Local Video
|
| EDA looks to strengthen its ties with big employers |
By: DAVID HENKE, Staff Writer
|
Posted: Saturday, December 5, 2009 12:01 am
|
 Email  Print
|
NORTHFIELD — The Northfield Economic Development Authority would like to establish a stronger dialogue with the city’s 10 largest employers next year.
Starting in 2010, the board wants to hold regular meetings more than once a year with the “big ten” companies in Northfield — a list that includes the colleges, Malt-O-Meal and the school district, among others. The goal was identified at the board’s annual retreat in October.
Currently, the EDA meets on an ad hoc basis with its large employers, Economic Development Director Jody Gunderson and EDA President Rick Estenson said. The Chamber of Commerce and Northfield Downtown Development Corporation also hold regular business retention and expansion meetings with local businesses.
The meetings, if they go forward, would help Northfield proactively address the needs of its business community and keep the city in tune with its large employers, which have a wide impact in the community, Gunderson said.
The visits, Gunderson anticipates, would be geared toward improving the health of the businesses and finding ways in which the EDA and the city can work together. They would complement, not replace, the meetings the Chamber and NDDC already conduct, Gunderson said.
“The EDA is all about business, growth, jobs and expansion, so understanding our largest employers’ needs and plans stands to be a very important part of what we need to get done,” Estenson said.
The NDDC and Chamber will continue to meet routinely with smaller employers, and funnel the information from those meetings to the EDA, Estenson said, so that the needs of smaller local businesses aren’t ignored.
Business retention and expansion visits are a tried and true way to improve the dialogue between the city and the business community, said Chamber Executive Director Kathy Feldbrugge, who estimates she holds roughly 20-30 such meetings last year.
Regular meetings between the EDA and the large employers would also encourage those companies to come to the city first with any problems, Feldbrugge added.
While the EDA and the city have made strides to recruit businesses outside the community, maintaining the health of those already here is also important, especially during a sluggish economy, EDA Vice President Steve Engler said. Regular meetings, Engler added, would help advance that goal.
“I think it’s always been my personal perspective that you try and do a good job of keeping what you have, and keeping what you have in good shape,” Engler said.
THE ‘BIG TEN’ EMPLOYERS
Malt-O-Meal Company: 861
St. Olaf College: 830
Carleton College: 690
Northfield Hospital: 542
Northfield School District: 500
McLane Minnesota: 450
Multek Flexible Circuits Inc.: 430
Three Links Care Center: 180
Cub Foods: 175
Allina Medical Clinic: 150
— Source: Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce
— David Henke covers city, business and youth issues. He can be reached at dhenke@northfieldnews.com or 645-1100.
|
|
|
|
Story Comment Guidelines:
Registered members who identify themselves by name are authorized to automatically post comments to stories. Readers who wish to remain anonymous submit comments to a pending queue, where they will be reviewed for approval within 24 hours of their submission. To determine the author of a comment, click on the user name.
Those who identify themselves will be given broader boundaries to express their opinion. Only those anonymous comments that contribute to the conversation in a thoughtful, respectful, civil manner will be approved. The decision to approve or reject a comment is a subjective one and is ours alone. Authors of rejected comments will receive an email response.
If you would like to report abuse click here to notify us.
|
|
| Show Comments | Hide Comments
|
|
| Login and voice your opinion!
|
|
|
|
|
Top Jobs | Top Homes | Top Cars
09 Jetta
09 white Jetta asking $16,000
less than 48,000 miles
|
|
Digg
Del.icio.us
Facebook
MySpace
StumbleUpon
Google
Yahoo!
