WILLMAR -- A strategic planning session will be scheduled sometime in January to help sharpen the focus of the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission's ag-ribusiness and renewable energy committee.
The session, which will be led by a professional facilitator, is among the goals of the Economic Development Commission for 2008.
The list was developed following a day-long planning retreat in October by the EDC's governing board and joint operations board.
The Economic Development Commission is continuing to concentrate on tightening its priorities, said Steve Renquist, the agency's executive director.
"Our committees are still extremely important to us, but we're becoming a more board-driven organization," he said.
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Board members have been satisfied with the progress that has been made this past year, he said.
A portion of the action plan for next year was reviewed Thursday by the joint operations board.
"We want to get more specific and have more measurable objectives," Renquist said.
Technology, renewable energy and business growth are among the Economic Development Commission's top goals for 2008.
These include:
n Develop a comprehensive program for renewable energy and for fostering public-private partnerships to create renewable energy projects.
n Develop a marketing plan to promote the Willmar industrial park to prospective new businesses and industries. In the longer term, an initiative will be tackled to identify and recruit clusters of industries that might be especially suited for the industrial park.
n Help fill the MinnWest Technology Campus.
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n Work to increase broadband usage and cell phone coverage in Kandiyohi County so that the county can be marketed as "technology-capable."
n Attract value-added agricultural businesses to Kandiyohi County.
The Economic Development Commission's ag committee hopes to hire a part-time staff person early in 2008 to help carry out its goals.
The strategic planning session next month also will help the group target its efforts more effectively, Renquist said.
Agriculture is one of the dominant industries in the county, he said. "It's important we get it right."
Another key goal for the Economic Development Commission next year is to acquire a veterans' home and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation program in Willmar. The EDC took action this week to hire former senator Dean E. Johnson as a legislative consultant on its behalf.
The project is likely to be considered by the Minnesota Legislature as part of its bonding bill in 2008. Federal funding also will be needed.
