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Identify Target Business Market <br />Based on the strengths and weaknesses identified for the City, the target business market <br />should be identified. Criteria should be established for desirable businesses, including <br />type of business, size of business, quality of business, type of jobs, types of service. <br />Separate parameters may be established for each market sector including office, retail, <br />industrial and medical. <br />So far, the EDA has discouraged the development of typical large, "big box," style <br />retailers, but has encouraged the development of smaller neighborhood style shopping <br />centers. The EDA has encouraged and has been successful in attracting manufacturing <br />businesses that would create jobs that are desirable for much of Hugo's population. The <br />EDA has also recommended that the City provide locations for many of the small home <br />based businesses that are located in some areas of rural Hugo. Such an area would <br />allow for significant outdoor storage of materials and lesser design standards to <br />encourage the expansion of small businesses within the City. <br />Guide Land Use for Taraet Business Market <br />The Land Use Plan Chapter identifies locations for future industrial, retail, and office <br />development. The land use plan should be used to guide new businesses to suitable <br />land for new business development. Land is identified within the land use plan where <br />businesses are likely to succeed with good access to transportation, utilities, and <br />proximity to the workforce. The City's website is intended to become a resource for <br />potential business owners who may wish to locate on developed property. On the <br />website, available commercial land in the City will be listed, and through the listings, <br />property owners may be contacted about available space for sale or lease. <br />The City should provide areas for office and medical development that are distinct from <br />retail areas. Due to the City's support of life -cycle housing, additional housing options <br />are being provided for the senior population, which in turn is creating a demand for <br />additional medical development. In addition, much of the new single-family residential <br />development in the City is affordable only to those earning higher incomes. Many of the <br />professionals now living in the City are creating a demand for professional office and <br />service space. Identifying specific areas for medical and office development will also <br />preserve prime retail space along high traffic corridors for retail development. The land <br />use plan includes a category for "business park" development that will be well suited for <br />office, medical, and light industrial uses along key transportation corridors. <br />Market the City <br />The City should market its strengths and opportunities to desirable businesses. Simply <br />making the information available to the business community is the first step. The City <br />should begin preparing an annual economic report of activity within the City. A new <br />Economic Development page on the City's website should provide helpful data such as <br />demographic information, community characteristics, information about the City's <br />