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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-26-11City of Lakeville Economic Development Commission Regular Meeting Agenda Tuesday, April 26, 2011, 4:30 p.m. City Hall, 20195 Holyoke Avenue Lakeville, MN 1. Call meeting to order 2. Approve March 22, 2011 meeting minutes 3. Review of Request for Proposals: Business Marketing Strategy 4. Review of Planning Efforts for Developer Forum 5. Review of 2010 Census Information for Lakeville and Dakota County 6. Director's Report 7. Adjourn Attachments: March, 2011 Building Permit Report March, 2011 Foreclosure Update Cheerleader for the Twin Cities, in a suit and tie, Finance & Commerce, March 30, 2011 Industrial outlook spurs projects, Business Journal, April 1, 2011 ; ,, No. a� City of Lakeville Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes March 22, 2011 Marion Conference Room, City Hall Members Present: Comms. Matasosky, Brantly, Longie, Starfield, Vlasak, Emond, Schubert, Ex- officio member Mayor Mark Bellows, Ex- officio member Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Todd Bornhauser, Ex- officio member City Administrator Steve Mielke. Members Absent: Comms. Smith, Tushie. Others Present: David Olson, Community & Economic Development Director; Adam Kienberger, Economic Development Specialist. - 1. Call Meeting to Order Chair Matasosky called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. in the Marion Conference Room of City Hall, 20195 Holyoke Avenue, Lakeville, Minnesota. 2. Approve February 22, 2011 Meeting Minutes Motion 11.05 Comms. Emond /Schubert moved to approve the minutes of the February 22, 2011 as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 3. Update on Marketing Plan Subcommittee Mr. Kienberger provided 'an update to the EDC on the status of the work the Marketing Subcommittee is doing in moving towards accomplishing the goal of creating a marketing plan' outlined in the 2011 -2013 Strategic Plan for Economic Development. The group is working on formulating an RFP to hire a marketing consultant to help the group outline and identify the components necessary for a successful marketing strategy plan. Presentations by site selectors and some statistical data on Lakeville's demographic composition were reviewed at the last Subcommittee meeting to help identify priorities and outcomes to be incorporated into an RFP. Comm. Starfield asked about the partnership potential of the Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce in the development of this marketing plan. It was noted that the Chamber has been identified as a partner and will be involved along with other partners and stakeholders as the process evolves and a consultant is hired to help formulate the plan. Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes March 22, 2011 The EDC concluded that the Marketing Subcommittee is moving in the right direction and should proceed with the development of an RFP to select a marketing consultant. 4. Discussion of Economic Development Incentive Toolbox Mr. Olson reviewed the EDC outlining the development of an economic development incentive toolbox. Mr. Mielke reviewed the process and implementation methods being suggested for creating the toolbox. It was noted that there is a greater challenge in identifying when and how the tools are used rather than which tools are available. Chair Matasosky and Comm. Longie asked about how to' calculate a return on investment for determining what type or amount of incentives to be used. It was added that an approach should also be taken to distinguish Lakeville by what it can offer and a creative implementation to incentive tools. Mr. Mielke responded that you have to be able to look for the right tool for the right prospect. The EDC discussed how prospects are handled internally and how the prospect process can be likened to sales. Mr. Mielke added that the Community & Economic Development department handles business prospects and shepherds them through the development process from start to finish. Comm. Vlasak mentioned that we need to be able to show a prospect the whole toolbox and, help them find applicable tools from what's available. Mr. Mielke added that the .policy decision needs to be made as to how to judge the return on any type of incentive "investment" the City makes in a company. How is it determined if an incentive is "worth it ". Chair Matasosky noted part of the challenge also arises from dealing with a wide range of people looking to come to Lakeville. Sometimes it is a large corporate site selector who. understands the process and has one set of needs, to a small business owner who has never moved or relocated a business before. Comm. Brantly asked if there is a way for Lakeville to identify a specific industry that is a good fit for the City. Mr. Olson responded that staff works with the broker community to identify and understand the trends in business movement and what is coming down the line. Comm. Starfield asked if there was a way to get on more people's radar screens by doing more constant follow -up with prospects. 2 Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes March 22, 2011 Mr. Mielke stated that policy guidance is the key to how we should proceed at this point. Any incentive offered to a business needs to be publicly defendable. What are our goals? How do you measure the gains against what you give up? Goals need to be set so that staff has direction to be able to talk in greater detail with business prospects about potential incentives; i.e. if we want to incent affordable housing, the City Council needs to make that a goal. Mr. Olson reviewed a draft business subsidy policy that was worked on and discussed at several meetings last year. Once a subsidy policy is formally adopted, it will help guide the policies that can be implemented for individual tools in the City's incentive toolbox. Comm. Brantly asked if the number of commercial /industrial property brokers are few enough that it is feasible to build additional relationships with them as part of an overall strategy. Mr. Olson responded that this is one of the things being discussed within the Marketing Subcommittee of the EDC and will continue to be a part of this process. Mayor Bellows mentioned the formation of a financial advisory task force that was brought up at the end of last month's EDC meeting and noted that Comm. Longie would be discussing this at the end of the meeting. Mayor Bellows excused himself from the meeting at this point. Comm. Schubert, mentioned that because each project is different, we need to be able to react strategically. Comm. Starfield suggested adding the work done a few years ago by the Business Telecommunications Techriology Task Force (BTTTF) to the list of possible items to be included in the toolbox: Mr. Mielke suggested the complete "package" for prospects and brokers could be compiled as a part of this process and ultimately put on the City website as that is often first and sometimes the only stop for site selectors. Comm. Vlasak also recommended looking at some best practices from around the country. Chair Matasosky concluded the discussion by stating that there are many variables in the incentives discussion and that some of this information is currently being analyzed by the Marketing Subcommittee. The EDC will continue to move forward on this topic. 5. Director's Report Mr. Olson reviewed the Director's Report. 3 Economic Development Commission Meeting Minutes March 22, 2011 Comm. Longie discussed a topic that came out of the Chamber of Commerce's Public Policy group regarding the formation of a financial advisory task force. It was mentioned that there could possibly be a liaison from the EDC on this group. A list of names is being submitted to City Council for possible appointment to a newly created city task force. Mr. Mielke noted that the City Council will need to identify the mission and membership of this group before anything can become formalized. The EDC concluded that when the City Council identifies the mission of this group a bit more, it can be discussed in greater detail at a future EDC meeting. 6. Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 6:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted by: Adam Kienberger, Recording Secretary Attested to: R. T. Brantly, Secretary ll 4 Azal City of Lakeville Community and Economic Development Memorandum To: Economic Development Commission From: Adam Kienberger, Economic Development Specialist Copy: Steven Mielke, City Administrator David L. Olson, Community & Economic Development Director Date: April 26, 2011 Subject: Marketing Plan Request for Proposals Draft On Thursday, April 7 the EDC's Marketing Subcommittee (Commissioners Matasosky, Brantly, Longie, and Lakeville resident Clinton Kennedy) met to discuss and work on the Request for Proposals (RFP) document that will be used to solicit the services of a marketing firm to help craft a " "Business Marketing Strategy ". A draft of this RFP is attached for the EDC to review and comment on. The Subcommittee also discussed conducting a FAB exercise (Features, Advantages, Benefits) concurrent with the RFP selection process. Commissioner Brantly provided a summary of what a FAB exercise is and how it can be a successful process for stimulating creative thinking. A description of the FAB process prepared by Commissioner Brantly is also attached. It was proposed that to do a FAB exercise, the EDC would host a three -hour focus group to build a vision for what the City of Lakeville (with a focus on business attraction /retention) represents. Community representatives would be invited to attend a facilitated brain - storming session. Pending any comments or changes by the EDC, the Subcommittee will proceed by the finalizing the RFP and seeking City Council approval to hire a marketing consultant to develop a business marketing strategy. The Subcommittee will continue to meet and check in with the entire EDC at regular intervals to inform them of their progress and seek input as needed. Action Requested: The EDC is being asked to provide comments and /or changes to the draft RFP for a business marketing strategy as attached, and forward it to City Council for authorization to proceed. DO A FAB EXERCISE Sooner or later we must mine the knowledge and creative thinking of our own people. This is done through a brain - storming session called a FAB exercise in which representatives from selected segments of our business and private communities are brought in to identify Features, Advantages and Benefits. As participants identify features, the others name advantages and the leader distills them into succinct benefits. It is synergistic. Combined ideas turn into new ideas. Whimsical ideas turn into concrete benefits. While it could be led by an experienced consultant, the information gleaned from a FAB exercise cannot be brought in from the outside. Though it would not all be unique, we would be sure of its authenticity because it all stems from real -time, actual and confirmed experiences of people who live and work in our city. It would be a resource for whatever consultant is selected. (We did this with excellent success for every new product that was introduced in my division when I worked in marketing at 3M.) MM! M City of Lakeville Request for Proposals: Business Marketing Strategy Contact: Adam Kienberger Econoin.ic Development - Specialist City of Lakeville 20195 Holyoke Avenue,_ Lakeville, MN 55044 (952) 985 -4425 akienbergerAlakevillemn.gov Dated: May XX, 2011 Responses Due: XX, 2011 Lakeville Business Marketing Strategy RFP Introduction: As a successful and progressive community, the City of Lakeville provides the foundation for healthy neighborhoods and prosperous businesses by investing in quality and efficient services, effective partnerships, and citizen participation. The City's commitment to well - planned development enhances the distinctive and high quality of life enjoyed by our residents. As the southern gateway to the Twin Cities, Lakeville offers the advantages of being part of a metropolitan area while providing a family - friendly small town atmosphere with outstanding recreational and cultural opportunities. The Economic Development Commission (EDC) is a citizen advisory group that updates a strategic plan every three years which employs long -term strategies to encourage business development and promote economic development in Lakeville. Lakeville has historically lacked a consistent and focused branding and marketing plan for business attraction and retention. Past efforts have tended to be mostly reactionary as opportunities have presented themselves and funding was available. The number one goal from the EDC's 2011 -2013 Strategic Plan for Economic Development is to: "Create a marketing plan that has a clear message, is flexible, adequately funded, creative, aggressive, and targeted that communicates Lakeville's values, is broad and sector specific based on good information." The City of Lakeville is seeking responses to this RFP to develop and outline an implementation plan for a business marketing strategy to target corporate site selectors, business decision makers, and the general business community about why Lakeville should be a top choice for locating and growing a business. A facilitated visioning session was held with the EDC in the fall of 2010 to help guide the vision and ultimately served as the outline for the 2011 -2013 Strategic Plan for Economic Development. The results of this internal analysis can be found within the Strategic Plan document. This session produced the following vision of the EDC: • "Lakeville is recognized as a unique and attractive community where people of all ages want to live, learn, work and enjoy and where businesses choose to locate due to an attractive business climate." Other related background information is attached: • 2010 City Council /EDC Questionnaire Results • 2010 Approved 2011 -2013 EDC Strategic Plan for Economic Development • 2010 Business Survey Executive Summary • Features Advantages Benefits (FAB) analysis — ongoing 2 Business Marketing Strategy: The City of Lakeville has identified the following five goals and outcomes of the Business Marketing Strategy: Goal 1: Recruit new businesses by targeting and engaging corporate site selectors and other "decision makers ". Outcome: Lakeville's brand is recognized by corporate site selectors and business location "decision makers ". Lakeville is a "front of mind" consideration for businesses looking to relocate or expand. Ultimately this will lead to the attraction of new business and jobs for Lakeville. Goal 2: Grow and retain existing businesses. Outcome: Existing businesses realize the benefits of staying and growing within Lakeville and feel a sense of pride and loyalty to remaining in Lakeville. Businesses feel valued and appreciated within the community. Goal 3: Differentiate Lakeville from other suburban communities /target markets by promoting distinctive attributes that demonstrate value. Outcome: Creation of a unique and creative branding campaign that is relevant to viable and identified targets that raise the brand awareness of Lakeville as a place to do business. Goal 4: Convey a positive and relevant brand image of Lakeville both inside and outside of the community. Outcome: Lakeville is recognized as a desirable place to do business. Goal 5: Identify local community partners and stakeholders that can share and promote a unified message. Outcome: Multiple partners share a message that is consistently conveyed to both new and existing businesses the partners come in contact with. 3 Proposal: Scope of Service: At a minimum the study should provide a report containing: 1. Analysis of existing marketing materials and programs including but not limited to: a. Print and media materials b. Website c. Conference and trade show attendance d. Business retention strategies and programs 2. Suggested marketing strategies to help meet the goals outlined in the goal section of this RFP including but not limited to: a. Print and media materials b. Website c. Social media d. Other miscellaneous promotional materials 3. A detailed implementation cost analysis of each component of the recommended marketing strategies that can be used to identify and plan for a comprehensive marketing budget. a. Identify one -time and annual recurring costs A detailed work plan identifying: 1. Tasks to be accomplished and the amount of budget hours for each task and subtask. a. This will be used as a work plan and managing tool for basis of invoicing. 