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-2- 2. POLICIES FOR COORDINATING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT • POLICY G. Encourage Coordination of Economic Development in the Region. The policy provides that the council make available regional economic data, land use employment, business and labor force information. COMMENT: This policy is supported. The council currently is involved in gathering and diseminating much of this data: In its planning and review role it has .the ability to package. and comment on those issues beyond merely physical development and should do so. POLICY H. Sponsor Research, Task Force and Forums Focusing on Regional Economic Issues. COMMENT: The tasks as outlined in this policy are appropriate for the council's statutory planning role. However, caution should be-used to not re-invent the wheel. Research and Forums should be in conjunction with and not overlaping activities being accomplished already by state and other private organizations as mentioned in the supporting data. POLICY I. Education and Retraining. COMMENT' To the extent that the council carries out research as to who may be doing what and synthesizes data on employment needs based on other policy tasks and reports this information; this policy is supported. However, if the intent is to become ultimately involved in establishing or operating training programs in the metropolitan area, the policy is strongly opposed. The state is acute• aware of training and retraining needs. They are involved' and committed to this area. It is more appropriately handled by the state and the states educational facilities. POLICY J. Monitor Economic Development and Measure Government Porgram Impacts. COMMENT: This policy is appropriate for the 1etropolitan Council Planning role. 3. BUSINESS FINANCING POLICY POLICY K. Encourage expanded use of financing programs in communities that desi:- council involement. This policy provides for council implementation of financin• programs to make capital available to primarily small businesses. Two programs, an SBA 503 corporation and issuance of Industrial Development Revenue Bonds, are proposed. The council states that initially it intends to examine these program:: but will implement them at a future time if needed. COMMENT: This policy is strongly opposed for the following reasons: a) Need. The need for council .involvementin sponsoring either of these programs has not been shown.. The basis for 503 is that only 3 cities have one, several outstate regions have or are applying for one, and 100 of 600 regions in 'the� nation have SBA 503 programs. The State of Minnesota currently has a 503 program in place that can be utilized by any city. Cities may in fact apply for- 503 if they have a need or desire.- The council to this da� has not indicated that any city or developer has requested or suggested a need for a council program. Finally, at some point in the future the council could find itself in an uncomfortable position of being in the middle: of competition between two or more cities over a particular project. The ba •'.