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BACKGROUND MEMO FOR THE EDA MEETING OF <br />TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2019 <br />3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES <br />Staff recommends approval of the minutes from the January 15, 2019 EDA meeting as presented. <br />4. UPDATE ON TECHNOLOGY CORRIDOR <br />Over the last few months, staff has been meeting with Washington and Anoka County Economic <br />Development staff, including communities along I -35E, to discuss the possibility of a technology corridor. <br />The group has been working together to discuss how to best market properties in each community for <br />locations for high data users, such as data centers or engineering firms. Chris Eng with the Washington <br />County CDA and Bruce Sayler with Connexus Energy will be updating the EDA on the marketing and <br />developing strategies being implemented towards the future technology corridor. <br />5. DISCUSSION ON BR&E PROGRAM OUTLINE <br />As part of the Hugo EDA Strategic Plan, the EDA has indicated they would like to begin a Business <br />Retention and Expansion (BR&E) program. At its November 2018 meeting, the EDA reviewed options <br />for a BR&E Program. A decision was made to have an informal program with site visits and/or surveys <br />conducted by the Mayor and staff. Intent of the survey was to be short and to ask questions about how the <br />City can help the business. There was also interest from the EDA members to attend site visits. Staff, with <br />help from Chris Eng at Washington County, has put together a general outline of the program and survey <br />questions based on input from the EDA. Staff will provide an update of the outline and survey, including <br />ideas for contacts and business visits. <br />6. KIDZ N' BIZ SPONSOR REQUEST <br />On April 6, 2019, the annual Kidz `N Biz will take place at Oneka Elementary School. This annual event <br />is an opportunity for the HBA and Hugo EDA to directly connect with the Hugo families and children in <br />a PTA carnival atmosphere. This event is expected to attract more than 500 Hugo children and their <br />families and will feature an assortment of games and entertainment presented by Hugo businesses. In <br />previous years the EDA sponsored the event in the amount of $750. The HBA is asking for the EDA to <br />sponsor in that same amount again this year. <br />7. UPDATE ON DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT <br />Staff will provide an update on downtown redevelopment at the meeting. <br />