MetroMSP.org Celebrates 1-Year Anniversary

May 2009

In This Issue

MetroMSP Marks First Anniversary

MetroMSP Moves to Google Mapping Platform

Rapid Transit Lines and Transit Station Areas to Be Added

MetroMSP Performance Evaluation Available

MetroMSP Region Garners More National Rankings

User Values MetroMSP

Spread the Word About MetroMSP

Annual Traffic: Year 1

214,999 page views
Daily average of 589 page views
13,000 demographic and business reports generated
Daily average of 36 reports
Searches from France, Germany, Japan, Canada, Sweden, China, and Brazil, and others

Public
City of Bloomington

Private

MetroMSP.org Marks First Anniversary May 8

MetroMSP.org celebrates its one year anniversary this month. It crosses the threshold with more than 214,000 page views - an average of 589 per day. "We're very pleased with those numbers. The results exceed not only our expectations but the results of all four peer metro regions used as benchmarks," notes Bruce Halbasch, chair of MetroMSP and a vice president for marketing at Kraus Anderson Construction. "It's been great to see the public and private sector from across the 11-county metro area cooperate on an important project."

Ellen Muller, economic development manager with Saint Paul Planning and Economic Development, is one of many who applauds the tool. "Site selection decision-making moved to the web several years ago. We need a high quality website like this to provide instant access to the site location information needed by local entrepreneurs and businesses and prospects from around the globe," she says.

MetroMSP.org Moves to Google Mapping Platform

In mid-May, MetroMSP.org will make the transition from aerial photos to the rich Google mapping environment. "This shift enables prospects to 'tour the neighborhood' using the Streetview feature - a powerful timesaver," according to Todd Klingel, president and CEO of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Other Google features include Terrain, Google Search and Google Earth. GIS Planning Inc. added some custom tools to allow the user to define a zone on the map and search for properties in that area. There is also a new measurement tool for calculating the distance between two points.

Rapid Transit Lines and Transit Station Areas to Be Added

"We are still working on the details," noted Janna King, project manager for MetroMSP, "but expect to see new transit features when we migrate to the Google mapping platform this month."

MetroMSP Performance Evaluation Available

MetroMSP completed an evaluation in April of four critical components: analysis of web traffic; comparison with peer markets; a user survey; and feedback from training sessions. Highlights include:

� 1,000 reports per month or an average of 33 per day

� 17,704 page views per month or an average of 589 per day

� 20% to 425% more page views than four peer metro areas served by GIS Planning, Inc.

� Unanimous recommendation of the advanced training workshops by participants

Click here for a copy of the executive summary and full report.

Metro MSP Region Garners More National Rankings

The 11-county Metro MSP region opened the first quarter of 2009 with 10 new national rankings that advance its reputation as a thriving place to do business.

� Metro MSP jumped ahead in Forbes list of best places for business and careers

� Men's Fitness named Minneapolis the third fittest city in America

� Four Minnesota colleges made Kiplinger's list of top 50 best values in America

� SustainLane placed Minneapolis seventh in its "green ranking" of U.S. cities

� Passengers rated MSP International Airport third in world in quality of the airport experience

� Northwest Airlines was ranked fourth among 17 major U.S. airlines in overall performance

� Minnesota defended its title as healthiest state in America, according to the Congressional Quarterly, and took fifth nationally in the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index

� BusinessWeek named Eden Prairie as the best small city in Minnesota in which to start a business

� Xcel Energy was named leading wind-powered provider for fourth consecutive year

User Values MetroMSP.org

"MetroMSP.org is a great website - very comprehensive. I used it for research on a business plan. It was a one-stop shop for my demographic needs." Rob Clapp, Summit Realty, Saint Paul

Click here to send us your feedback.

Spread the Word About MetroMSP.org

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 since our February newsletter include:

� Minneapolis Building Owners and Managers Association (Mar 2009)

� Dakota Electric Partners for Progress (Mar 2009)

� Minnesota Real Estate Journal (April 2009 - 2 conferences)