Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Business Outreach topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
EDA highlights social-media reach, Grow Minnesota follow-ups and planned business 'power visits'
Summary
The EDA reported strong organic social-media engagement on community posts, plans in-person business retention visits through the Grow Minnesota program, and scheduled informal 'power visits' in June to check in with local businesses and share resources with Northwest Minnesota Foundation and chamber partners.
At its April 23 meeting the East Grand Forks City Economic Development Authority highlighted growing social-media engagement, a low-response Grow Minnesota survey with plans for follow-up visits, and a staff plan to conduct informal business 'power visits' in early June.
Chair credited staff member Brenda for social-media content that has produced high organic reach; the board noted a post about Northdale Oil reached roughly 2,100 views and that cross-posting to The Exponent and LinkedIn expanded exposure. “Our social media is doing so well,” the Chair said, noting an aggregate organic view figure cited in the meeting of about 54,000.
The board also reviewed the Grow Minnesota business-retention-and-expansion program run through the Minnesota Chamber; staff said surveys were sent earlier than some partners preferred and participation was lower than expected, so in-person visits through the summer will capture missing responses and feedback to report back to the EDA and city council.
Staff outlined plans for two multi-day windows in June (first and second weeks) to make unscheduled drop-in visits to about 15–20 businesses on Central Avenue and elsewhere. Board members were invited to join one or more visits to maintain visibility and to gather leads for possible expansion or support needs.
Finally, staff floated an EDA open house in partnership with the Northwest Minnesota Foundation and the chamber to connect businesses with loan and grant programs; the board discussed combining events to improve turnout and will follow up on scheduling and sign-ups.
The meeting also included routine approvals of minutes and accounts-payable reports by voice vote; numeric tallies were not provided in the transcript.
