Laserfiche WebLink
Chapter 6: Economic Development Plan <br /> 6.1. INTRODUCTION <br /> In 2004, the City reorganized its Economic Development Authority (EDA) into a <br /> seven member advisory group including the Mayor and one City Council <br /> member. As an advisory commission to the City Council, the EDA is responsible <br /> for attracting economic growth and development, retaining businesses, and <br /> assisting with the expansion of existing businesses within the community. The <br /> EDA recommends economic development policies and economic financing <br /> incentives to the Council, and works to promote the City. The EDA has prepared <br /> this long-range strategic plan for economic development within the City. <br /> 6.2. PURPOSE <br /> The purpose of this plan is to expand and enhance the City's commercial and <br /> industrial base. The City's goal is to establish a healthy, thriving business <br /> community that will maintain and enhance the City's high quality of life. An <br /> expanded business community will provide an expanded tax base, increased <br /> local employment, a greater variety of jobs, and a full range of goods and <br /> services for its citizens. <br /> 6.3. BACKGROUND AND BUSINESS CLIMATE <br /> Downtown Hugo <br /> Historically, the City's business community has been concentrated in the <br /> downtown area of Hugo. The majority of the City's retail and service businesses <br /> are still located in the downtown area. The downtown area contains <br /> approximately 145,000 square feet of commercial space occupied by <br /> approximately 41 businesses. The retailers include both neighborhood <br /> convenience businesses and specialty retailers. There are a variety of <br /> automotive uses as well as service businesses in the downtown. Most of the <br /> businesses are independently owned local businesses with very few national <br /> chains or franchises. Downtown Hugo is also characterized by City Hall, St. <br /> John's Church, the American Legion Hall and Hugo Elementary School. <br /> Highway 61 <br /> Over time, a wide variety of businesses have located along much of the length of <br /> Highway 61, particularly north of the downtown area. The majority of the <br /> businesses located along Highway 61 remain to this day on private well and <br /> septic systems and many are located in metal pole barns on gravel lots and <br /> contain uses that require outdoor storage. Uses along the corridor include <br /> automotive uses, manufacturing uses, contractor operations, landscaping <br /> Chapter 6 6-1 <br /> Economic Development Plan <br /> .,f <br /> ugo <br />