CC PACKET 02091988 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES Page 12,July 1987 V. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES • Anchor industries. Industries which fit the region's current strengths and have good growth potential should be identified. Development initiatives and special tools should be tailored to meet the needs of these industries. Three potential target industries are: ✓ Construction supplies and services. One or more in industrial parks could be developed with a material "showroom"or contractor's market. The region is already home to over 100 general contractors and at least 75 specialized builders. A materials showroom or market would no only attract more contractors,but also related businesses(e.g. architect and engineering firms,wholesalers and perhaps some manufacturers.) ✓ Medical technology triangle. Coon Rapids has already begun developing this concept. Its Minnesota Medical Enterprise Park is the first such facility in Minnesota. Other cities in the region could develop similar facilities. For example,as one of the state's leading center for emergency care(including limb reattachment), North Memorial Medical Center creates an excellent environment for any company developing, manufacturing or marketing equipment used in emergency medicine. Similarly, Medtronic, Inc.'s Fridley headquarters could be the basis for attracting related companies. In addition, Medtronic t has"spun-off"at least one-half dozen new companies. Two of which are still located in the northern suburbs. (Two are located in western suburbs. Two are believed to be out of business.) With three medical-related developments(i.e. Coon Rapids, Robbinsdale and Fridley), the region would be well on its way to establishing itself as a national center for medical toch- nology. ✓ Recreational equipment. Minnesotans are major producers and consumers of these pro- ducts. No community has attempted to develop as a center for recreational equipment design,production and marketing. As the gateway to Minnesota's resort country and the north woods, the northern suburbs have a locational advantage for tapping the tourist market and could be natural home for retailers and manufacturers of recreational equipment as well as a research and testing center. For example,there is no third party testing center in the U.S. for outdoor equipment. Manufacturers and some retailers do their own testing. Or, for some products(e.g. fabrics), they can contract with special- ized laboratories. A general test center similar to Underwriters' Laboratory might be a good anchor for attracting equipment manufacturers and marketers. Emphasizing these or other anchor industries will help the region replace its "any collar" image with a distinct identity. This has proved an effective strategy in cities like Indian- apolis where businesses related to amateur and professional atheletics have created hundreds of jobs since the city began promoting "sports"as a means of economic development in the mid-1970s.9 BLAZAR RESEARCH