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1 Attracting consumers from the region comes with paying attention to those unique experiences and offerings that 2 Pequot Lakes has, or can grow. With many options in the regional marketplace, Pequot Lakes needs to be a 3 "destination" in order to stand out.This means having an agglomeration of businesses that,while competitive, rely 4 on each other and their collective draw for attracting consumers. The destination effect is enhanced by paying 5 attention to how businesses are spatially located, how their design interacts with their neighbors and how they 6 improve the public realm. 7 Distant markets — those beyond the immediate region — are within reach of Pequot Lakes due to quality 8 transportation systems, excellent broadband connectivity and adequate telecommunications systems. Continued 9 improvements to all of these systems will enhance the community's competitiveness and allow local businesses 10 access to unlimited markets. 11 FINANCIAL INCENTIVES 12 Financial incentives are an important economic development tool for the City to use.The City has designated the 13 entire city as potentially eligible for Tax Increment Financing(TIF).The City needs to be deliberative in which types 14 of projects it provides financial incentives to. As a guideline, financial incentives should only be considered for 15 projects that: 16 1. Are located in areas with existing infrastructure or for projects that do not require the extension of 17 municipal utilities. 18 2. Redevelop blighted or underutilized properties. 19 3. Do not compete with businesses established within the community. 20 4. Have a high potential to induce economic activity within the community beyond the operation of the 21 enterprise receiving the subsidy. 22 5. Are scaled to utilize local services, such as a local attorney, insurance agent, printer, accountant, etc... 23 Business chains that would routinely handle professional services outside of the community in a corporate 24 framework are not good candidates for tax subsidies. 25 Businesses that meet these guidelines should be given strong consideration if a short-term tax subsidy is needed to 26 facilitate their move to or expansion within the community. 27 POLICIES 28 The following policies are proposed to guide future economic growth and development in Pequot Lakes: 29 Strive to maintain long-term stability in the City's rate of taxation. Business growth and creation in Pequot is 30 going to depend on the City's long-term competitiveness. It is enticing to spend money today to induce near-term 31 growth. However, when that growth does not create long-term revenues to handle ongoing maintenance 32 expenses, the subsequent rising tax rate hurts business. Pequot Lakes must take a long-term look at its tax and 33 expense structure and ensure businesses a solid and stable investment environment. 34 Maintain the downtown area as the center for economic activity in Pequot Lakes.As many cities struggle to keep 35 their downtown areas strong and vital, Pequot Lakes has an advantage in that its downtown already has a healthy 36 mix of retail and professional businesses clustered together. The City must keep the agglomeration of its 37 businesses and seek to infill and redevelop commercial properties as they become available.The City also needs to 38 work to systematically reconnect and rehabilitate the neighborhoods surrounding the core downtown so as to 39 further strengthen the businesses there. 161 Page