the Local Government <br />Inventory Questionnaire. <br />5. Transportation improvements and major development projects top the <br />list of major economic development goals which Anoka County <br />communities hope will make headlines in the next 10 years. <br />6. Staffing and funding are the most frequently cited challenges to <br />economic development encountered by Anoka County communities. <br />Nine gaps in the level of economic development services were identified: <br />1. Ability to buy property with the change in eminent domain laws. <br />2. Limited financial resources dedicated to economic development <br />activities. <br />Report of the Anoka County Economic Development Exploratory Committee <br />