2. Identify deliverables. , a. Key milestones of project b. Level of City staff participation c. Status meetings identified through work plan Detailed cost estimate of the study, including professional hourly rates and multipliers and estimated service /task hours with a "not to exceed cap ". Other expenses related to the completion of the study will be discussed on a case -by- case basis. Preferred pricing will identify fixed cost bids with a menu of necessary and optional services. All proposals are subject to the following conditions: 1. Federal Funds. This project is being funded in whole or in part with federal Community Development Block Grant ( "CDBG ") funds through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ( "HUD "). The Firm selected through this RFP will enter into a contract with the City of Lakeville and must agree to federal funding provisions as attached in Exhibit A . in 2. Conflict of Interest. The proposer must identify any potential conflict of interest it may have providing the services contemplated by this RFP. Statement of Qualifications: The following will be considered minimal contents of the proposal: 1. Goals, objectives, and project tasks to demonstrate the responder's view of the project and exhibition of responder's knowledge of local government marketing and branding. 2. Outline of respondent's background and experience with particular emphasis on public sector marketing and branding. a. Provide contact list for at least three (3) references in support of the background and experience. 3. Knowledge of print, website, and social media advertising and promotion 4. Experience working with local governments. 5. Identify key personnel to conduct the project. No change in key personnel assigned to the project will be permitted without approval of the City. City Provided Supporting Documentation: ■ 2010 City Council /EDC Questionnaire Results ■ 2010 Approved 2011 -2013 EDC Strategic Plan for Economic Development ■ 2010 Business Survey Executive Summary ■ Lakeville demographic data ■ Lakeville map ■ Lakeville Industrial Parks map ■ Lakeville City website: www.lakevillemn.gov Characteristics of Lakeville: ■ 38 square miles ■ —60% developed ■ 55,000+ residents , ■ — 19,500 households ■ 1,000+ businesses o Mostly small to medium sized businesses ( <100 employees) o Growing office /industrial and home -based business sectors ■ High educational attainment of residents (44% have a bachelor's degree+) ■ Median household income $90,803 ■ Median age is 33.5 ■ Freeway access Requirements and Final Product: ■ A business marketing strategy plan document o All documents, plans, work completed under this proposal will become the property of the City of Lakeville upon completion. ■ Coordination meetings with City staff ■ Up to X public presentations to City Council and other advisory committees 5 Evaluation Criteria: Proposals will be evaluated on the following factors with equal weight given to each one. The City of Lakeville has the right to reject any or all proposals without explanation. (Total points possible — 60) ■ Proposer's ability and capacity to meet all Request for Proposals conditions and expectations as solely determined by the City's selection committee. (10 points) ■ The proposal meets the goals as outlined in the Request for Proposals (10 points) ■ Value and price for services offered (10 points) ■ Ability to complete the job in the time allotted (no later than October of 2011) (10 points) ■ Prior satisfactory conclusion of similar work or evidence of specific experience regarding marketing and branding strategies (10 points) ■ Stated and demonstrated understanding of the scope of work being sought (10 points) Because consulting services require the expenditure of funds, the City Council will make the final determination of whether to authorize funds for this project The City does not guarantee selection of any vendor and reserves its right to reject all proposals. Furthermore, the City may or may not accept the lowest price quotation and reserves the right to select the proposal which best meets its needs and selection criteria. RFP Timeline: RFP Issue date — May XX, 2011 Proposals due — June XX, 2011 Interview consultant finalists — TBD City Council approval selecting consultant -TBD Award contract and begin work — TBD Submission Deadline: ■ Five (5) hard copies of proposal and one (1) electronic version on CD or email including all attachments and supplemental information delivered to Lakeville City Hall no later than 4:30 p.m. on June XX, 2011: Adam Kienberger Economic Development Specialist City of Lakeville 20195 Holyoke Avenue Lakeville, MN 55044 ■ All questions by prospective responders regarding this RFP should contact: Adam Kienberger akienbergerglakevillemn. gov 952- 985 -4425 rel ��em No. —L City of Lakeville ZOO- Community and Economic Development Memorandum To: Economic Development Commission Steven Mielke, City Administrator ; From: David L. Olson, Community & Economic Development Director Copy: Adam Kienberger, Economic Development Specialist Date: April 26, 2011 Subject: Update on Developer Forum The Mayor and City Council have directed staff to conduct a development forum to learn from customers that interact with the City on development related activities as to how the City could improve in servicing those customers. It has been recommended that a mailed name - optional survey be developed and mailed to individuals that obtained a building permit or processed a planning application with the City within in the last 3 -5 years prior to the Forum. The survey would be sent to commercial and industrial brokers, owners of undeveloped properties, contractors, developers, consultants (i.e. engineers and architects) and home builders. Attached is a copy of a draft survey that has been prepared by City staff. This draft survey was reviewed by a group of five developers, contractors, and home builders on April 20 and a number of changes were incorporated based on their comments. The intent is to mail out this survey by the end of April. The forum is being planned for mid -June and will be facilitated by an outside facilitator that preferably has development experience. The results of the survey would be presented at the forum and then the facilitator would receive comments, feedback and concerns. It will not be the intent to attempt to respond to any of the comments or concerns at the Forum, but rather just document the comments received. A summary of both the survey and comments will be presented to the EDC, Planning Commission, Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee and City Council. This would be followed by discussions of possible City policies or requirements pertaining to development that should be considered for change. No action by the EDC is requested at this time. City of Lakeville Development Forum Survey DRAFT INTRODUCTION: Please take a moment to complete the following survey. The survey is intended to provide an opportunity for the City to hear constructive ideas and suggestions from those in the development industry on how we might improve our services. The survey results will be used as the basis of a discussion forum on . The forum will provide for further exploration of these ideas and suggestions. Thank you for your candid responses and please feel free to use the back of the survey or additional pages if needed when responding to the questions. QUESTIONS: 1. Please check all of the following that describes you. Broker Consultant (i.e. Engineer, Architect, etc.) Undeveloped Property Owner Home Builder Contractor Developer Other (describe) 2. What was the reason for your interaction with the City of Lakeville? 3. Please check all of the following you interacted with. City Council Parks & Recreation Department Economic Development Department Planning Department Engineering /Environmental Department Planning Commission Inspections Department Other 4. Was your project or application handled in a timely and responsive manner? Please provide comments or suggestions on how the City could improve. 5. Based on your experience in Lakeville and elsewhere do you have any suggestions of how the City could streamline or improve the procedures for processing or reviewing your application or project? 6. Do you have any specific suggestions on fees or costs imposed by City ordinances which hinder or deter development? If so, do you have any suggestions or examples from other cities on how these item(s) could be paid for? 7. What aspects of the development review process does the City do well and how could they be expanded or enhanced? 