Business Retention Program, Review of 2012 Report

As part of the EDA 2012 workplan, implementing a business retention and expansion program was identified as a priority.

Purpose of Case: present the 2012 Ramsey Business Retention and Expansion Program Executive Report to the EDA.





 

See attached executive report for details.  Also attached is the Ramsey Business Retention and Expansion Program master list; which outlines which businesses have been visited in 2012 and which businesses will be visited in 2013.
 
As a result of this process, moving forward, Staff plans to take the following action steps:

1. Send a unified branded response to all visited businesses. 
NOTE: all businesses have been individually contacted since their original business visit; and we have responded to all individual inquiries.  However, after receiving EDA and Council input, Staff proposes summarizing responses and sending a letter with a signature from the EDA Chair and Mayor to each participating business.  Said letter will attempt to address unified concerns businesses made during business visits.

2. Update survey to include minimum questions from a statewide business retention and expansion program (details will be provided in meeting).  Also, include a question specifically asking what is Ramsey doing right.

Regular job duties of City Staff.

Provide staff with:

1. General comments
2. Suggestions for improvement
3. Recommendations to carry forward to the City Council
4. Direct Staff on when to begin "phase two" of the Business Retention and Expansion Program visits

Provide staff with:

1. General comments
2. Suggestions for improvement
3. Recommendations to carry forward to the City Council
4. Direct Staff on when to begin "phase two" of the Business Retention and Expansion Program visits