Economic Development Strategic Plan
Planning & Economic
Development
MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Hopkins City Council Members
FROM: Kersten Elverum, Director of Planning & Development
DATE: March 3, 2016
SUBJECT: Economic Development Strategic Plan
The City of Hopkins has been addressing economic development needs in the downtown by taking
advantage of opportunities, keeping up on trends, and using our collective best judgement. This
approach has served us well, as Mainstreet is thriving. We have experimented through a variety of
projects and found success in our efforts to enliven and enhance the appearance of the downtown, and
as a result, attract new businesses.
It is staff’s opinion that it is time to take a step back and develop a plan for our economic development
work over the next 5-10 years. How should we use our limited resources? What does the community
want to see more, or less, of? How do we best position Mainstreet in light of inevitable change? These
are just a few of the questions that staff intends to address through a guided discussion with
stakeholders.
The goal is to develop a mid- to long-range plan to assure the vibrancy of downtown Hopkins.
Staff will discuss the proposed process to get us there at the March 8, 2016, City Council work session.
The recommendations will include a staff-led, relatively quick process that would involve the formation
of a task force. Staff will be asking the City Council to confirm the need for an economic development
strategy, the focus and proposed content, as well as the creation of a task force and the possible
appointments.