Ninety-eight percent of corporate real estate professionals and site selectors use the Internet to make site location decisions. The property search function on MetroMSP.org, powered by ZoomProspector Enterprise, is now part of a nationwide network that allows any business to find the information they need with just a few clicks of the mouse. 
 
Using ZoomProspector, businesses can identify factors of importance to their operations -- like a college-educated workforce or proximity to an airport. ZoomProspector identifies any community in the nation that meets those criteria. As part of this network, MetroMSP.org will be at the top of the list whenever the region meets the company's requirements.  And businesses can immediately access property listings and economic development contacts throughout the 11-county metro area!

From its inception, MetroMSP.org has been committed to getting user feedback and evaluating the impact of the website.  A taskforce of funding partners developed the survey and will oversee the evaluation, which will be completed by March 2009. Please take five minutes to let us know how you use the site, what you value, and what can be improved. Click here to go to the survey by February 18. Your response is confidential.

This advanced, hands-on workshop teaches economic developers to create compelling proposals using the customized data and report features built into MetroMSP.org. Learn to quickly access, download and edit site selection data. Generate high-impact reports targeted to retailers, manufacturers or service-sector businesses.  The workshop is free but registration is required. Contact Diana Johnson by February 9 at djohnson@minneapolischamber.org or 612-370-9166.

Launched May 8, 2008, MetroMSP.org tallied 141,199 pageviews and more than 11,700 unique visitors by year end.  Users put the site to work for them, downloading data and preparing numerous reports on demographics, workforce, consumer expenditures and area businesses.

Usage peaked in May when the site was launched, and again in the fall, after it was optimized to elevate search engine visibility.

·         "Best Metro for Business" for Second Year Straight by MarketWatch

·         No. 2 in Forbes' List of "Best U.S. Cities to Earn a Living"

·         "Top Metro in Concentration of Medical Device & Equipment Jobs" by Business Facilities

·         "One of Nation's Top Cyber Regions" by American Electronics Association

·         Seventh "Greenest State in America" by Business Facilities

·         Tied for "America's Most Literate City" by Central Connecticut State College

·         Among the "World's Best Students in Math and Science" by International Achievement Group 

·         One of the "Lowest Stress Metros" by BizJournals

·         Among the "Best Values for the Dollar" by Forbes

We love the enthusiastic response we get when we demonstrate the website at expos and conferences! Please contact Janna King at jking@econdevelop.com to suggest organizations or venues for future demos. Noteworthy events include:
 

·         Community Development Expo (Nov 2008)

·         Twin Cities LISC and the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers (Nov 2008)

·         Economic Development Association of Minnesota Mid-Winter Conference (Jan 2009)

·         Minneapolis Building Owners and Managers Association (Mar 2009)

The Minnesota Real Estate Journal launched a two-year media partnership with MetroMSP.org in November 2008. The partnership includes full-page ads, online presence and visibility at MREJ conferences and workshops through 2010. "The exposure greatly elevates the visibility of this powerful site selection and analysis tool among a vitally important audience," says MetroMSP.org Chair Bruce Halbasch, who helped orchestrate the partnership. View the series of ads by clicking here: November, December, January, February.

 

Contact Diana Johnson at djohnson@minneapolischamber.org or 612-370-9166 to include an ad in one of your own publications.