Tuesday, April 21, 2015, Millwood Community Center
Kevin
Freeman welcomed those present and summarized his expectations for today’s
meeting – he emphasized the need to obtain “buy-in” from the businesses in
Millwood.
Alexander
Scott, Stratagem Business Consulting, presented the report from the first
Community Consultation Meeting, an analysis of the demographics and
recommendations to develop a vibrant business community.
The following
recommendations were presented and discussed:
1. The City erects
entry signs to promote the City.
Signs on the major access roads can announce that one is entering
Millwood. A landscaped designed entrance statement can capture the City’s
character and brand.
2. The City develops
a brand image through key phrases and symbols to capture the City’s history
and character and to promote the activities and businesses.
3. The City promotes
awareness of Millwood as an economic, tourist and residential area through
Greater Spokane Incorporated and Visitspokane, local newspapers and through
supported articles.
4. The
City creates a vibrant business
environment and promote business excellence.
5. The City develops
a regional economic business website to create awareness of local businesses.
6.
The City promotes
Millwood’s character through its historic area, farmers markets, and its
unique characteristics.
Alexander
indicated that key “wow” factors uncovered during this process was that:
·
Millwood
has an 18% business to household ratio (Spokane 13% Spokane Valley 13%) and
that this indicates that Millwood is well represented in business, that there
is a sense of entrepreneurship and energy that should be harnessed
·
Millwood
was a mature city that embraced its history and kept its friendly and cozy
small town community feel despite the pressures of life surrounding it
·
Millwood
had managed to incorporate and blends its valuable gifts of nature – the river,
trees and open spaces and seamlessly blended these with homes, retail,
businesses, schools, churches and industry
·
People
knew of the City and that there were many multi-generational families in the
City
·
People
are generally passionate about the City and its future
Alexander
indicated that the City sees itself as a catalyst and facilitator for providing
business connections, and that the City wanted to introduce and investigate
opportunities to link with the SBA, GSI, AARP, Spokane Libraries, local
universities and other organizations to enable local businesses to become
smarter and to enable a learning community that could better profit from doing
business better.
Mayor
Freeman added comments that the City sees its role as providing an environment,
infrastructure and zoning that was conducive to business; however that is the
responsibility of individual businesses to use the foundations to be
successful. The City was committed to making working with representatives of
business however under currently legislation the City would not provide funding
to individual businesses or unregistered entities and that Better for Business
should consider incorporating into a 503 type not for profit entity.
Alexander
called on Shirene to discuss what Better for Business saw as future possibilities
and what was required. Shirene indicated that Better for Business was
voluntary, that there were many businesses that were devoted to making
improvements, but that the association was informal and that incorporation
would require office bearers and more formality. Shirene offered the venue for
the next meeting May 11, 11am at inland Empire Paper.
The main
topics for the coming meeting are:
- Incorporation of Better for Business
- Establishing list of key tasks or issues to be addressed
- Nominations for future committees to address and progress particular tasks
- Development of a brand / image / identity for Millwood
- Development of entry statements
Mayor
Freeman indicated that the business community could continue to liaise with Tom
Richardson or Alexander during coming months as the next phase of the process
to develop a vibrant business community. Alexander would continue to represent
the City at GSI and would meet with participants as required.
Alexander Scott, Stratagem Business Consultants
