download

NEWS RELEASE

Vadnais Heights Economic Development Corporation (VHEDC) announces six economic development priority projects resulting from its BR&E survey research with 45 local businesses.

Media Contact: Michael Darger, Extension Specialist in Community Economics and BR&E Director, Extension Center for Community Vitality, St. Paul, 612-625-6246 or [email protected]

Vadnais Heights to assist its local employers with workforce connections and enhance communications for economic development success

VADNAIS HEIGHTS, Minn. (9/21/2016)—Vadnais Heights employers depend on nearly 9,000 employees commuting into the community daily.  The Vadnais Heights Economic Development Corporation (VHEDC), in partnership with the city of Vadnais Heights, has launched several projects to ensure that local businesses continue to have skilled employees.
Economic development experts have identified workforce as a key issue facing Minnesota communities.  “With thousands of skilled baby boomers transitioning out of the workforce and a full employment situation in Minnesota right now, the outlook is increasingly tighter workforce availability in the coming years”, said Laura Kalambokidis, University of Minnesota Extension economist who also serves as the Minnesota state economist. “Thus anything that Minnesota communities and their partners can do to help their employers with workforce needs will be valuable for retaining and expanding those businesses.”
Vadnais Heights conducted their own BR&E research with 45 local businesses.  The community organized and oriented area professionals to conduct in-person research interviews to local employers earlier this year.  The survey data were analyzed and a research report was prepared by the University of Minnesota Duluth and Extension.  Many issues were identified.  One noteworthy finding is 53 percent of the interviewed businesses plan to modernize or expand their buildings or equipment in the near future.

Extension’s BR&E expert Michael Darger notes that Vadnais Heights and VHEDC are in the mainstream of American city economic development practice.  “A recent national study of over 700 cities revealed that 62 percent conduct BR&E surveys with their businesses and 82 percent are partnering with chambers or economic development corporations like VHEDC.  But not every community is as ambitious as Vadnais Heights was in engaging a broad-based task force of community stakeholders to engage with local businesses.”

The Vadnais Heights BR&E task force decided on six priority projects to respond to business concerns and needs (see below).  Three of the projects directly respond to workforce issues and three other projects will enhance communications and understanding among businesses, local organizations, and inbound communters.  The projects have recently begun and will be developed over time.

  1. Workforce Resource Connections Event – hosting a one-stop event to surround employers with key contacts and info. from a variety of resource providers.
  2. Workforce Resources Promotion – developing web-based and publication types of communication tools with workforce information and ideas.
  3. Connect workers to community resources, amenities, and events – finding additional ways to connect commuter employees of Vadnais Heights’s businesses to the community in which they work.
  4. Create a marketing plan for the City of Vadnais Heights – including community outreach, economic development, and collaboration.
  5. Create a newsletter and webpage with informational business topics – filling the gaps in communications with area businesses.
  6. Establish a task force related to communication between city and businesses – creating engagement with businesses using various methods.

For more information on business retention and expansion from the University of Minnesota Extension: http://bre.umn.edu

For additional information about the Vadnais Heights BR&E initiative contact: Ms. Ling Becker, Director of Vadnais Heights Economic Development Corporation, Vadnais Heights, [email protected], and 651-485-9532.

The University of Minnesota shall provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

—-
For more news from U of M Extension, visit www.extension.umn.edu/news or contact Extension Communications at [email protected]. University of Minnesota Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer.