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HomeMy WebLinkAbout[07d] Business Retention and Expansion Strategies Il • CITY OF ST. JOSEPH www.cityofstjoseph.com Administrator Date: July 19, 2012 Judy Weyrens Memo To: Members of the EDA Mayor City Administrator Weyrens Rick Schultz Memo From: Joanne Foust & Cynthia Smith - Strack - MDG, Inc. Councilors RE: Business Retention and Expansion Strategies Steve Frank Bob Loso Renee Symanietz Background. Dale Wick At the June EDA meeting, Commissioners discussed completion of a Business Retention and EDA Expansion project internally (versus with an outside agency), coordinating the effort with the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce Board has discussed this and Doug Danielson they are willing to assist in this process. Steve Frank Larry Hosch The on -line survey, available at http: / /www.surveymonkey.com /s /StJosephBRE, has been Tom Skahen updated with the comments from the June EDA meeting as well as comments from a Chamber Dale Wick member. It is now ready to "go live ". A directory with the first 10 businesses has been developed and letters prepared to send to these and the remainder of the businesses, once this has been tested. Action. EDA members are asked to provide a schedule with their availability to meet with businesses, should meetings be requested. • CITY OF ST. J OSEPH ../Kft or, www.cityof stjoseph.com Date Business Address St. Joseph MN 55321 Dear The City of St. Joseph, St. Joseph Economic Development Authority and St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce would like to thank you for being a part of our business community! We value your input on local issues and hope to learn from your experience in the community. The St. Joseph EDA, an advisory group, with council representation, is charged with responsibilities to encourage, retain, attract, and promote residential /business expansion, and enhance employment opportunities within the City. In order to accomplish this mission, we would like your input. The EDA, in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce has prepared a brief Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) survey, which is available to be completed on -line at: http:// www .surveymonkey.com /s /St]osephBRE, (note this is case sensitive). If you prefer to complete a paper copy, please contact City hall a form will be mailed to you. If there are questions you wish not to respond to, please do not disregard the entire survey. Your comments and input is appreciated. Members of the St. Joseph EDA and St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce are happy to arrange a time to meet with you to discuss the information in the attached survey, as well as other topics you may wish to discuss. We request your completion by Friday, August 31, 2012. Information obtained will be used to assist the City, EDA in goal setting, marketing of available sites and hopefully in assisting our existing business base with expansion projects. A summary of the survey's compiled results (without specific ties to individual business responses) will be sent to participants as well as provided to the EDA, Chamber of Commerce and City Council for their information. If you have any questions on the on -line survey or have other items you'd like to discuss please feel free to contact our Economic Development Consultants Cynthia Smith - Strack or Joanne Foust on Wednesdays at the City offices at: 320 - 363 -7201 or alternatively at their office toll free at: 1- 888 - 763 -4462 or via email at: cstrack ©municipaldevelopmentgroup.com or foustmdg(agmail.com, or you may contact any EDA or Chamber Board member. Thank you in advance for your participation and input! On behalf of the City of St. Joseph, St. Joseph Economic Development Authority and St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, Rick Schultz Mayor Dale Wick EDA President Travis Moore Chamber of Commerce President St. Joseph BRE 1. St. Joseph Business Retention Expansion Survey. The City of St. Joseph, its Economic Development Authority (EDA) and the St. Joseph Chamber of Comemrce request business participation in this survey to assist us with (1) identifying and understanding our local business climate, (2) learning about your future business plans, (3) seeking your input on future economic development programs and priorities and (4) allowing us to offer assistance to you. The results of this survey will be reported to the public only in aggregate as percentages or averages. Your individual responses and comments will remain anonymous. If you feel uncomfortable with any question, please skip that question but respond to the remainder of the survey. Your comments /responses will help us better serve our businesses! If you have any questions, please contact EDA Consultant: Joanne Foust at 952 - 758 -7399 or toll free at: 1-888-763-4462 or the City of St. Joseph at: 320 -363- 7201. PLEASE COMPLETE BY FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2012! Thank you for your participation! ---------------------------------------------------------- * Required *2. Company Name *3. Company Mailing Address: *4. Contact Person's Name: 5. Business Phone Number: 6. Email Address: 