8. What other ideas or suggestions do you have that may assist in promoting development in Lakeville? COMPLETED SURVEYS: The completed survey can be submitted back to City Hall in one of the following ways: • By regular mail using the enclosed self addressed stamped envelope. • Drop off at City Hall at 20195 Holyoke Avenue. • Deposit in the utility bill drop box in front of City Hall. • By email to • By fax at 952 - 985 -4409 CONTACT INFORMATION (OPTIONAL): The City may want to contact you for more information regarding your experiences with the City please provide the following contact information: Name Address Phone Number Email STAY INFORMED: The City will also be holding an upcoming development forum to discuss and review the results of the survey. If you wish to receive email updates regarding the results of the survey and a notice of the upcoming Development Forum you may either provide your email here or log onto the City of Lakeville's website at and sign up for email updates and notices. Thank you again for your responses and input. .' NoO City of Lakeville Community and Economic Development Memorandum To: Economic Development Commission Steven Mielke, City Administrator From: David L. Olson, Community & Economic Development Director Copy: Adam Kienberger, Economic Development Specialist Date: April 22, 2011 Subject: Presentation of Dakota County Demographic and Socio- Economic Indicators Dakota County staff has prepared a very informative presentation on demographic and socio- economic indicators for all cities in Dakota County. This presentation was made at March 18 Dakota County Mayors / Managers meeting and contains a wealth of information. Staff will review this presentation at the meeting and will have copies to distribute. The presentation is fairly lengthy and in color and thus we did not want to require EDC members to have to print it out. Electronic copies can be provided after the meeting to anyone EDC member who would like one. R F"�' . _. City of Lakeville Community and Economic Development Memorandum To: Economic Development Commission �� From: David L. Olson, Community and Economic Development Directo Copy: Steve Mielke, City Administrator Adam Kienberger, Economic Development Specialist Date: April 26, 2011 Subject: April Director's Report The following is the Director's Report for April, 2011. State of the City Event The State of the City event is scheduled for Wednesday, April 27 at Crystal Lake Golf Club starting at 11:30 a.m. and is being hosted by the Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce. EDC members who are not Chamber members but would like to attend, please contact Penny at 953 -4420 by Monday, April 25 and we can get you registered. Building Permit Report The City issued building permits with a total valuation of $11,700,208 through March. This compares to a total valuation of $13,678,371 though March of 2010. The City issued commercial and industrial permits with a total valuation of $3,137,500 through March compared to a total valuation of $693,000 through March of 2010. The City has also issued permits for 21 single family homes through March with a total valuation of $6,364,000. This compares to 40 single family home permits through March of 2010 with a total valuation of $10,701,000. Lakeville Realtor Forum City staff is working with the St. Paul Area Association of Realtors ( SPAAR) to host an informational forum on Friday, May 13 to be held in City Hall. SPAAR is inviting its members that work in the Lakeville area that wish to find out more information about Lakeville. A number of City Department Heads along with representatives of the ISD #194, the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce and the Dakota County CDA will also be presenting information at the forum. Minnesota High Tech Association Spring Conference Adam and I attended the Minnesota High Tech Association Spring Conference held on April 14 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. We partnered with Dakota Future, Dakota Electric along with the cities of Apple Valley and Rosemount to have a booth in the Exhibit Hall during the one day conference. By partnering with these other agencies, it made the cost of the event extremely affordable and Adam and I both made contacts with a number of high tech companies. This is an event that we will likely continue to be part of in the future if we are able to partner with these other agencies. Development Update Walmart: The City is currently reviewing preliminary and final plat applications for the Walmart project. It is anticipated that the Planning Commission public hearing for this project will be held at their second meeting in May or first meeting in June. Pizza Ranch: The Pizza Ranch project located in the multi- tenant building is nearing completion and should be completed in the next several weeks. Spotlight on Business Lakeville Tire and Auto service located in Downtown Lakeville was spotlighted at the April 18 City Council meeting and EDC member Jack Matasosky made the presentation. A copy of the Council memo on this business is attached. Foreclosure Update Attached is a copy of the March Foreclosure Update from the Dakota County CDA. There were 27 Sheriff Sales in Lakeville during the month of March which compares to the exact same number of Sheriff Sales in the month of February. This brings the number of Sheriff Sales to 75 for the first quarter of 2011. There were a total of 317 Sheriff Sales in Lakeville in 2010. • April 18, 2011 Item No. Spotlight on Business Lakeville Tire & Auto Service Overview The Spotlight on Business program is designed to recognize new and existing commercial and industrial businesses in the Lakeville community. Upcoming Spotlights this year will be featuring a variety of businesses located in Downtown Lakeville. The program is also designed to emphasize, for residents, the important tax and employment benefits that business and industry provide to the community. Lakeville Tire & Auto Service will be featured at the April 18 City Council meeting. EDC Member Jack Matasosky will present the information on Lakeville Tire & Auto Service, and owner Mark Allstot will be present to accept the award. Lakeville Tire & Auto Service is a full service auto repair and new tire sales facility located in the southern area of Downtown Lakeville next to the Dairy Delight and just across from Main Street Manor. Owned by the Allstot family in Lakeville since 1995, Lakeville Tire & Auto prides itself on being a full - service shop with long -term knowledgeable employees who over the years have really been able to get to know the customers and their vehicles. Servicing many vehicles owned by families mainly in Lakeville and Farmington, Lakeville Tire & Auto is able to offer everything from preventative vehicle maintenance, to major repair, to tire sales of all sizes and brands. A strong community partner, Lakeville Tire & Auto is involved in the local Business Expo, the Downtown Lakeville Business Association Retailers Group, local church and sports groups, and Pan `O Prog. An example of one more way Lakeville Tire & Auto strives to connect with its customers is its recent certification of being a "Female Friendly" auto repair business by online automotive advice website AskPatty.com. Lakeville Tire & Auto also partners with the business community and services many professional and fleet vehicles for Lakeville area businesses including several in the Airlake Industrial Park. Lakeville Tire & Auto also provides a job and tax benefit to the community. In addition to the four other people they employ, The Dakota County Assessor has assigned an estimated market value of just over $300,000 to the property. Based on current tax capacity rates, this market value will result in an estimated contribution of just over $10,000 in local property taxes going to support the City, Dakota County, and Independent School District 194 in 2011. On behalf of the Economic Development Commission I would like to thank Lakeville Tire & Auto Service for being a valued part of the Lakeville business community. 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F. y ice„ T O N C y CJ c y d x 8 x o to to lu s. ..7 . cd ca a a A ou Cm U � w w w C7 x x c .