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4 <br />Memo To: Hugo EDA <br />From: Barbara Dacy, Executive Director <br />Melissa Taphorn, Deputy Executive Director <br />Date: January26, 2016 <br />RE: Proposed Legislation to Add Economic Development <br />Powers to Washington County HRA <br />The Washington County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) has drafted legislation to <br />amend its enabling law to add economic development powers and requests that the Hugo EDA <br />support a proposed bill (Attachment A) to be introduced during the 2016 legislative session. The <br />proposed bill to empower the HRA to undertake economic development activities has been <br />identified as part of the 2016 legislative agendas for both Washington County and Washington <br />County HRA. <br />Background <br />In 2014, Washington County developed an Economic Development Strategic Plan with the help <br />of a work group consisting of city economic development practitioners and community <br />representatives. The Plan defines the County's role in economic development, establishes <br />guiding policy principles, and identifies specific strategies and goals. In 2015, the County Board <br />determined the Washington County HRA to be the best organizational structure to be responsible <br />for county -wide economic development activities. The Board recommended further that the <br />agency should be renamed to the Washington County Community Development Agency (CDA) to <br />reflect the full scope of responsibilities. <br />Implementina the Washington County Economic Development Strategic Plan <br />Guiding Principles <br />It is envisioned that the Washington County CDA will fill a vital role in coordinating county -level <br />economic development activities and will support communities in the county in working towards <br />their individual economic development goals. The Washington County CDA will also act as the <br />contact with Greater MSP, while promoting and providing access to federal, state, regional, and <br />local economic development programs. The Washington County CDA would adhere to the <br />following economic development guiding principles identified in the Strategic Plan: <br />• The private sector is the lead that drives the economy. <br />4 The county will not duplicate or replace the work of cities and other public agencies. <br />• The County supports a strong collaborative approach to economic development. <br />Business attraction and business retention are essential policy objectives. <br />• The diversity of the County requires an adaptable and open-minded approach. <br />• A deliberate, purposeful and strategic plan is required. <br />fax 651.458.1G96 1 tel. 651.458.0936 i wwwvvchra.com 1 7645 Currell Boulevard I Woodbury, IMI 55125 <br />