Hugo BR&E

Michael clarifies data release to Hugo

2010-02-14T02:51:38Z

Rachel has requested that Brigid send her the statements that businesses made on the surveys to complement the summarized graphs that have been created. Michael explained that as a trusted leader of the program that she should have that access.

Michael debriefs Rachel about the Retreat

2010-02-14T02:40:22Z

I (Michael) just de-briefed a little with Rachel Simone at Hugo about how the retreat went. She has Monday off but will call Bruce on Tuesday. Brigid, if you would send her the open-ended data from the survey she wants to see that. I looped her into these project descriptions just now.

Two of her concerns are:

1. Unpacking some of these really big projects like the marketing project. So that there are steps identified and plans made. I assured her that that is the big focus of the 2-16 meeting. Starting the planning.

2. Her other concern is that they are going to try to convince the Hwy 61 project team to convert their project into a downtown improvement committee. Because the city already has a done-deal with MnDOT and Ramsey County for an MOA that is about to be approved on how to deal with Hwy. 61 issues going forward. The city officials didn't want to bring it up at the BR&E retreat because they thought that would distract the Task Force from the agenda for the retreat. If the Hwy 61 project committee wants to stay with that topic, then she wants to construct another committee to deal with downtown improvement, which would represent a 5th project for implementation. I assured her that either outcome is fine, as long as the Task Force doesn't feel like a sneaky trick is being done. This is Hugo's BR&E project; Extension is just here to help.

She thought the retreat went OK and I assured her that Hugo has an impressive BR&E group. From my experience, this is a pretty fired up community about their BR&E and they seem quite dedicated to working on the implementation.

That's what I know. Bruce, if you want to add this to the blog that would be helpful, I don't think I can make entries myself.

Michael Darger

Bruce adds ..Another possibility for the Hwy 61 committee is how the community can help the businesses along Hwy 61 as the construction is taking place. This could be a stressful time for the businesses along the highway.

Retreat was well attended

2010-02-11T00:42:22Z

The BR&E retreat was well attended for a day of snow storms. We started with about 25 attendees and still had about 20 at the end of 4+ hours. Four priority projects were selected.

Project #1: Market the City

This project is based on several potential projects that all related to efforts to market the City of Hugo. It was suggested that the City of Hugo needs a tagline. Once this tagline is developed, it would present opportunities to market Hugo further. Sub-themes that were mentioned included: developing opportunities to have billboards on Hwy 35 (research report potential project #3); bringing in an outside marketing campaign to promote Hugo; and identify and develop Hugo's niche in the Twin Cities business market (research report potential project # 7).

Committee (Yellow Dots): Bryan Bear (City of Hugo), Phil Klein (Hugo City Council), Deb Barnes (The Citizen newspaper), Tom Weidt (Hugo City Council), Rachel Simone (City of Hugo), and S-Dog.

Votes (Blue Dots): 16

Project #2: Create/Coordinate/Encourage Events

Discussion on this project centered on encouraging events in Hugo. It was felt events draw people, and their dollars, into Hugo. There were two discussions around this topic. First, it was concluded that the committee could work to encourage events that currently occur in the city and to recruit in new events. These events would not be sponsored by the City of Hugo, but rather civic and social organizations. Second, the idea of creating a new, unique, annual event was mentioned. Following up on that, there was discussion of utilizing Hugo's reputation as a horse-friendly town to create that event. Hugo was formerly home to a large annual event that drew many horse-lovers into the city.

Committee (Yellow Dots): Jim Bever (Hugo EDA), Patti Breen (Northern Lights Pediatrics), Shayla Syverson (EDA/Parks Intern), Mike Gallivan (Gallivan Insurance), Lions Club, Rachel Simone (City of Hugo), and Joe (Hugo Feed Mill).

Votes (Blue Dots): 15

Project #3: Address Highway 61 Access Issues

This project is focused on addressing issues with Highway 61 access. This is based on the research report potential project # 4. It was agreed that accessing the businesses along Highway 61 can be difficult.

Committee (Yellow Dots): Bryan Bear (City of Hugo), R. Fischer, Dennis Hegberg (Washington County Commissioner), Tom Denaway, and Steve Marier (Hugo Feed Mill).

Votes (Blue Dots): 7

Project #4: Host Business and Breakfast Workshop

This is based on potential project # 12 in the research report. This would be a business breakfast that would give opportunity for city, county, and state officials time to interact with business owners. It was suggested that the first topic be an update of the BR&E project.

Committee (Yellow Dots): Duane Arens (Connexus Energy), Mike Ericson (City of Hugo), Galen Carlson (North Country Auto Body), Rachel Simone (City of Hugo), Bryan Bear (City of Hugo), and Bruce Sayler (Connexus Energy).

Votes (Blue Dots): 6

Implementation meeting is set for Tuesday the 16th. Most groups have 6 or more names.

