HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.1a Business Inquiry
Business/Development Inquiry
To: Economic Development Authority
From: Gretchen Larson, Economic Development Director
Jaime Mann, Assistant to the City Administrator
Date: June 23, 2022
Activites that have taken place in the community that may have a potential impact on economic
development activity:
Discussion Staff Action
May 10, Meeting with Xcel
Energy
The City Administrator and Economic Development Director
met with Kirstin Sersland, Community Relations Manager with
Xcel, to discuss opportunities to work together. A meet and
greet to introduce Kirstin to the department heads is schedule
for the Wednesday, June 22.
May 20 Chamber Women in Business
May 22-24, ICSC
A comprehensive report from the event which took place in
Las Vegas May 22-24 is included the June EDA packet.
May 25 – Thai Garden
Meeting
Staff met with the contractor for the Thai Garden location to
get an update on their progress and go through required
documents
May 26 – NorthPoint
Appreciation Luncheon
Mayor Bailey and Councilmembers, along with City
Administrator Levitt, and city staff hosted an appreciation
luncheon for Brent Miles, CEO of NorthPoint and his team to
thank them for their investment in the community and for
being such a great partner.
May 26, CG Logistics Park
Groundbreaking
Mayor Bailey and Councilmembers, along with City
Administrator Levitt, and city staff attended the official
groundbreaking for the NorthPoint Development.
June1, Open to Business
Office Hours
Tyler Hilsabeck hosted Open to Business office hours at City
Hall from 9am - noon
June 1, Meeting with SizeUp
Staff met virtually with the team at Washington County CDA
to learn more about their new initiative, SizeUp, which is a
software program that allows businesses or anyone wishing
to open a business, free access to research competitors and
see how they compare in the industry. Businesses can check
annual sales comparison, number of employees, pay, health
benefits and more. We will be featuring the new program in
the second quarter Grow in the Grove newsletter.
June 2, All Commissions
Meeting
Staff and Commissioners attended the All-Commissions
meeting at River Oaks to hear about initiatives in Cottage
Grove, received a construction update, and participated in our
initial phase of parks and recreation master planning.
Economic Development Director Larson and Assistant Mann
staffed booths for economic development and the CGCVB.
June 7, Meeting with
Washington County Mobility
Manager
Economic Development Director Larson and Assistant Mann
met with Barbara Bursack, Mobility Manager for Washington
Co. on their new GoWashingtonMN.com program which
provides transportation assistance to residents in the county.
June 6, Meeting with Thai
Garden
Staff met with the owners of Thai Garden to discuss their
progress and the possibility of amending the purchase
agreement due to a delay in their due diligence period.
June 10, Meeting with
Shepard Farm
Staff met with representatives from Shepard Farm and toured
the facility to learn about current and upcoming programs and
see the progress they have made on the farm.
June 13-17, Meetings Staff worked with Community Development and Finance
Departments to review needed changes to regulations that
address AirBnB. Changes to the city code will be presented
to City Council for consideration.
June 15 Staff responded to six requestors providing information on
land suitable for building multi-family properties. We
anticipate that we will receive official notification that land has
been secured for at least two new projects before the end of
the year.
June 22, Meeting Staff met with representatives from Xcel to discuss projects
and programs of mutual interest including funding for
economic development projects, parks, and greenspaces,
and more. This was also an opportunity for the team at Xcel
to meet staff, strengthen our working relationship and meet
the new community relations manager.