HomeMy WebLinkAbout[06b] Business Development Report • •f CITY OF ST. J OSEPH
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Administrator Date: April 17, 2013
Judy Weyrens Memo To: Members of the EDA
Mayor City Administrator Weyrens
Rick Schultz Memo From: Cynthia Smith-Strack - MDG, Inc.
Councilors RE: Business Development Report
Steve Frank
Bob Loso Following are updates on Business Development Projects over the past month:
Renee Symanietz
Dale Wick
• Groundbreaking held for U.S. Army Reserve Center.
EDA
Doug Danielson • GRE officially approved financing for biotech firm provided SBA participates.
Steve Frank
Larry Hosch • Website"find a business" page updated, now lists 115 local businesses (home
Gary Osberg
occupations not listed as of this time).
Dale Wick
• Farmer's Market move to Downtown. I met with Xcel Energy Sr. Designer Rod Bemis to
review various scenarios for access to electric. We discussed four specific locations:
1. Minnesota Street from College Ave west to 1st Avenue NW. A drop already
exists near the Church, presumably used for 4th of July events. Under this
scenario we could look at using Mn. Street for the market. This section to be
turned back to City by end of year.
2. Ash Street from College west to 1st Ave NW. There is power on the north side
of Ash Street. If we were to use Ash and the City parking lot we would need to
hire an electrician and install a pole, meter, breaker, and power access. Drop
from Xcel at no cost.
3. 1st Avenue near former City Hall. Power pole access present. Would need to
add meter, breaker and access.
4. 1st Avenue at the intersection with Minnesota Street West. Power poles existing
on south side of street(CSB or monastery property), would need permission
and to add meter, breaker, and power access. Under this scenario the market
would be held at or in the vicinity of 1st Ave NW and Mn. Street.
• New business interested in locating in an industrial zone is continuing to progress.
Patience needed.
• Sewer capacity study for main adjacent to Mn. Street underway. Gut feeling is there is
some capacity to serve Gateway area. I spoke with Brett Repulski from USDA who
confirmed the USDA did convert to 2010 Census on April 1St The effect of this move
means City not eligible for USDA grant for utility extension to Gateway area due to
median wage being nearly$60K. Spoke with Bradley Brzezinski from DEED regarding
an update on funding sources in current budget(being negotiated) and meeting with the
EDA regarding a financing package for the Gateway development. Brzezinski will
attend a future EDA meeting.
• Council representatives and Township Officials met on April 16th regarding status of the
Orderly Annexation Agreement and how it relates to annexing new CSAH 2 and
turnback of the former CSAH 2 from the County to the City. The group has agreed to
meet again in hopes of more clearly defining what may/may not be annexed. This is a
time for Gateway/Walz to move forward as they indicated they would in November and
petition for annexation.
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