2012.03.12 EDA Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF H9G * Page 3 Business Retention and Expansion Program Implementation Continues in 2011 . . .. 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. There were 38 businesses visited in the City and the survey results were evalu- ated by economic development professionals of the University of Minnesota. The four implemen- tation 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 five Business Networking Breakfasts over the past year and a half. 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. The Carpenters Restaurant building was a complete loss due to a fire in January 2010. The antique store building that was adjacent to the restaurant was demolished that same year. This opened up the view to Egg Lake and was necessary to prepare the site for redevelopment. The Ricci's Restaurant building was demolished in 2011. Further south on Highway 61, the old End Zone restaurant building was demolished and the site was cleared. The full report of the survey results can be found on the City's website at www.ci.hugo.mn.us under Business Info. City of Hugo 14669 Fitzgerald Ave N Hugo, MN 55038 www.ci.hugo.mn.us (651) 762-6300