HomeMy WebLinkAboutIV.A - Update to Strategic Plan for Economic Development
HEDRA Memorandum
To: HEDRA Commissioners
From: Rusty Fifield, Economic Development Coordinator
Date: May 6, 2020
Subject: Update to Strategic Plan for Economic Development
With the start of the 2021 budgeting process soon upon us, it is time to start working on the
update to the Strategic Plan for Economic Development. This will be a challenge. The
implications of the COVID-19 pandemic make it difficult to know economic conditions next
month. How can we plan for next year? Clearly, helping local businesses cope with and recover
from the impacts of COVID-19 will be an important activity for HEDRA. While the Coronavirus
demands our attention, we should not lose track of other important economic development
issues facing Hastings.
I have not yet found an effective way to conduct group process in a Zoom meeting. So, to help
facilitate this discussion I have a small homework assignment for you. Please send me a list of
not more than five things that HEDRA should do in 2021. I ask that you send me your list before
the end of the day on Wednesday to give me time to compile the information prior to our
meeting.
Your issues can be very specific or rather general. To give you some frame of reference, here are
the things that would be on my list:
Work to achieve the successful opening of The Confluence and use it to help promote
local economic recovery.
Complete the “housing strategies plan” in 2020 and work to implement the plan in 2021.
Use MNDOT’s Highway 61 Corridor Study (likely to start in 2020) to help promote
redevelopment in the Vermillion Street corridor.
Begin to create the “infrastructure” to foster small business development and live/work
opportunities.
I am looking forward to getting your list and to our discussion on May 14. Please let me know if
you have any questions.