Chisago County HRA - EDA
38883  7th Avenue
P.O. Box 410
North Branch, Minnesota 55056
(651) 674-5664
FAX (651) 674-2996

Contact Us

2007 Draft Work Plan


2005 HRA-EDA Board:

Jim Ertz, Chair, 5th District
Jim Stein, Vice Chair, 2nd District 

Greg Berg, 1st District

Dean Perry, 3rd District
Dave Boniface, 4th District
Mike Robinson,  County Board Rep.
Lynn Schultz, Alt. County Board Rep.
 
Mark Zaruba
Martin English
John Silver
Bob VandeKamp
Dennis Coryell
Tom Greig
John McQuaid
Dorothy Person
Phil Leier
Ralph Olmschenk

Christopher Eng, Executive Director

Deborah Johnson, Office Admin. & Program Manager
contact us

 


ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DRAFT WORK PLAN FOR 2007

 

The HRA-EDA will work to retain and strengthen our existing businesses.  To accomplish this objective, the HRA-EDA will:

Identify and explore workforce development and training opportunities to enhance our existing businesses.

Continue the Workforce Development Partnership with the Chisago County Health and Human Services Workforce and Economic Development Coordinator to gain a competitive edge in attracting new businesses and enhancing existing business within the county.

Work with existing businesses on expansion opportunities.

Work with the State Legislature to level the playing field with Wisconsin including the creation of a Border Cities Development Zone.

Implement the Chisago County’s Business Retention and Enhancement Program.  Create a database of current businesses including employment information and a tracking system to track potential expansion opportunities.

Explore opportunities to create a business network for manufacturing and service companies.

Review Business Subsidy Policy and Tax Abatement Policies to determine if they need to be updated.

The HRA-EDA will work to expand the commercial/industrial tax base in Chisago County to reduce the tax burden for all residential taxpayers in the County.  Specifically, the HRA-EDA will:

Hold Economic Development Summit.

            Market Chisago County to recruit new businesses into the county by targeting and soliciting specific businesses that will compliment and strengthen our existing companies.

Market Chisago County to new businesses as a great place to live, work and do business through advertisements including: Chisago County HRA-EDA website, Positively Minnesota publications, DEED website, MN Real Estate Journal, etc.

Build relationships with builders, realtors, developers and site selection brokers to encourage them to consider Chisago County for new business development opportunities.

Work with communities to provide TIF/Tax Abatement assistance to finance infrastructure improvements and offer business incentives to develop existing business parks.

Work with cities/townships in the county to identify, protect and acquire land that is suitable for commercial and industrial development.

Educate city administrators and EDA members about business financing programs and land incentives.

The HRA-EDA will assist businesses who will create new jobs, retain existing jobs and increase wages for residents in the county.  To accomplish this, the HRA-EDA will:

            Work with existing businesses on expansion opportunities through low interest loans and tax incentives with an emphasis on new recruiting and retaining high-tech, high-wage paying jobs in the county.

            Identify specific workforce skills and knowledge that our ‘out-commuters’ have who are leaving our area for jobs in the twin cities every day and recruit specific businesses that can create jobs to keep these commuters from having to drive out of the county to work each day.

Create a countywide technology revolving loan fund.

            Identify areas for a business technology campus that focuses on high-tech businesses.

            Development of standardized forms/templates to provide city/county information.
 


Housing/Community Development
2007 Draft Work Plan


The HRA-EDA will work to promote and maintain a high quality of life in Chisago County.  To do this, the HRA-EDA will:

Develop and sell affordable senior town homes in the City of Rush City.

Administer the City of Taylors Falls Small Cities Development Program for downtown revitalization.

Assist communities to maintain the availability of affordable rental housing in the county for seniors and families.

Complete the acquisition of Rush Estates I and II Senior Apartments in Rush City and explore the opportunity to acquire Pinewood Senior Apartments in Harris.

Explore opportunities to apply for and administer Minnesota Housing Finance Agency program funds, Small Cities Development Program funds and other funding sources to construct new housing units, rehabilitate commercial buildings and rehabilitate owner-occupied and rental housing units for communities within the county.
 

<see 2005 Annual Report & 2006 Work Plan>


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Last revised: February 10, 2007

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