1 7. Company's web site address: 8. Would you like your company's web site address linked from the City of St. Joseph's on -line business directory? O Yes O No Page St. Joseph BRE *9. Business or Industry Sector: O Retail Business O Service Industry O Manufacturing /Warehouse O Education O Leisure and Hospitality O Government /Public O Non - profit Other (please specify) Please describe your business' products and services: 10. Business Information. Please select the one that best describes your business setting: O Home -based business O Own a commercial space O Lease a commercial space O Own an industrial building O Lease an industrial space Other (please specify) 11. Please describe your business' products and/or services: 12. How many years has your business been located in St. Joseph? O 0 -5 years O 6 -10 years O 11 -15 years O 16 -20 years O 25+ years Page St. Joseph BRE 13. What was your primary reason for locating your business in St. Joseph? O Proximity to home. O Location (proximity to metro) O Affordable land /building O Market need O Quality workforce Other (please specify) 14. What market does your business primarily serve? O Local O State O Regional (5 -State Area) O National O International 15. What are the three (3) most positive aspects of having a business in St. Joseph? Location (proximity to St. Cloud) Transportation Network F - 7 Educational opportunities E Employment base /labor force n Affordable land /buildings n Loyal Customer Base Other (please specify) 16. What are the greatest challenges to operating a business in St. Joseph? n Competition with businesses in St. Cloud and surrounding areas Unstable economy ri Lack of affordable housing for work force ri Mobility of the workforce Other (please specify) Page 3 St. Joseph BRE 17. Community Infrastructure - Please check any /all that you have concerns with: Transportation for commuting employees n Roadways within the city Municipal Water ▪ Electric n Gas (natural) n Broadband Access n Land Availability I -I Building Availability ▪ Sanitary Sewer n Storm Sewer I Fees ▪ Taxes Other (please specify) 18. If you noted a concern on the previous question, please describe in detail so we may assist you. j 19. Sales: Over the past three years have your company's sales: O Increased O Been stable O Decreased 20. Complimentary Businesses. Are there any suppliers or services that you could benefit from by having them located closer to your business? O Yes O No O Uncertain Page St. Joseph BRE 21. Business Recruitment Please list any business (name or type) that you feel would be beneficial and feasible to recruit to St. Joseph. 22. Future Business Plans. Is your current facility adequate for your business in the future? O Yes O No O Uncertain 23. Business Expansion /Relocation. If your current site is not sufficient, please describe why. Also please describe the type and size of facility you would like. 24. Expansion Plans * Do you plan to relocate in the next three years? O Yes O No O Uncertain Page St. Joseph BRE 25. Employment How many full -time equivalent employees currently work at your St. Joseph location and how many employees do you project in three years? Current Employment Projected Employment in 3 years 15 6 -10 n ❑ 11 -20 21 -30 n ❑ 31-40 ❑ 41-50 u ❑ 51 -75 ❑ ❑ 76 -100 ❑ ❑ 101 -200 n n 201 -300 ❑ ❑ 301+ n El 26. Payroll 1 1 What is the total annual estimated payroll of your company in St. Joseph? (optional) O $0 - $100 ,000 per year O $101,000 - $500 per year O $500,001 -$1 million per year O Over $1 million per year 27. Employee Commuting Patterns What percent of your employees live within a 5 -mile radius of St. Joseph? O O 1 -15% O 16 -30% O 31-45% O 46 -60% O 61 -75% O 76 -90% O 91 -100% Page St. Joseph BRE 32. The EDA offeres a low interest loan fund for business expansion projects. The current fund balance is approximately $15,000. Are you interested in receiving information on the program? O Yes O No Other (please specify) 33. The EDA is developing a marketing program. What three words or phrases would you recommend as a part of "branding" St. Joseph? 1. 2. 3. 34. Where do you feel the City's Economic Development Authority should focus its efforts? Please rank the importance of the EDA's efforts on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 the most important. 1 (lowest 10 (highest 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 priority) priority) Downtown Master Planning I n 7 - 0 n n 0 ❑ Complete a Downtown ❑ 0 I LJ 1 1 I I 0 0 Parking Plan Purchase rental houses in Li u I ❑ El E El El downtown and demolish Purchase commercial u ❑ ❑ n ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ n ❑ buildings and prepare sites I for business development or open space or parking �`` Install a water feature in the ri l l l I C 0 ( downtown Install trail /sidwalks and ❑ LI ❑ u I I L] ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ pedestrian amenities to link areas to the downtown Industry/manufacturing ❑ C ❑ ❑ C C ❑ ❑ recruitment Retail /commercial III I I 17 0 I 0 recruitment Retention and expansion of ❑ C n 0 C C n existing businesses Other (please specify) Page St. Joseph BRE 35. Do you have other suggestions to improve the economic climate in St. Joseph? Page 9