Forward New Richmond Committee

Forward New Richmond Committee Meeting Agenda Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at 12:00 PM Council Chambers Page 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. ADOPTION OF AGENDA 4. CONSENT AGENDA a. Forward New Richmond Committee Minutes - November 15, 2023 2-3 b. Community Development Updates - February 2024 4 c. Business Retention & Expansion Program 5-6 5. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRESENTATION - AARON SUNDEEN a. Economic Development Presentation 7 6. DOWNTOWN INITIATIVES a. Downtown Revitalization Initiatives 8 7. COMMUNICATION AND MISCELLANEOUS 8. ADJOURNMENT  Forward New Richmond Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 12:00 PM Council Chambers The Forward New Richmond Committee was called to order on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at 12:00 PM, in the Council Chambers, with the following members present: PRESENT: Karl Skoglund, Heather McAbee, Carrie Borgstrom, Bryan Knutdson, Kent Elkin, Liz Pizzi, and Pete Vrieze ABSENT: Ryan Shervey and Pete Kling OTHERS Beth Thompson, Ron Volkert, Sadie Vance PRESENT: CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA Karl Skoglund made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Pete Vrieze seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. CONSENT AGENDA Heather McAbee made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Karl Skoglund seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. CITY OF NEW RICHMOND-DOWNTOWN BETH STARTED A DISCUSSION REGARDING VACANT PROPERTIES DOWNTOWN AND HOW TO HELP FILL THE SPACES. WHAT DOES THE COMMITTEE THINK THE DOWNTOWN NEEDS, WHAT SHOULD BE OUR TARGET MARKETING FOCUS: MARKET FOR RETAIL, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, OFFICES, ENTERTAINMENT, ETC. THE COMMITTEE SHARED THE FOLLOWING THOUGHTS AND IDEAS:  CONTACT SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES TO GATHER INFORMATION ON HOW THEY ATTRACT BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN AND WHAT IS THE RENT AND SALES PRICES ARE ON VARIOUS SPACES?  CONTACT THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO COMPLETE A SHORT SURVEY TO GATHER THEIR INPUT ON WHAT WE NEED DOWNTOWN Forward New Richmond Committee Meeting November 15, 2023   INVITE PROPERTY OWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS TO A FORWARD NEW RICHMOND MEETING  EDUCATE BY SHARING GRANT INFORMATION, REGIONAL BUSINESS LOW INTEREST LOAN PROGRAMS, WISCONSIN REVITALIZE GRANT PROGRAM, ST. CROIX BUSINESS CENTER (RIVER FALLS)  MAKE DOWNTOWN MORE ATTRACTIVE  WHAT DO WE NEED DOWNTOWN? WHAT DO WE WANT DOWNTOWN?  CONNECT WITH THE CHAMBER 2024 FORWARD NEW RICHMOND SCHEDULE 2024 MEETING SCHEDULE(THIRD WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT 12:00PM): JANUARY 17TH FEBRUARY 21ST MARCH 20TH APRIL 17TH MAY 15TH JUNE 19TH JULY 17TH AUGUST 21ST SEPTEMBER 18TH OCTOBER 16TH NOVEMBER 20TH COMMUNICATION AND MISCELLANEOUS Beth shared information regarding the land sale for Isometric. Plans in 2024 and build in 2025. ADJOURNMENT Liz Pizzi made a motion to adjourn. Heather McAbee seconded the motion. Carried unanimously. Forward New Richmond Committee Meeting November 15, 2023  MEMO Prepared for: Forward New Richmond Staff Contact: Beth Thompson Meeting: Forward New Richmond Committee - 21 Feb 2024 Subject: Community Development Updates- FNR February 2024 BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Building / Zoning Updates – January 31, 2024 Number of Building Permits - 15 Number of New Dwelling Units - 0 Number of Inspections - 51 Residential Construction Value - $140,101.00 Commercial Construction Value - $2,237994.00 Building Permit Fees - $13,411.00 Occupancy Updates: For the month of January, the building inspector has given occupancy for one single-family homes. 2023 Housing Reports: Community Development staff have prepared two annual reports as required by State Statute. These reports can be found on the City's website under Economic Development. For your reference, I have included the link for each report below.  Housing Fee Report - 2023  Housing Affordability Report - 2023 If anyone has questions on these reports, please reach out to the Community Development office. Update to Housing Study: MSA has been hired to update our 2021 Housing Study. Building and Zoning staff have gathered necessary City information for MSA and they are currently working on the updates. An anticipated completion date will be in April 2024. Once the update is completed, staff will distribute to City Council, Forward New Richmond and other applicable committees. Business Visit Meetings (BR & E Program): The Community Development Team completed 19 visits this month. Ribbon Cutting: Community Development Staff attended and welcomed Tractor Supply located at 1810 Dorset Lane. They had their ribbon cutting on January 5th at 3:00pm and their grand opening celebration on January 6th.  MEMO Prepared for: Forward New Richmond Staff Contact: Beth Thompson Meeting: Forward New Richmond Committee - 21 Feb 2024 Subject: Business Retension & Expansion Program - Update BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Community Development staff, under the direction of FNR, in 2023 implemented a Business Retension & Expansion Program. With this program in place, three community development staff members have attended over 115 visits. These visits have been very enlightening and beneficial on both the City side and the business side. We have discussed a number of expansion plans, moves within our community, and a number of businesses happy and staying just as they are. In looking though all of our businesses, staff still have a good number of places left on this list to visit. We will work at these throughout the first half of 2024. Below are a few tidbits from our survey responses: What is going really well for your company?  The market  Sales  Growing client base  Customer relations  Growing community  The people  Loyal customers  Employees  It has been busy since the day we opened our doors  Longevity of client  Strong community  Great culture Do you have plans for expansion in the next 5 years? This could include staff, building, clients, etc. We have 30 yes answers to this question so far! Are you happy with your current location? 90.2% of respondence are happy with their location in New Richmond. Have the number of customers/clients decreased, stayed the same or increased in the past year? These statistics are just a sample of all the great information we have recieved, but staff is excited to give FNR an update on this great program. RECOMMENDATION: No Recommendations needed this is just an update from staff. Page 2 of 2  MEMO Prepared for: Forward New Richmond Staff Contact: Beth Thompson Meeting: Forward New Richmond Committee - 21 Feb 2024 Subject: Economic Development Presentation - Aaron Sundeen BACKGROUND INFORMATION: During our FNR meeting Aaron Sundeen, Director of Business Development for Derrick Building Solutions, will be presenting on general Economic Development trends and local development.  MEMO Prepared for: Forward New Richmond Staff Contact: Beth Thompson Meeting: Forward New Richmond Committee - 21 Feb 2024 Subject: Downtown Revitalization BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Based on direction from the last FNR meeting, City staff have been working towards downtown revitalization efforts. City staff has met with Rob Kreibich, Scott Soderberg, Nate Fischer, Brian Meyer, Carrie Borgstrom and Karl Skoglund regarding a downtown building owners meeting. Staff will discuss this initiative further at the meeting.