2011 Business of the Year Nominations 

The Business of the Year Award has been held for the past 22 years in the City of Ramsey.  This award is presented each year during the summer at the Ramsey Business Appreciation Event.  The winning business receives recognition at the event, a plaque, and a banner. Nominations have been gathered from attendees to the 2011 Business Expo,  from businesses and commissioners, and from past nominations. The EDA Commissioners are asked to consider the following criteria when identifying and selecting a Business of the Year:  Has the recipient 1) Expanded or retained jobs that enhance the employment base of the community. 2) Created tax base through a new commercial/industrial business venture or the retention/expansion of an existing business. 3) Acted as a positive influence to the community, such as volunteered or participated in activities that build the community. 4) Developed an innovative business model or an innovative product/service; Or has brought other benefits to the community.

City staff is requesting that the EDA determine which business should be recognized as with the 2011 Business of the Year award at the upcoming Business Appreciation event on August 16, 2011.  As an aid in the process, there are two attachments.  The first is the list of previous award recipients.  The second attachment is the Top Ten list of nominees that the Economic Development/Marketing Manager has put together reflecting input from various parties.  The attached matrix of the nominees ranks the businesses based on the level of job creation and retention (this includes the number, quality, and immediacy of the jobs), added tax base (reflecting investments in buildings, equipment, and land), local participation (being a positive influence on the business community and active in the community at large), and innovative products/services or other unique qualities.

The current number of employees and the capital investment in buildings, equipment, and land are shown in the left column. The matrix ranks the nominees in terms of job creation/retention and added tax base.  The Commissioners are asked to rank the nominees in terms of local participation and if they bring other benefits to the community.  The EDA members may change the rankings in the first two columns and may also choose to add businesses to the nominee list.

The funding source for the plaque and banner is the EDA levy. 

To select a nominee to be recognized as the Business of the Year at the Business Appreciation event on August 16, 2011. 

Motion to award _____________ as the 2011 Business of the Year, to induct said business into the Economic Development Hall of Fame, and to purchase a banner and plaque for the recipient.