Menahga BR&E

BR&E Implementation Team moves forward

2013-01-18T19:07:40Z

Ryan reported that most of the five project teams are moving along. Bernice O. is a mover and shaker, from Horizons project, who suggests that senior housing is one of the things they could work on. Ryan is working with all the teams to do what he can to nudge them along. He has issued notes for their last big meeting before Christmas. The LT keeps meeting, minus Walt. There is a chance that Maxine N. could be brought back into the project.

Ryan used the word Implementation Team to describe former BR&E TF members plus others who are still involved. He will pitch doing a Ripple Effect Mapping session with the Imp. Team for the week of May 20th. Which would be about 9 mos. after Commencement and a good time to have them report out on the ripples from the BR&E

Brigid, could you add Ryan to this blog if he isn't already on it? Thanks. Michael

Campus Review panel

2012-05-09T15:15:28Z

Campus research review was held on April 12, 2012. Good turnout from the community and from campus folks. Strengths identified included: internet, growth in population, businesses not expecting to downsize, future demand for precision employees, unskilled, professional and management, strong schools, good nursing facility, highway access, natural amenities and low crime. Weaknesses: upcoming retirements by business owners, lack of proximity to markets, apathy, access to employee training, taxes, and water/sewer rates.

IIn attendance: Brigid Tuck (Extension), Adeel Ahmed (Extension), Kent
Gustafson (Tourism Center), Michael Darger (Extension), Tim Quelley
(DEED), Walt Salo (Menahga), Marc Nevinski (Coon Rapids Community
Development), Matt Kane (Extension), Jodie Kaden (Extension), Pat Foss
(Menahga), Liz Olson (Menahga), Kyle Uphoff (DEED), Roger Henstorf
(Menahga), Ward Nefstead (Applied Economics).

Menahga In the News

2011-12-13T16:57:35Z

From the Sebeka-Menahga Review Messenger on 12/8/11:

Menahga focuses on job creation | Print | E-mail
BY JAN JACKOLA • December 8, 2011
The City of Menahga is engaged in two projects that should help direct the City Council on planning for it's future needs.

A Task Force is currently surveying businesses in and around Menahga. This survey is part of a Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) Strategies Program, which is sponsored by the City of Menahga, the Initiative Foundation, MN Department of Employment and Economic Development and the University of Minnesota Extension Service.

The Task Force is made up of local volunteers who were recruited to participate and trained by a Minnesota Extension Educator in Community Economics, Adeel Ahmed.

The BR&E Leadership team sent out sample surveys prior to the interview session. This gave business owners a heads-up on what types of questions the surveyors would be asking.

Currently, the Task Force is in the process of contacting and scheduling a session with businesses. Two members of the task force will go to each session - one to perform the interview and one to record the answers. The survey is confidential.

The goal for completing all the face-to-face interviews is three months. The group is ahead of schedule; at three weeks in, they are half done.

City Administrator Walter Salo said overall, the Task Force has gotten a good response from business owners so far.

The results of the survey will be analyzed and reviewed by U of M faculty. They will suggest projects and ways to meet business concerns in the community.

Long term goals of the BR&E are:

Build community capacity to sustain business growth and development through creation of a broad-based coalition;
Increase local businesses' ability to compete in the global economy; and
Establish and implement a strategic plan for economic development.
Other communities that have participated in the BR&E program include Monticello, Faribault and Isanti. Menahga is one of the smallest communities to participate in the program.

The other project the City of Menahga is working on is revising the City's Comprehensive Plan. The City began working on the revision a month ago, and plan to complete it by March or April. The Region 5 Development Commission is assisting the City with the revision.

The last revision of the Comprehensive Plan for the City of Menahga dates back to 1978. City Administrator Salo said 1978 version was very well done. Overall, the City has followed the plan, but it was a tool the City did not utilize every year.

Salo said that with a new mayor and council, the City has embarked in a new direction, with the bottom line being "to create jobs."

Menahga Surveys Update

2011-12-05T18:30:40Z

As of 12/5/11, I have 24 completed surveys in the Mankato Office.

Adeel informs me that a Warning Flag Review meeting is scheduled for 12/14/11. If preliminary data is available, we will share at that meeting.

Test - Discard

2011-09-28T18:31:57Z

I am testing the email notification system. If you get this email, please disregard.

Accepted into program

2011-09-26T18:51:22Z

On an unanimous decision, Menahga was accepted into the BR&E program by MD, BT and AA as a Standard BR&E. They could use a few more TF members than the 14 identified to date (including the five LT members). They will probably go with the Monticello extra questions on the survey. Adeel will have them consider whether to go with a mixed convenience sample or if they just want to go after the largest employers + manufacturers. The timeline is reasonable and there is a fair amount of slack in the time allowed for completing the visits.

At just over 1,000 people, this town will be the smallest community Michael has worked with since '99. Only Lanesboro is known to be smaller, amongst BR&E participants, and they had a great program with us.

First big meeting held in Menahga

2011-08-25T14:56:09Z

Adeel reports that he presented the BR&E Strategies Program to Menahga on July 26th. He said it's all systems go, he expects to receive a completed application and that it will probably be Menahga only, not a bigger area. He gives credit to the RDC 5 ED guy and the fact that Maxine brought a car full of folks to the Staples Getting Started with BR&E workshop a couple years ago.

LCE vs. CE roles

2011-06-09T19:31:18Z

In our May 19 check-in meeting we agreed that Maxine is a "champion" for BR&E and will be on the Leadership Team. However, Adeel is the consultant and will play that role robustly as if no one else from CV is involved in the project. It is a unique situation to have another CVer selling the program for us, but we do not want to assume that LCE is doing anything more than that.

Also, that they'll want the $15,000 premium version of BR&E Strategies and that they're hoping to get ~$4,000 from Initiative Foundation.

University of Minnesota BR&E Team Meets

2011-05-24T14:46:23Z

Michael, Brigid, Adeel, and Maxine met on May 19th at the CV gathering to discuss the status of the Menahga BR&E project. Menahga is ready to go. Maxine will continue to work with Adeel to prepare the formal application. Some members of the Menahga community may attend the Lyon County community commencement.

Menahga Begins BRE Journey

2011-05-09T14:34:29Z

The City of Menahga is beginning efforts to participate in U of M Extension's BRE Strategies program. The ED Commission has approved applying to the program. They have allocated the necessary financial resources. They are now working on assembling the Leadership Team.