°� O O O a"' v) V)) V) vo V) Ln V) v . x x 0 0 c c CP Q (ti a r c� I r C r Q• 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M V7 Q\ D\ N C 00 v1 N oo- X000000 v�o�00000�n �o�oc O�toKi o 't M N N ^� O 0\ O N O" M 'I 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 I 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 m ° 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;000 00 M l� — O O N O O O I 0 0 0 0 0 O 0 0 0 0 0 0 i oo ioi o00o ioi oo� ioi ii�ii O O 66 0 0 0 0 Cri o N v-, OO O O O O O O C O C C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00vi0 M O M — O O O O O O O O 0 0 0 0 0 0 O O G 0 0 0 O N M O O j O C J O O 0 0 0 0 0 O O O O O O O O 0 0 0 O =0 O O O O O O O O O O O 0 0 vi \O vi �o 0 0 0 0 C C O C C O 0 0 0 0 C O C O O 00 M h It O\ Ln r O O M M O 17 N l� l- N ^� O N l� H H 0 0 0 0 0 O 0 0 0 0 0 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O 00 O Or-: O Iq 0 In O In O O O O O O O O O O O O N Go c r- 0 r- O 00 0 r- 00 ON O l— 0 o O O O C O O 0 0 0 O rr1 M M O1 O N m ON O V1 kn r- 00 O 00 ^ �O ti m 00 m O 10 M 1.0 00 vn m �O O 00 00 d d 00 m s. lu UI y C 3 °' a a: � T = C ❑ � ti c fi a o o cn o 3 0 a s as in w � ❑� � d C � y aLi w L � _C ❑ � U w :C L]. w Q N LY' y •� w bA > y y y R b 3e N a o o 'N CDA Dakota County Community Development Agency 9066000*6960009606*040 To: Dakota County Cities From: Dan Rogness, Director of Community Revitalization Date: April 15, 2011 Re: Foreclosure Update y M Foreclosure Counseling Events On Tuesday, March 29, CDA staff held free Walk -in Foreclosure Counseling for Homeowners at the CDA's office building in Eagan. Twenty -one households attended the event, where they were able to ask questions and get advice from trained Homeownership Specialists. CDA staff is tentatively planning to hold another foreclosure event toward the end of May. More details will be released once they become available. Foreclosure Rescue Scams Update A report released last week, "Have I Got a Deal for You! An Undercover Investigation of Mortgage Loan Modification Scams," documented some of the tactics used by foreclosure rescue scams to take advantage of homeowners. Among the findings: 55 percent of scammers required an upfront fee, or a small fee to complete minimal work 43 percent guaranteed or made promises that they could secure a loan modification, even before evaluating the homeowner's financial circumstances 24 percent advised homeowners to stop making mortgage payments A coalition of fair housing non - profit organizations, including The National Fair Housing Alliance, the Connecticut Fair Housing Center, Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia, Inc., and the Miami Valley Fair Housing Center commissioned the report, which can be viewed in its entirety at http : / /www.nationalfairhousing.org /Portals /33/ Loan %20Mod ification %20Scam %20 Repo rt Rdf Foreclosure rescue scams continue to cause issues for Minnesota homeowners as well. Three of the five news articles in this month's a -news document state and local homeowners who have fallen victim to the scams. For more information on fighting Minnesota foreclosure rescue scams, visit the Minnesota Home Ownership Center's public education campaign website at http://www.lookbeforeyouleal2.or-a/ Sighl HOME CDA Dakota County OW N E RS H I P IL Community Development Agency c f 0969000*099096000*0090 Dakota County Stats — March 2011 • # of Sheriff Sales in March — 197 (compared to 181 in March 20 10) • Total Sheriff Sales for 2011 — 513 (compared to 545 Jan. -March 20 10) • # of Notices of Pendency Filed in March — 350 • Total Notices of Pendency Filed in 2011 — 840 A Notice of Pendency is filed by a mortgage company's attorney as official notification that the foreclosure process has begun. Not all of these result in Sheriff Sales. Mapping Using Dakota County GIS httl2://gis.co.dakota.mn.us/website/dakotanetgis/ The Dakota County Office of GIS is updating the 2011 Foreclosures and Notice of Pendency layers on a monthly basis. If you need assistance using this Web page, please call Randy Knippel or Mary Hagerman with the Office of GIS at (952) 891 -7081. In The News Provided in this PDF file are a few notable foreclosure articles that were published in the last month. Among the points of interest: • LMS & Associates of St. Louis Park has been fined $100,000 according to the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The firm billed homeowners for mortgage modification services that were never received. • Various out of state companies have been ordered to stop doing business in Minnesota after charging homeowners upfront fees for services. • A California company is being sued by the Minnesota Attorney General for allegedly posing as homeowners' mortgage companies and then collecting fees for services that were never provided. • The foreclosure crisis is costing Minnesota cities time and money as they are forced to care for abandoned properties. • Dakota and Scott County officials are pondering how to help homeowners as foreclosures are expected to remain high, and perhaps increase this year. If you have any concerns, please call me at (651) 675 -4464 or send me an email at drogness __dakotacda.state.mn.us O N s u L n� ►7 H .i a� s O N_ Cl Co �O M LO t d' M N N N— � Ln ^ O N M M N O Ln O m — O. 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Todd Jacobson and his firm, LMS and Associates of St. Louis Park, billed 105 clients up to $2,995 for mortgage modification services they did not receive, the order said. Jacobson filed a false license application, forged signatures, falsely represented himself as a real estate broker and made misleading statements to customers, the order said. Jacobson did not admit the charges but agreed not to contest them. In a Feb. 3 order, Deputy Commerce Commissioner Kevin Murphy wrote: "That [Jacobson and LMS] preyed upon and took advantage of struggling homeowners is particularly offensive." JANE FRIEDMANN Print Powered By http://www.starttibune.com/templates/fdcp?1299613327156 3/8/2011 Format Dynamics:: C1eanPrint :: http : / /www.startribune.com/local/I 17773738.html �* �M, I TM i r. X. Page 1 of 2 Loan scams are thriving, Commerce says Loan modification scams are finding victims in desperate homeowners. By JAMES ELI SHIFFER', Star Tribune Last update: March 10, 2011 - 9:49 PM Homeowners desperate to fend off foreclosure should watch out for companies offering mortgage modifications they can't deliver, the Commerce Department advised Thursday. A Michigan company called Save My Home USA was recently told to stop doing business in Minnesota after the department found it had defrauded 118 Minnesotans out of nearly $300,000 with false promises of reducing their mortgage payments. Last month, the agency slapped a $10,000 fine on two California companies after they collected $12,000 from Minnesotans and provided no "meaningful assistance." In another recent action, Todd Jacobson and his company, LMS and Associates of St. Louis Park, were fined $100,000 for offering loan modifications and other foreclosure - related services without a license and using deceptive tactics. Save My Home USA of Madison Heights, Mich., could face even higher fines, based on the unlicensed activities uncovered by the Commerce Department. The company and its owners, Jason McCallum, Justin McCallum and Chad Buchanan, ignored subpoenas sent in August, changed their phone numbers and no longer appear to be doing business in Minnesota, the agency said. Customers told Commerce investigators that they paid up to $3,995 to negotiate lower mortgage payments. Just one of 23 customers interviewed by investigators said they actually got a modification. Dottie Lipe of Winsted, Minn., said she gave $2,000 to Save My Home USA in 2009. "We were talking to them for about three months. All of a sudden they disappeared," Lipe said. Her home is scheduled to be auctioned at a sheriffs sale this month, she said. Minnesota Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman urged consumers to contact the Commerce Department (651- 296 -2488) if they think they've been victimized. Kari Rudd, a lawyer with the Foreclosure Relief Law Project, recommended that Print Powered By tr http://www.starttibune.com/templates/fdcp?1299876534600 3/11/2011 Format Dynamics:: C1eanPrint :: http: / /www.startribune .com/local /117773738.htm1 Page 2 of 2 �47m: [*fl;m i I 1"I I homeowners seeking a way to avoid foreclosure contact the Minnesota Home Ownership Center (651- 659- 9336), which can refer them to foreclosure counselors and other resources. Print Powered By . "_. µtv:- http: / /www.startribune.com/templates /fdcp? 1299876534600 3/11/2011 Format Dynamics:: C1eanPrint :: http:// www. startribune .com/local /117933079.html �* lr�U Page 1 of 2 AG: Calif. company duped Minn. homeowners By PAUL WALSH', Star Tribune Last update: March 14, 2011 - 9:59 AM An out -of -state mortgage company is being accused of cheating Minnesota homeowners out of thousands of dollars by masquerading as their current lender. A lawsuit filed Monday in Hennepin County District Court by Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson alleges that Meredian Financial Corp. of Costa, Mesa., Calif., pretended to be homeowners' current mortgage company in order to gain their trust, then collected fees for refinancing services not delivered. "Meredian targeted homeowners struggling in the troubled economy who were looking to get out of an adjustable -rate mortgage or lower their interest rate by refinancing," Swanson said in a statement announcing the suit. The company's tactics, she said, "left homeowners with the short end