Economic
Development AOE
Introductions
Welcome to Ron Steiner, the
new West Central Regional Value Added Agent located in Hart,
Economic Development Program Educator Visits
In an effort of assist new
and existing County Extension Directors with exploring their role in local
economic development, the representatives from the AOE are planning targeted
visits within the state. The first visit is targeted for September to visit St.
Ignace where a new Extension Director is being hired.
Mark Thomas will coordinate the visit with members of the AOE and recruit a
chairperson to lead the visit.
Land Use AOE Grant
The ED AOE agreed to endorse
the grant being submitted by the Land Use AOE for a project entitled Can Small
Towns Be Cool?.
Fall Conference
Sessions topics decided upon
for submittal are listed below along with the person submitting and
coordinating the session. Submission
deadline is April 30.
§
Mark Thomas
- Overview of Economic Development Programs Such as Fast Track,
Entrepreneurship, Other Agency Services such as SBTDC, etc
§
Ed Kerr How
To Get Broadband Into Your Community
§
Diane Smith
MSU Statewide program and services
Economic Development AOE
April 2004 Minutes
Page 2
Business Recruitment Presentation
Scott Loveridge
delivered a powerpoint
presentation on Business Recruitment that the AOE reviewed as a tool for using
locally with economic development and government boards or other local
representatives. Scott will present his revisioned
version at the next meeting.
The presentation addressed
the growth cycles of businesses and the type of locations the businesses are
likely to locate in throughout the cycle.
MEDC Relationship
MEDC provided a room at their
corporate headquarters for this meeting and has offered to continue to do so
for future meetings if desired by the AOE. The AOE will try to schedule AOE
meetings at the headquarters in conjunction with the quarterly MEDC meetings to
assist staff in attending both meetings.
AOE Membership
To encourage membership
involvement in AOE meetings, the AOE leadership team will:
§
Announce the
agenda for each meeting
§
Schedule an
educational speaker at each meeting
July ED AOE Meeting
Mark Thomas will send
proposed dates for the July meeting via email to AOE members for the
availability.
Agenda items for the next
meeting were identified to include:
§
Competitive
Grants
§
Plan of Work
Review for AOE
§
Presentation by
the Victor Institute Phil Davis
§
Best Practices
Curriculum Presentation - Scott Loveridge
§
Business
Recruitment Presentation Revisions Scott Loveridge
Economic Development AOE
April 2004 Minutes
Page 3
Agenda items continued:
§
Legislative
Updates Scott L and Phil D
§
Roundtable of
Best Practices and Local Efforts
§
Train the Trainer
Ideas for future educational
topics included:
§
GIS
§
The
§
MSU Statewide
resources
§
§
E-Commerce
§
Downtowns and
Chambers
§
Historical
Preservation
§
Technology Tools
§
Travel
§
MSHDA
§
Urban Affairs
Rex L
Next Meeting: Look for an email from Mark Thomas for dates you are
available!!!