HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.a. Economic Development Coordinator Update
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Port Authority Meeting Date: October 15, 2019
AGENDA ITEM: Economic Development Coordinator AGENDA SECTION:
Update New Business
PREPARED BY: Eric Van Oss, Economic Development
AGENDA NO. 5.a.
Coordinator
ATTACHMENTS: None APPROVED BY: LJM
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Information Item
ISSUE
Previous discussions with the Council and Port Authority indicated a desire for more information
regarding completion of workplan activities. There were two areas of focus over the past month; attracting
medical services to the community and networking with local and regional economic development
professionals and providing updates on ongoing communications. The following highlights some of the
economic development activities since the last Port Authority meeting.
Medical Development
Staff scheduled October meetings with the developers and industry experts regarding potential medical
developments in Rosemount. These meetings are expected to continue into November and December as
the contact list is large and dispersed. There are both providers that function as retail-type tenants or office
tenants, and construction companies that work with specific providers.
Over the course of the meetings key takeaways included:
Rooftops: At the present, Rosemount does not have the density to support larger scale medial
developments. This is especially true in areas with developable land such as Akron Avenue. Both
developers and providers noted the demographics of Rosemount (income, age, and median home value)
would be attractive for future development as Rosemount continues to grow.
Provider Driven Development: Medical development is provider driven and there are very few spec
medical developments in the metro. There is demand for more medical space in Southern Dakota County;
however, Apple Valley and Lakeville both have medical clusters that service the current Rosemount
population. Providers do not feel there is adequate demand for larger scale medial until more development
occurs, particularly east of State Hwy 3.
Medical Use District: Staff met with Woodbury Economic Development staff regarding their efforts to
attract medical service development. Woodbury designated 120 acres as a “Medical District” to encourage
medical uses. This did not involve any financial incentives and instead relied on zoning the area exclusively
for medical/medical office uses. These efforts were incredibly successful and have cemented Woodbury’s
status as a medical hub in the Twin Cities. The Woodbury staff did not necessarily attribute the zoning
exercise to medical service attraction but rather “saved” land near the Woodwinds hospital, where other
types of uses wanted to locate. The creation of the medical hub took place over many years and They now
feel the zoning does not need to be utilized. In effect, Woodbury chose to pass over certain proposals and
instead focused on medical projects that were deemed the “best use” of the land, even though it may have
stayed vacant longer.
Access: Most medical developers are primarily interested in sites with access to major thoroughfares. Most
providers expect to be located on the frontage of major highways and roads. Most developers agreed that
the commercial land along 42 would be the best fit for future medical service developments. Additionally,
it was noted that medical service clusters similar to other types of land uses.
Contacts and companies staff made contact with include: Ryan Companies, Kraus Anderson, CCIM,
Davis, Frauenshuh, MSP Commercial, Carlson, Oppidan, Mayo Clinic and the City of Woodbury
Commercial Contacts:
Marketing Rosemount: Most developers and providers were not aware of the socio-economic profile of
Rosemount. When staff provided income, home prices, and family size average many developers were
surprised by the high level of income and education within Rosemount. Several developers encouraged
staff to share this narrative going forward. The demographic and growth statistics are attractive points for
higher use development; however, the data is not well known among large metro developers/providers.
This reinforces the need to have a consistent message and outreach initiative.
Kwik Trip: Staff met with a representative from Kwik Trip. Kwik Trip is interested in a second location
in Rosemount. Expanded food service and take-and-go meals are an increasingly large source of their sales.
The current Rosemount location is not large enough to accommodate an expansion, so Kwik Trip would
like to find a second location in town. Staff pitched two intersection locations at Akron and Biscayne.
Guitar Shop: The owners of the Guitar Shop reached out to staff regarding relocation within the
community at the end of their lease. They will need to be moved out by the end of March. Staff connected
them with brokers regarding potential new space.
Carousel Way: A vacant parcel represented by the Mid America group just went under contract for
development in 2020.
Playground: Staff was contacted regarding a large indoor playground development. The developers are
interested in a 20,000 square foot facility to open a year-round playground to serve Rosemount and
surrounding communities. The amount of warehouse space desired is not currently available on the
market, so staff is helping to identify land/sites for a new facility.
Cerron Commercial Properties: Staff continued to work with Bruce Rydeen to find prospective tenants
for the forthcoming spec light industrial space. There have been several differing uses that have been
forwarded to Cerron. One of the potential users is one of the breweries that staff met with previously.
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Workforce:
WDB: Staff has joined the Dakota-Scott Workforce Development Board Business Services Committee.
This is a group that meets every other month to discuss ongoing economic development activity, grant
opportunities, hiring events, and employer needs through Dakota County. Staff has linked Rosemount
employers to hiring events and funding/training programs.
DCTC: Staff is working with DCTC to partner on workforce and training initiatives. Staff is currently
working with DCTC on upcoming training/apprenticeship programs through Rosemount High. Staff is
also working with DCTC to plan a Spring 2020 Community Forum on Employer-Educator Partnerships.
This forum will include Rosemount businesses that have established training programs as well as business
looking to create their own pipelines.
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