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11/15/2022 <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />Goals/Action Steps/Deliverables <br />1. Develop strong relationships with existing businesses and explore options for a Business <br />Retention and Expansion (B,R&E) Program. <br /> <br />Action Step: City and Washington County CDA staff will research and explore options for a <br />business retention and expansion visitation program. Staff will: 1) work to create a list for <br />possible businesses to visit, 2) develop and recommend a proposed program structure including <br />timing, 3) create a draft business survey and 4) discuss the potential interview process and <br />overall program operations including reporting the survey results. Recommendations will be <br />brought to the EDA for consideration, input and discussion. <br />Deliverables: Staff will be providing potential program options to EDA for discussion and <br />consideration. This began in the fourth quarter of 2021, continued in 2022 and is expected to <br />continue into 2023 as well. <br />2. Develop data (including talent availability, business types, demographic data) <br />Action Step: City staff with assistance from Washington County CDA staff and DEED will <br />provide community demographic information (including but not limited to: talent availability, <br />business types, community profile, demographic data). <br />Action Step: Washington County CDA will hire a consultant in 2023 to undertake a labor <br />market study throughout the county. Lake Elmo will be included in the middle region plan. <br />Once completed, results will be reported back to the EDA Board. <br />Action Step: City staff with assistance from the Washington County CDA will explore options <br />to obtain resident input through a survey and then report back to the EDA Board. <br />Deliverables: The labor market study and demographic/data study update will begin in 2023 or <br />sooner contingent on available funding. <br />3. Increase the number of commercial and industrial businesses <br />Action Step: City staff with the assistance of CDA staff will explore opportunities to attract <br />new businesses into the city. Updates to the EDA may include maintaining a list and periodic <br />reports of commercial and industrial projects that are in the planning process, under construction <br />and recently completed. <br />Action Step: City staff will showcase more economic development stories and business updates <br />on the EDA website the CDA’s website as well as in the City’s Newsletter. <br />