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Chapter 6: Economic Development Plan <br />6.1. INTRODUCTION <br />In 2004, the City reorganized its Economic Development Authority (EDA) into a <br />seven member advisory group including the Mayor and one City Council <br />member. As an advisory commission to the City Council, the EDA is responsible <br />for attracting economic growth and development, retaining businesses, and <br />assisting with the expansion of existing businesses within the community. The <br />EDA recommends economic development policies and economic financing <br />incentives to the Council, and works to promote the City. The EDA has prepared <br />this long-range strategic plan for economic development within the City. <br />6.2. PURPOSE <br />The purpose of this plan is to expand and enhance the City's commercial and <br />industrial base. The City's goal is to establish a healthy, thriving business <br />community that will maintain and enhance the City's high quality of life. An <br />expanded business community will provide an expanded tax base, increased <br />local employment, a greater variety of jobs, and a full range of goods and <br />services for its citizens. <br />6.3. BACKGROUND AND BUSINESS CLIMATE <br />Downtown Huao <br />Historically, the City's business community has been concentrated in the <br />downtown area of Hugo. The majority of the City's retail and service businesses <br />are still located in the downtown area. The downtown area contains <br />approximately 145,000 square feet of commercial space occupied by <br />approximately 41 businesses. The retailers include both neighborhood <br />convenience businesses and specialty retailers. There are a variety of <br />automotive uses as well as service businesses in the downtown. Most of the <br />businesses are independently owned local businesses with very few national <br />chains or franchises. Downtown Hugo is also characterized by City Hall, St. <br />John's Church, the American Legion Hall and Hugo Elementary School. <br />Highway 61 <br />Over time, a wide variety of businesses have located along much of the length of <br />Highway 61, particularly north of the downtown area. The majority of the <br />businesses located along Highway 61 remain to this day on private well and <br />septic systems and many are located in metal pole barns on gravel lots and <br />contain uses that require outdoor storage. Uses along the corridor include <br />automotive uses, manufacturing uses, contractor operations, landscaping <br />Chapter 6 1- 6 - <br />Economic Development Plan"�_ <br />HZWIWol <br />