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<br />Item #: 6C <br />Meeting Date: January 18, 2019 <br />Type of Business: EDC <br />City of Mounds View Staff Report <br />To: Economic Development Commission <br />From: Brian Beeman, Assistant City Administrator <br />Item Title/Subject: Update from Commissioner Muckala on New Business Categories to fill <br />vacant space in Mounds View <br /> <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br />As part of the 2018 EDC Priorities the EDC has identified the following goal: “Monitor & explore new <br />business categories through trade groups like Medical Alley and identify available spaces in Mounds <br />View with the intent to fill those vacancies with new companies”. <br /> <br />Discussion <br /> <br />Commissioner Muckala is volunteering some of her time to assist in setting up meetings with industry <br />trade groups like Medical Alley & MN High Tech in cooperation with Business Development Coordinator <br />Brian Beeman. Beeman and Muckala have met to discuss the process and met with Medical Alley April <br />4, 2018 and MN High Tech August 28, 2018. EDC Commissioners are encouraged to provide ideas on <br />other trade groups that staff can meet with to discuss possibilities in locating to Mounds View. If <br />Commissioners have contacts with other trade groups and companies that may be a fit for Mounds <br />View they are encouraged to pass along those contacts Coordinator Beeman who will start compiling a <br />list of contacts and work towards setting up meeting with the industry trade groups. <br /> <br />Muckala has completed a list of potential companies with contacts to Beeman who has been contacting <br />CEO’s, CFO’s, and others in an attempt to inform them of vacancies in Mounds View. The idea is to <br />target young start-up companies in an attempt to get them interested in Mounds View to set up their <br />operations and grow them in the City, to identify feasible locations that are technologically capable, <br />identify office areas, and expandable areas that Mounds View could host and assist in growing the <br />businesses. MN High Tech suggested that the City consider an incentive program for startup <br />companies that can assist in paying leases or help to reduce the costs relating to payment of leases. <br />To date, no business that have been contacted have shown enough interest in Mounds View to set up <br />a meeting. Staff will continue to contact the businesses until the list has been exhausted. <br /> <br />Recommendation <br /> <br />Hear an update from Commissioner Muckala and discuss and offer any suggestions the EDC may <br />have relating to the business industry categories and contacts. <br /> <br />Respectfully submitted, <br /> <br /> ____________________________ <br />Brian Beeman <br />Assistant City Administrator