of the stick." Numerous online consumer blogs indicate that Mededian has been carrying out this alleged scheme for the past few years. Also, regulators in Georgia last year ordered Meredian to stop doing business in their state. A telephone message was left with Meredian seeking reaction to the suit. Here's how the attorney general's office says the scheme worked: Meredian presented itself as a homeowner's current mortgage lender, sometimes mentioning the consumer's lender by name, other times not. Meredian then made numerous false representations including low fixed rates, no out -of- pocket expenses, no appraisal requirement, and that the refinance had already been approved by an underwriter, in order to get them to pay up- front "rate- lock" fees. Meredian said that these fees -- typically from $1,000 to $4,000 -- would be refunded at closing, which it contended would occur within 30 -45 days. Once Meredian obtained the fees, it would cease work on the loan, creating excuses such as asking for documents the homeowner had already provided or that were irrelevant to the refinance, or changing the terms of the refinance with higher rates and fees. Print Po i Dynamics http:// www .startribune.com/templates /fdcp? 1300118900416 3/14/2011 Format Dynamics CleanPrint :: http: / /www.startribune .com/local /117933079.html Page 2 of 2 �* M.M7MIrMT111-il Homeowners who attempted to cancel and requested that Meredian return their up- front fees were denied refunds. Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482 Print Powered By Dynamics i http://www.startribune.com/templates/fdcp? 1300118900416 3/14/2011 Format Dynamics:: C1eanPrint :: http: / /www. startribune .com /local/11593341.html �qi M10 fy-ur I =- Page 1 of 2 Wave of foreclosures cost cities time and money Unpaid water bills, tracking down landlords, chasing more people out of more boarded buildings: When so many property owners have problems, city governments have problems. By Steve Brandt and Randy Furst, Star Tribune Last update: March 23, 2011 - 1:44 PM The north Minneapolis duplex where Latonia Bray is a renter bears a bright orange placard on its front door these days.It warns that unless her landlord pays a bill of $117, her water will be shut off in two weeks. The duplex is also in foreclosure, so either way she'll have to find new housing. "My hands are tied, and what can I do ?" she wondered last week.Her predicament is evident around Minneapolis, St. Paul and other Minnesota cities.As a rising tide of foreclosures washes over them, local governments are getting stuck spending more time dealing with the growing problem -- and collecting less money because of it.Bray's water bill is one example. If her landlord doesn't pay the bill, the city has to wait until the foreclosing lender or a new owner settles up. While the duplex sits empty, the city will be forced to spread the costs of its water system over fewer households.That's just one of many new consequences.Police officers are chasing people out of more boarded buildings. Inspectors are issuing more citations for uncut grass or unshoveled snow. Assessors are having to more closely scrutinize housing to determine its market value.In New Prague, a rash of foreclosures in one subdivision has left city officials wrestling with whether to reconnect power to vacant foreclosed homes in damp soils and pay for a small amount of electricity needed to keep sump pumps running. Otherwise, water damage to those houses could eat into the city's tax base.Laura Harris, a lobbyist for the League of Minnesota Cities, said that foreclosed properties, especially those now empty, are eating up the time of city officials.Member cities complain most about the time involved in tracking down owners of the property. "It's very difficult to locate who the owner is," Harris said. That's because mortgage loans are resold among lenders and investors.In Minneapolis, foreclosures are a dominant factor behind a doubling of vacant properties tracked by the city's problem property unit. That's jumped from 360 properties last December to 718 this week. And that number could hit 1,000 Powered By --��, http: / /www. startribune .com /templates /fdcp ?unique= 1301065115115 3/25/2011 Format Dynamics:: C1eanPrint :: http:// www. startribune .com /local /I 1593341.htm1 6" 1"? -a Am: � Page 2 of 2 by the end of next year, according to Tom Deegan, who manages the unit.Deegan estimated that 80 percent of those vacancies result from foreclosure.Adding up the costs Some of the costs of keeping an eye on those abandoned houses are quantifiable. For example, the city has spent $1 million to board up properties this year. That cost can be assessed against the property, like unpaid water bills, but it can take years until the property is sold before the assessment is paid. Deegan said the city recovers maybe 60 percent of boarding costs.The city also incurs indirect costs because Deegan's 10- person unit spends about three - quarters of its time tracking boarded property. That's time that could be spent working with problem tenants or owners in occupied houses, he said.Those unoccupied houses also aren't using utilities such as water, sewer and garbage service in which the city has invested.For example, the city has lost 2,400 residential garbage customers since 2003, a period that coincides with the spike in foreclosures. That drop has cost the city roughly $1.4 million in garbage fees.Although the city saves on disposal costs, fixed costs make up well more than half of the monthly average garbage bill of $22. For example, city garbage trucks still put on the same number of miles running past those empty houses to serve remaining customers. "It'll probably make your garbage rates go up quicker than they would have," said City Council President Barb Johnson, whose ward is one of the hardest hit by foreclosures. City coffers miss $1 millionThat same customer loss affects water and sewer collections. They're running an estimated $1.1 million less this year than they would be if those empty homes were occupied. St. Paul water officials say they're also seeing more water accounts shut off for unpaid bills, although the number of residential customers is up overall.Having fewer customers to share the fixed costs of city water is particularly critical for Minneapolis because it's paying off a $140 million ultrafiltration plant.But unless Bray's landlord pays the water bill, the unit won't be contributing. A water shutoff means she'd need to find new housing by mid - November, a month earlier than when her landlord's lender is likely to take over the property. Bray's move will pose extra costs for the city, too, because she gets a city - administered federal rent subsidy that will have to be reissued. sbrandt c)startribune. com • 612 - 673 -4438 rfurst@startribune. com • 612 - 673 -7382 Print Powered By, �jj, http://www.startlibune.com/templates/fdcp?unique=1301065115115 3/25/2011 Format Dynamics:: CleanPrint :: http: / /www.startribune .com/local /south/22846179.html q�_ 0. V Page 1 of 2 Foreclosures have officials in Scott, Dakota pondering how to help A grim rise in foreclosures creates challenges for south -metro counties: What to do and at what cost? By DAVID PETERSON and JOY POWELL, Star Tribune staff writers Last update: March 23, 2011 - 1:17 PM Government officials across the southern metro area are being warned that the home - foreclosure mess is deepening, creating serious questions as to what they can or should do about it in a year when they themselves face exceptionally tight budgets. The increase in the number of sheriffs sales in Dakota County from last year to this year is expected to be almost as great as the total number of sheriffs sales in 2006, that county's board is being told. And the board in Scott County was informed this week that foreclosure numbers there are expected to double this year over last, after having doubled from the year before -- and that it is likely to be a couple of years before they stabilize. "It is a daunting task," said Mary Monteith, assistant director of the Carver County Community Development Agency, which works with Scott County on these issues. "Some days we look at each other and ask, 'Why do we do this ? "' Scott County Commissioner Jon Ulrich told Monteith: "My impression is that your caseload far exceeds your ability to respond. We're taking a sip out of a fire hydrant of water. And time is not on anyone's side -- not the homeowner's, and not the lender's." Monteith said it's vital to get word out that help is available for people sliding into crisis. And the earlier they take steps to