Minutes: Economic Development: March 2009

Economic Development Committee

Regular Meeting
Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 5:30 pm
City Hall, 31 South Madison Street, Evansville, Wisconsin

MINUTES

I. Roll Call. Chair Tony Wyse called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm. Present: Tony Wyse, Janis Ringhand, Gene Bass, Dave Olsen, Roger Berg, and James Otterstein. Absent: Rebecca DeMarb and Matthias James. Also present: Mayor Sandy Decker and City Administrator Dan Wietecha.

II. Agenda. Ringhand made a motion, seconded by Bass, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion approved unanimously.

III. Minutes. Olsen made a motion, seconded by Ringhand, to waive the reading of the minutes of the January 20, 2009, regular meeting and to approve as printed. Motion approved unanimously. Ringhand made a motion, seconded by Bass, to waive the reading of the minutes of the February 17, 2009, regular meeting and to approve as printed. Motion approved unanimously.

IV. Citizen Appearances. None.

V. Chamber of Commerce. It was noted that the Heights at Evansville Manor as its grand opening and ribbon cutting tomorrow evening. The Chamber has an After Five meeting on Thursday.

VI. Welcome Signs. Bass reported that they had met with Cary Signs already and had scheduled a meeting with Sullivan Signs; Main Street Signs had been contacted but did not arrange a meeting. The Committee noted that the Grove symbol is the semi-official City logo.

VII. I&E Club. Wyse noted that the meetings continue to be well attended.

VIII. CEAP. The University of Michigan Community Economic Adjustment Program is working with communities that have had automotive manufacturing plant closures. Federal and state agencies gave an overview of their programs and funding opportunities at a workshop yesterday. General categories of funding are: labor, transportation, commerce, energy, and environment. There are no promises, but there are opportunities. Generally, the programs are handled with competitive applications.

IX. New Business: BR&E. Berg suggested the Committee take a downtown tour to stop in and meet with downtown businesses. Similar meetings could be held with other businesses/areas in the future. It would be an opportunity to improve communication with the business community and to hear from them directly about business needs that the Committee could address. The Committee agreed that a stronger business retention and expansion (BR&E) effort such as this was a good idea but would need some discussion about how it would work before proceeding.

X. Adjournment. Berg made a motion, seconded by Bass, to adjourn the meeting. Motion approved unanimously at 6:55 pm.