Rachel agreed to move back the BR&E commencement by a week or two. We will discuss next week.

Took off for Florida the morning after the retreat. Unfortunately, I had a car accident on the way to the airport.

Cover page and other report items

2010-01-12T21:12:00Z

I sent the draft cover page with the logos to Rachel for review and she is trying to get the missing logo for the Premier Bank. She sent me the latest City of Hugo logo. I asked her to send the dates of any last Warning Flag meetings and the names of any missing sponsors.

Campus Meeting

2010-01-12T21:09:01Z

On January 7 we had good attendance at the campus meeting. All of the planned Hugo people made it, although a bit late because of the weather. We did lose our labor market analyst because of a death in the family.

Attendee List for Campus Meeting

2009-12-22T16:25:18Z

Joan has confirmed 16 people for the January 7th Hugo BR&E Research Review Meeting:

Rachel Vilsack
Ed Dieter
Gene Goddard
Duane Arens
Karyn Berg
Liz Davis
Ward Nefstead
Lee Munnich

From Hugo:
Bryan Bear
Mike Ericson
Shayla Syverson
Galen Carlson
Rachel Simone

Staff:
Michael Darger
Bruce Schwartau
Brigid Tuck

TOTAL: 16

Three surveys emailed to Brigid

2009-12-18T17:29:22Z

Rachel sent me scans of 3 surveys which I forwarded to Brigid. Today is the deadline that Rachel was using for surveys to be completed. She expects about 5 to come in.

Upcoming Campus Meeting

2009-12-18T17:25:15Z

Those attending from Hugo will be the following: Rachel Simone (coord), Shayla Syverson (asst coord), Bryan Bear (EDA), Mike Ericson (admin), and Galen Carlson (visitation coord, businessman).

Expected Survey Completion Date & Number

2009-12-10T21:52:19Z

Rachel tells me that 35 surveys have been sent to Brigid, 2 more are in hand, and another 8 are expected by the 18th. This makes a total of 45 businesses surveyed.

Rachel will forward the final business list and the Task Force Membership to me soon and will also send me the logos of the financial supporters.

I can remove Shelly from the email list now since her internship has been completed in Hugo. She is volunteering her services in Oakdale to keep her name out there while she has a paid job in a retail store.

First Hugo BR&E Implementation Meeting Moved Back

2009-12-04T01:41:54Z

I had discussed the timing of the first Implementation Meeting with Rachel in emails. Since the Task Force Retreat was moved from January to February 8, the first Implementation Meeting will be moved back a few days to Tuesday, February 16 rather than holding it during the same week as the Retreat.

For Brigid - Leadership Team Members

2009-12-02T21:26:11Z

Overall Coordinator - Rachel Simone (Hugo)
Associate Overall Coordinator - Shayla Syverson (Hugo)
Business Resource Coordinator - Beth Jameston (DEED)
Milestone Meeting Coordinator - Pat Nygaard
Visitation Coordinator - Galen Carlson
Media Coordinator - Deb Barnes

For Brigid - How were the businesses selected?

2009-12-02T21:18:07Z

The approximately 270 businesses were placed into business categories using NAICS codes. The desire was to get an equal proportion, randomly selected, from each category. Every business selected was done by that random number within their business category. 70 businesses were selected and a random alternative was chosen for every category when a business refused to be surveyed.

Rachel Vilsack will write Chapter 2

2009-12-01T22:15:52Z

From Brigid on 12/1/09For those of you keeping track, DEED Labor Analyst Rachel Vilsack has graciously agreed to prepare Chapter II for our Hugo BRE research report.

Rachel Simone is starting to collect the logos of the sponsors according to her 11/30/09 email.

Mid November activity - Changing timetable; Chapter 1 & 2

2009-11-25T20:26:10Z

Another 11 surveys went to Brigid this week and Rachel will be mailing them directly to Brigid from this point forward. Rachel says that there are 36 done as of early this week and another Warning Flag meeting has been held. That makes 3 to this date.

I had originally told Rachel that we would like all of the surveys to Brigid by December 1. I misunderstood Brigid who tells me it could have been the 8th. In order to get the most surveys back, the decision was made to conduct the campus meeting on January 7, 2010. Rachel's internal deadline is to have everything back by the 18th but a last straggler could be submitted to Brigid by January 4. The Hugo Task Force Retreat has a tentative date of Monday, February 8 since Michael will be out of state later in the week.

Brigid will make the request to the labor analyst for that area to write Chapter 2 of the BR&E report. I will visit with Rachel to get the logos of the sponsors and the final list of the Task Force.

Surveys transferred to Brigid

2009-11-12T22:39:04Z

Bruce's tempoary support staff entered the survey data into a spreadsheet for 12 surveys. Bruce double checked 8 before transferring the 12 surveys to Brigid at the CE meeting on campus.