HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-14 PACKET 04.02.
TO:
Economic Development Authority
FROM:
Matt Wolf, Economic Development Assistant
DATE:
March 7, 2017
RE:
Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) Update
Discussion
Retaining and expanding businesses is a vital part of Economic Development and often is easier
than recruiting new businesses due to their desire to stay or expand in the community. The City
of Cottage Grove began working on their Business Retention and Expansion Program (BR&E) in
July of 2016 contracting with the University of Minnesota Extension to implement the program.
To date the program has established a Leadership Team, a 26 member Task Force and started
interviewing businesses.
The goal of the program is to interview 40 businesses in Cottage Grove. Currently the following
36 businesses have completed an interview or have an interview scheduled:
Date of Interview
Business
11/17/2016
Cottage Grove Eyecare Clinic
12/1/2016
Oasis Chiropractic
12/15/2016
Healing Place of Cottage Grove
Plastic Resource 2/9/2017
Thrivent Financial 2/10/2017
CCE Technologies 2/13/2017
Advance Corporation 2/13/2017
Perkins Restaurant 2/14/2017
Werner Electric 2/14/2017
Acorn Mini Storage 2/15/2017
resortsandlodges.com 2/15/2017
Bieter Eye Center 2/16/2017
Bonngard's Family Meats 2/16/2017
Historic John P. Furber Farm 2/21/2017
Highway 61 Barbers 2/21/2017
Lisa's Fabulous Paws 2/23/2017
Culver's 2/27/2017
Cottage Grove Florist 2/28/2017
LS Power 2/28/2017
3M 3/1/2017
Gerlach Outdoor Power Equipment 3/2/2017
Modern Automotive Performance 3/3/2017
Rivertown Cakes 3/3/2017
Economic Development Authority
December 13, 2016
Page 2 of 2
Innovative Chemical Corporation 3/3/2017
Canvas Health 3/6/2017
Linn Companies 3/9/2017
Tradehome Shoes 3/10/2017
Sportclips 3/14/2017
Verizon 3/15/2017
White Pines 3/15/2017
Hound Around Resort 3/16/2017
Pure Chiropractic 3/20/2017
Metro Dentalcare 3/21/2017
Merchants Bank 3/22/2017
Kok Funeral Home 3/23/2017
Rise Professional 3/23/2017
The majority of the interviews have all had very positive things to say about the community of
Cottage Grove and conducting business in the City of Cottage Grove. Many of the businesses
have spoken highly of how easy it has been working with the City of Cottage Grove, our customer
service attitude towards projects, high quality of infrastructure, great location in regards to our
Business Park and access to quality employees. A few topics that have emerged as “red flag”
issues include access to fiber in our Business Park, landscaping ordinance requirements in our
Business Park, water quality, variety of places to eat and having more hotels and meeting room
space.
A Leadership Team and Task Force meeting will be organized for April to go over the survey
and discuss any “red flag” issues. The University of Minnesota will be compiling the results and
will have a complete report to us by the end of May. After that report is written a Leadership
Team and Task Force Workshop will be established to set key priorities. Finally a
commencement ceremony will be held in the summer of 2017 to announce the priorities and
overall conclusions of the BR&E Program.