2012.12.10 EDA Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 3 Business Retention and Expansion Program Implementation Continues in 2012.... The Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) Program commenced in April 2010, but the City continues to implement the action plans from the results of the surveys. The purpose of the pro- gram was to demonstrate support for local businesses, help solve immediate business concerns, increase local businesses' ability to compete in the global economy, establish and implement a strategic plan for economic development, and to build community capacity to sustain growth and development. The full report of the survey results can be found on the City's website at www.ci.hugo.mn.us under Economic Development. The four implementation projects include: 1. Market the City of Hugo The City is working on creating an upgraded EDA section of the City website to market the City. The section will include information that a business would want to know if they were moving to Hugo or interested in Hugo. 2. Create, Coordinate, and Encourage Events The Parks Commission has helped organize the creation of City events that can be beneficial to businesses. The Commission has implemented exciting low cost recreation programs over the past two years that has help build the community. All events and programs can be found on the parks portion of the City's website. 3. Host Business Networking Breakfast Workshops The City of Hugo is partnering with the Hugo Business Association to accomplish this goal and there have been seven Business Networking Breakfasts since 2010. 4. Address Highway 61 Access Issues and Improve Downtown Hugo In the survey results, a main concern of business owners was the amount of blighted buildings in the downtown area. In an effort to help revitalize the downtown area, the City of Hugo worked with property owners to remove several of the blighted buildings in downtown. Hugo Receives BR&E International Award of Excellence! On June 20, 2012 the City of Hugo was presented with the Award of Excellence from Business Re- tention and Expansion International during its annual conference for its 2010 BR&E Program. The awards were judged on the success of the marketing and communications plan, improvements to the business climate, measurable results and outcomes, and the business survey plan. Because of all of the collaboration of the local businesses in the BR&E program, it continues to positively influ- ence local economic development. I City of Hugo 14669 Fitzgerald Ave N Hugo, MN 55038 www.ci.hugo.mn.us (651) 762-6300