EDA MEETING PACKET 02-10-2024CITY OF SCANDIA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Monday, February 10, 2014
6:30 P.M.
Scandia Community Center Board Room
1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes (January 13, 2014)
3. Approval of Agenda
4. Public Forum
5. New Business
a) Bill Coleman, Blandin Foundation Broadband Technical Assistance
b) Discuss Business Listings for Possible BRE
6. Commissioner Reports
7. Executive Director's Report
8. Date and Agenda Items for Next Meeting
9. Adjournment
The Scandia Economic Development Authority met in the Board Room at the Scandia
Community Center on Monday, January 13, 2014 beginning at 6:30pm. Commissioners Present:
Tom Triplett, Dan Lee, Bruce Swenson. Late: Sally Swanson (7:46pm). Absent: Greg Isaacson.
Staff Present: Kristina Handt.
The meeting was called to order at 6:33pm by Vice President Triplett.
Motion by Lee, seconded by Swenson to approve the December 9, 2013 minutes. Motion
carried.
Motion by Swenson, seconded by Lee to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Handt introduced Liz Templin from U of M Extension. Templin provided a handout of her
PowerPoint presentation to the commissioners. The EDA members introduced themselves and
Templin explained Extension's role. Highlights of the presentation included that most jobs come
from existing businesses, 76% of businesses in the 55073 and 55047 zip codes have 1-2
employees indicating a high number of home -based businesses, and access to broadband may be
an issue but funding is available through the Blandin Foundation for technical assistance.
Templin went over the components of a full BRE like was done in Forest Lake but also offered
other BRE options such as online training and scaled down versions that just include some
components. Templin also covered other Extension programs such as e-marketing, webinars,
Market Area Profile and Tourism Program ($5,000). Templin asked for feedback from
commissioners on the info she presented. Triplett commented on focusing on the top 17
businesses with the most employees, bicycle/tourism, and e-marketing. Swenson liked the e-
marketing and making Scandia a tourist destination. Lee favored the broadband assistance,
tourism and e-commerce.
Swanson arrived at the meeting.
Motion by Swenson, seconded by Lee to direct staff to complete the Blandin Broadband
application. Motion carried.
Motion by Triplett, seconded by Lee to approve Resolution 1-13-14-01 Naming Official
Depositories. Motion carried.
The commissioners discussed priorities and projects for the coming year. Handt asked each
commissioner to list their top three. Lee: e-marketing, mini-BRE, Gateway Trail. Swenson:
tourism/marketing/maps, e-marketing, broadband access. Swanson: BRE, e-marketing, TH 97
zone. Triplett: workforce housing, zoning changes for housing, broadband access. Cumulative
results were as follows (alphabetical listing for those with the same ranking):
1. E-marketing
2. Broadband Access
2. mini-BRE
4. Tourism (includes maps and Gateway Trail)
5. TH 97 Zone
5. Workforce Housing
5. Zoning Changes for Housing
The next meeting will be Monday, February 10, 2014 at 6:30pm.
Motion by Lee, seconded by Swenson to adjourn. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:12pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kristina Handt, Secretary