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Business RetentionAnd Expansion Oprouram Kicks Off In Hugo The Hugo Economic Development Authority effect to "demonstrate community support for (EDA) is responsible for economic develop- the local businesses and to maintain and bal- �• `'"fir ment issues concentrating on three areas: keep- ance the strong relationship between the City ing businesses in the and its businesses," community, helping comments Simone. existing businesses She adds, "We want Team members that want to expand ea.�`', ., to make sure the busi- F and attracting new nesses know that will spend six businesses to Hugo. ,} we're here if they need The EDA continues to = ` - something, and we to eight weeks act on these goals with Y- want to be ready when conducting site the establishment of a they do." local Business Reten- visits and com- tion and Expansion r The fact-gathering (BR&E)Program,de- _v portion of the Program plating compre. signed to discover the , will be completed by needs of local busi- the end of November, hensive surveys nesses and determine with surveys sent to with area busl- whether they are be- the University of Min ing met. "We essen- nesota Extension be- nesses. ially want to find out if business owners are fore the end of 2009 and a final report expected getting what they need to successfully run their in January 2010. According to Simone, "The businesses in the City," explains Hugo Associ- U of M will then analyze everything. They'll ate Planner Rachel Simone. tell us what the City is doing well, and they'll tell us what Hugo business owners say they still The BR&E Program got underway in early Oc- need from us. Based on these findings they will tober with the training of leadership and task also provide strategic implementation plans for force teams whose members represent a wide the next three to five years." range of disciplines—from economic develop- ment and education to business owners and City staff. These team members will spend six to eight weeks conducting site visits and complet- Improvements: From Pagel ing comprehensive surveys with area business- es. Survey questions focus on topics such as Project, but the City of Hugo is leading the labor force and customers,community factors, construction," notes Kennedy. "For example, telecommunications and technical assistance. the City is hiring the contractors." In addition to funding from MNDOT, Wilson Tool is also The goal is to have 60 completed surveys;how- a contributor to funding the traffic signal at the ever,every business in Hugo will receive a let- 130th Street intersection. ter inviting them to participate. "We randomly picked 60 businesses that will receive the sur- These projects will take several months to vey and have a site visit," notes Simone, "but complete, but no major detours are expected. any business that wants a site visit will deft- "There will be challenges. Drivers will need to iitely get one." proceed slowly through construction areas, but we don't expect to be shutting down any roads," Working with the University of Minnesota Ex- notes Kennedy. Both projects are scheduled for tension, the BR&E Program is being put into completion before the end of 2010.