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Economic Development Commission Meeting

Highlights

  • ✅ Adopted a quick “stoplight” check-in ritual to gauge commissioners’ bandwidth before diving into work—useful as the group juggles layoffs, school restarts, and new babies.
  • 📣 Agreed that North Plains needs cohesive marketing collateral (print + digital) and tasked Commissioner Mike Aiardi with drafting a scope that could leverage both the community development budget and Urban Renewal funds.
  • 🧰 Identified the city website’s business toolkit as the anchor for outreach—Forest Grove’s one-page “How to start a business here” sheet will serve as the template for a North Plains version listing utilities, permitting contacts, broadband options, and chamber resources.
  • 🏢 Discussed commercial capacity: staff reminded the group that only a handful of storefronts are available today (with Creekside potentially opening after Berton’s closure), underscoring why any recruitment push must be synchronized with property owners and long-term UGB planning.

Notes

  • Housekeeping & Check-In

    • Commission Chair Eric Lawson introduced a quick “red/yellow/green” wellness check so members can acknowledge distractions (return-to-office mandates, layoffs, childcare) and adjust expectations. The practice will continue at future meetings.

  • Marketing Collateral & Budget

    • Current city materials for recruiting businesses are minimal. Commissioners want a refreshed mix of brochures, flyers, and targeted social ads that explain why entrepreneurs should choose North Plains.
    • Staff clarified two funding paths: the community development budget (small but flexible) and the Urban Renewal Agency (URA), which can cover professional services tied to the Glencoe “dogleg” commercial area. Training dollars live elsewhere, so marketing requests must come with a scoped work plan.
    • Action: Commissioner Mike Aiardi will outline a draft marketing package (traditional + digital), list potential tactics (e.g., Facebook/Google ads, Visit-Dayton-style branding), and bring cost ranges so the group can prioritize.

  • Business Toolkit & Website

    • The commission wants the online toolkit to mirror Forest Grove’s one-page guide that lists utility hookups, business-license steps, chamber and SBDC contacts, broadband providers, and “how to get started” FAQs.
    • Staff will audit the current website to see what’s missing and plug in new content once the marketing scope is defined. Commissioners will keep a running list of data points entrepreneurs routinely ask for so nothing gets lost.

  • Commercial Capacity Reality Check

    • Members noted only two to three storefronts are truly available today; recruiting 20 businesses without sites would backfire. Staff tied the issue back to the business inventory completed earlier this year and the upcoming UGB concept planning work.
    • News: Berton is planning to shutter his Creekside winery/catering venue and take the concept mobile (no closure date yet). Once the season’s harvest rush ends, staff hopes to meet with him to understand timing and whether the buildings will be leased or sold—potentially adding supply for new tenants.
    • Commissioners agreed that any marketing push should go hand-in-hand with outreach to property owners so the city understands their barriers (cost to build out, tenant improvements, etc.).

Follow-Ups

  • Commissioner Mike Aiardi will draft a marketing scope (deliverables, sample tactics, ballpark costs) and share it for refinement at the next meeting.
  • Staff to evaluate the current business-toolkit page, collect missing utility/permitting information, and prepare a Forest Grove-style one-pager template.
  • City staff to reach out to Berton/Creekside after harvest to confirm closure timing and whether the impending vacancy can be packaged for prospective tenants.
  • Commissioners to keep adding to the “business FAQ” list so new toolkit content reflects real-world questions from local entrepreneurs.

Video Recording