HomeMy WebLinkAboutV.A. Hastings Entrepreneurship AssessmentCity of Hastings – Entrepreneurship Assessment
Purpose:
The expansion of local retail and commercial opportunities specifically within downtown
Hastings as a means to enhance local shopping opportunities as well as increased tourism.
Plan:
Phase 1 – Discovery (May / June / July)
1. Meet with downtown building owners about their historic ability to fill vacant commercial
spaces.
a. Identify any barriers to occupancy
b. Identify rental rates and turnover
c. Find out what goals they have for their building?
d. What does success look like for building owners?
e. What in their mind is an ‘ideal’ tenant / who would they like to rent to?
2. Host Entrepreneur round table
a. Identify date(s) to hold roundtables – morning, afternoon, evening)
b. Include in Citywide mailer / utilize social pages
c. Distribute details to community partners (DBA, Chamber of Commerce) to disseminate
to their membership bases
d. Round Table To-do’s
i. Identify needs of entrepreneur community
ii. Is a brick and mortar storefront a need / desire they have?
1. What would they need from a storefront to be successful?
iii. Gain understanding of their impression of downtown Hastings both as a
community member and business owner.
iv. Are they interested and willing to participate in technical assistance (OTB)?
v. Is there a need in our community that no one is meeting in relation to
entrepreneurship and small business development?