respond, the better, she said. It's even possible for government agencies to assemble packages of financial help to get homeowners through temporary crises. In an interview on Wednesday, she stressed that money is not being handed out willy- nilly. "We will not put public money in unless we are satisfied that the hardship has been overcome and can be shown -- on paper, in black and white -- that they can now afford P Po B � ! http:// www .startribune.com/templates /fdcp ?unique= 1301066984140 3/25/2011 Format Dynamics:: C1eanPrint :: http: / /www.startribune .com/local /south/22846179.html s Page 2 of 2 that mortgage." Both Scott and Dakota are among the state's most affluent counties. As recently as 2001, there were fewer than 200 sheriffs sales of foreclosed properties in Dakota. There were just fewer than 1,600 sheriffs sales in 2007, with some of the highest rates being in Fannington, South St. Paul and West St. Paul. The fallout is hitting homeowners' associations, which are seeing dues go unpaid; cities, which are dealing with unpaid utility bills and unmowed lawns; and neighborhoods, which are seeing property values pulled down because of foreclosures, Dakota County analysts said. As the market corrects itself and there are more foreclosures, more residents will be moving into apartments, they said. Perhaps that could help decrease rents, which in 2007 averaged $1,200 for a three - bedroom apartment. In Scott, meanwhile, Monteith said Wednesday that sheriffs sales have zoomed from 328 in 2006 to 606 last year and are expected to top 1,240 this year, without relenting anytime soon. The No. 1 reason, her staff believes, is poor money management: people who take on more than they can afford. But that accounted for only about a fifth of May's cases. Other reasons included loss of a job, divorce, medical costs, failed business ventures and mortgage products such as refinancings that people didn't understand. "People will sign anything you put in front of them; it's amazing," she told Scott commissioners. "They beat themselves up when they realize they didn't trust their gut instincts." dapeterson(astartribune.com 952- 882 -9023 jpowell@startribune.com • 952 -882 -9016 Print Powered http:// www .startribune.com/templates /fdcp ?unique= 1301066984140 3/25/2011 1nanc: �& Commerce > Print> Cheerleader for the Twin Cities, in a sui.. Finance & Commerce http:Hfinance- commerce.com/wp- content /plugins /dmc_sociabl e_toolba... Cheerleader for the Twin Cities, in a suit and tie by Chris Newmarker Published: March 30th, 2011 CEO of new group has mission to drive regional development Other major metro areas have them. But do Twin Cities residents need to pay for an organization marketing the region's wonders to outside business executives? That's the question Michael Langley will have to address as the newly appointed chief executive officer of the Greater Minneapolis -St. Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership. Some question whether the 13- county region needs yet another economic development organization. The Itasca Project, an informally organized group including chief executives of the area's largest companies, latched onto a different point of view last year - that the region could be missing out on opportunities because there wasn't a go -to place for interested companies. The Itasca Project helped set up the regional partnership in January. Now it's up to Langley, who acted as a consultant in setting up the organization, to prove that it's worth its $2.8 million annual budget - nearly a third of which comes from county and city governments and the rest from large corporations such as Ecolab and General Mills whose chief executives sit on the partnership's board. : / /finance - commerce.com Langley will receive a $257,000 annual salary, which does not include yet- to -be- determined bonuses if he meets goals, such as actually creating or retaining jobs in the Twin Cities. Three pillars' Sit down with the 58- year -old Langley and he will soon come to the three "pillars" the economic partnership can supply for the Twin Cities economy: Improve the brand identity of the Minneapolis -St. Paul region to companies and business executives elsewhere in the United States - and the world. "If we're not telling our story on a global scale, we're probably missing out on opportunities," he says. Become a central repository of research and information about the region, and use that information to help companies inside and outside the Twin Cities make decisions. That includes developing a regional strategy by the end of 2011, with the partnership pinpointing target industries and sectors to grow in the Twin Cities. Provide project management and support to local economic development officials. That includes providing leads on companies interested in their communities. "Then we're providing information to help them as they create projects with companies that are interested in expanding or coming here," he says. For now, Langley is building the organization, which is subletting downtown St. Paul space from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce for the next two years. Langley started about two weeks ago. He has one full -time worker and a part- timer, and plans to hire at least 10 more people this year. The multisyllabic name of the partnership could be changed. Langley is looking for people who know how to market and sell. A website is in the works. Langley seems personable enough himself. His accent gives away that he is a native of the South, born in Arkansas. Asked what the organization eventually would be-called, he demurred, "No scoop for you on that one yet." 'A solid strategy' i The next step is making sure the regional economic partnership has a solid strategy in place. of 1/31/2011 10.19 AM Michael Langley, chief executive officer of the new Greater Minneapolis -St. Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership. (Staff photo: Bill Klotz) inance & Commerce > Print> Cheerleader for the Twin Cities, in a sui... http: // finance- commerce.com/wp- content /plugins /dmc_Sociable_f(-)olba... j "You want to foster the industries that are already here while you're adding exciting new entrants to your market," Langley said. "Health care is a big thing here and all the health and medical technology activities in j the region. "We still have the traditional wholesale and retail industries here. We have the food industry, the bio industry. All those industries are extremely strong, and we want to continue seeing growth in those areas.... We have some great manufacturing companies here, and we want to foster that type of growth." In many ways, Langley needs to do for the Twin Cities what he did for Pittsburgh, where he ran the Allegheny Conference from 2003 to 2009. Three organizations - the marketing- focused Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce and the research - oriented Pennsylvania Economy League - formally joined in 2003 under the j Allegheny Conference, which was similar to the Itasca Project before the merger. "What Mike inherited when he came in, in 2003, was a brand -new entity that had just been put together.... There were a lot of challenges in the beginning to get it to operate as one entity serving 10 counties," said Bill Flanagan, the Allegheny Conference's executive vice president of corporate relations since 2001. Challenges included getting the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance to partner more with local economic government officials to generate leads of companies interested in expanding or relocating. "The other thing that has happened is much more attention being paid to our own members and the businesses already operating in the region," Flanagan said. A signature accomplishment for Langley was to help persuade officials at Westinghouse Electric Co., a former employer, to build a new engineering center in the Pittsburgh area rather than the Carolinas, where the company has a large presence. "A lot of the big deals in the past five years have involved Pittsburgh -based companies, home -grown companies making investments here," Flanagan said. Langley left the Allegheny Conference in 2009 and went into consulting. Langley left the Allegheny Conference at the same time that Dennis Yablonsky, a Pittsburgh -area native and former secretary of Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development, was available to take over as the group's chief executive, said Daniel Booker, a senior partner at the Reed Smith law firm who was on the conference's board at the time. Langley says he saw opportunities in consulting, and he supported Yablonsky replacing him. So how did Langley end up here? The Itasca Project hired him as a consultant for its jobs growth task force in March 2010. Eventually, executives such as Doug Baker, the chief executive officer of St. Paul -based Ecolab, decided Langley was experienced and accomplished enough to run the new partnership. "Michael's work with the Itasca Project allowed him to become familiar with the region, as well as our business and government communities - experience that will allow him to hit the ground running," Baker said. Facing skepticism Not everyone in the Pittsburgh -area community thinks the Allegheny Conference has really helped. Jake Haulk, the president of the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy, points out that the number of jobs in the Pittsburgh metro area is still below where it was in 2001. "I think he worked hard and he tried," Haulk said of Langley. Marketing, though, can only go so far in selling a region, Haulk said. "Some people could sell soap to anybody, but if you have great soap it's easier." The Greater Minneapolis -St. Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership is already facing similar skepticism. That includes questions about why the group is needed on top of the host of economic programs and agencies already in Minnesota, from the St. Paul Port Authority to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. 'How many tax dollars have to go into trying to tell everybody, 'Gee, this is a wonderful place ?' Maybe this is our own form of propaganda that we have to convince ourselves that it is so great to stay here," said Phil Krinkie, president of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota. But consultants who help companies find locations for new facilities have a different point of view about regional economic development groups. of 1 3/11 / ? nil 10.39 AM Finang4,& Commerce > Print > Cheerleader for the Twin Cities, in a sui... http: / /finance- commerce.com/wp- content /plugins /dmc_sociable_toolba... "A community having a one -stop shop that can respond to and represent the whole region is very convenient and very strong," said Christopher Steele, president of Newton Highlands, Mass. -based CWS Consulting Group. "Just the presence of an organization like that gives the impression that there's a level of cohesion in the region." Pedro Eikelenboom, president of Arvore Consulting in Washington, D.C., said a regional approach helps because companies interested in setting up new facilities can see there's a long -term plan. "You have to focus on a few sectors: 'We're going to attract these sectors; name three or four. "' Langley says the Twin Cities area has many assets to boast about - from an educated workforce to strong research institutions to a variety of recreational activities. "I'm someone who has come here by choice," he says. "This is a really great region. I know that if I'm predisposed to be a part of this region, then there will be other people who understand that story." Bio: Michael Langley Title: CEO Employer: Greater Minneapolis -St. Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership Born: 1952, in Hot Springs, Ark. Education: B.S. in analytical management, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.; M.S. in information systems, Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. Career highlights: Founder and CEO of the Langley Group, 2009 -11; CEO of the Allegheny Conference in Pittsburgh, Pa., 2003 -09; CEO of Westinghouse Audio Intelligence Devices Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 1993 -97; U.S. Navy officer, active duty and reserves, retiring as a captain, 1975 -2000. Family: Wife, Julie Ann; adult son and daughter; two grandsons. I Complete URL: http: / /finance - commerce.com/ 2011/03 /cheerleader- for - twin - cities -in -a -suit- and -tie/ 3 of 3 3/31/2011 10:39 AM BUSINESS' J 0"U NA L April 1, 2011 mspbj.com Y Industrial outlook spurs projects BY SAM BLACK STAFF WRITER Dan Regan is preparing 65 acres of land in Lakeville for a new business park where he hopes to attract large industrial -space tenants. Regan, principal with Airlake Development Inc. in Lakeville, is optimistic that he can attract a large enough tenant, who needs at least 100,000 square feet of space, to jump - start the newAirlake 70 business park. The park, which could accommodate up to 900,000 square feet of industrial space, is adjacent to the Regan fam- ily's Airlake Business Park, which was developed over the past 20 years and is running low on big lots. Regan expects to get city environ- mental approvals in May and wants to break ground on a building this summer, provided he can attract a large enough lead tenant. "Right now, I've got a prospect list that's several real serious prospects deep that we're chasing, and we're hoping to land one of these build -to- suits that would kick off this expan- sion yet in 2011," Regan said. "I'm confident that if nothing else, it will happen in 2012 at the latest." There are several signs that manu- facturers are inching their way back from the recession, news that whets the appetite of developers like Regan. Minnesota's manufacturing sector added 4,500 jobs in 2010, account- ing for about one of every four jobs added in the state last year. Exports of manufactured goods made in the state soared 17.3 percent in 2010 to about $17.2 billion. Plus, some big manufacturers in the state posted strong gains in 2010, including 3M Co., Polaris Industries Inc., Pentair Inc., Donaldson Co. Inc. and Graco Inc. Meanwhile, space absorption, which is a reflection of demand for commercial real estate, has been im- proving. (Absorption is the measure- ment of leased space at one point in time compared to the amount leased at another time.) Demand for Twin Cities industrial space pushed absorption to 260,862 square feet for the fourth quarter of 2010, the highest level since the third quarter of 2007, according to the 2011 Annual Market Report is- sued in March by Cassidy Turley in Minneapolis. The industrial vacancy rate, a mea- sure of real estate supply, dipped in the fourth quarter to about 13 per- cent from about 13.5 percent in the I ON THE UPSWING Quarterly industrial absorption in the Twin Cities hit the highest level in two years in the fourth quarter of 2010. 1.5 — 1.0 — 0.5 — N o o -0.5 — C -1.5 2 ' 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 � 4 0 7 0 0 � , Q , ?o ?o ?o bo 'Po" ?o ?o ?o bo ?o ?o ?o ?o� ?o� ?o� ' B 6 8 9 9 9 9 S O O O O Source: Cassidy Turley third quarter. The improving metrics reflect the anecdotal evidence in the market. "We've seen more activity in the past six months than we've seen in the past four years," said Jon Yanta, senior vice president at NorthMarq Real Estate Services in Bloomington. Distribution space seems to be par- ticularly in demand, Yanta said. There are a number of businesses seeking between 200,000 and 400,000 square feet in the metro area for distribution and there are few options that large. Yanta predicts the Twin Cities will start to see some build -to -suit proj- ects for specific companies this year, but he doesn't expect significant speculative construction until rents stabilize and concessions, such as free rent, go away. Pat Mascia, senior vice president of Duke Realty Corp. who heads the company's Twin Cities office, said Duke recently landed several deals that demonstrate the mar- ket is picking up steam, including a 88,000 - square -foot deal with Chicago - based Columbia Pipe & Supply Co. at the Apollo Industrial Center in Eagan and an expansion of 24,000 square feet in Brooklyn Park by St. Louis -based Graybar Electric Co. Inc. "We're seeing a lot more activity in the market, and it's just good to get some deals inked," Mascia said. Mascia believes industrial demand is slowly recovering, but he said there's still a lot of vacancy that needs to be soaked up before there's any substantial development. Industrial is one of those product types that turns around a bit quicker than other sectors. It only takes six or seven months tc build a building, so it's less risky thar office, certainly, Mascia said. "You can time the market a little bi better, theoretically. And so if you se( that development is coming, but tha it's a year or two away, now is the timf to start lining up your land positions if you dont have one." sbiack @bizjournals.com 1 (612) 288 -2103 n81161 Nunn 1 mnncn .—,., ­­ • •"^ Dan Regan, principal of Airlake Development, is optimistic he can land a large tenant and break ground on a Lakeville business park. Industrial developers are seeing more demand for space.