sheila howk

Company

LOGO

Broadband Grant,

Blandin Foundation

New Ulm Presented by Sheila Howk

MissionMission

NUREDC will utilize the “Get Broadband Program” to increase the number of retailers who take advantage of broadband for marketing and expanding their business.

As New Ulm is faced with big-box retailers entering the community, small businesses must position themselves to succeed.

Goals:Goals:

Goal 1: Increase Broadband use from 57% to 62% in one year

Goal 1: Increase Broadband use from 57% to 62% in one year

Goal 2: Increase retail businesses that have websites/sell on line

Goal 2: Increase retail businesses that have websites/sell on line

Goal 3: Create an online NU Marketplace (remodel Chamber website)

Goal 3: Create an online NU Marketplace (remodel Chamber website)

Goal 4: Reach 25 Retail Businesses with training and resources

Goal 4: Reach 25 Retail Businesses with training and resources

Evolution of “Get Broadband” in New UlmEvolution of “Get Broadband” in New Ulm

• Intense first day planning session

• Created a name for the community to relate to “Broadband” to universal.

• Divided into subcommittees:– Local-e-Website– Local-e-Education– Local-e-Marketing

Grant BudgetGrant Budget

Hardware/Software:

Digital Camera Printer/Scanner

Adobe Full Reader Zip Drives

2 mo. Website hosting for 40 businesses.

Hardware/Software:

Digital Camera Printer/Scanner

Adobe Full Reader Zip Drives

2 mo. Website hosting for 40 businesses.

Retail Education:

101: Setting up a basic web site.

201: Optimizing your Web site.

301: E-Commerce

Retail Education:

101: Setting up a basic web site.

201: Optimizing your Web site.

301: E-Commerce

Chamber of Commerce Website:

*Remodel of homepage

*Interactive Shopping Guide

*Virtual Mall – *Quicker Load time

Chamber of Commerce Website:

*Remodel of homepage

*Interactive Shopping Guide

*Virtual Mall – *Quicker Load time

1/31/3 1/31/3 1/31/3

$30,000$30,000

New Ulm Chamber website New Ulm Chamber website Current www.newulm.com

Current showcase of online shopping - Current showcase of online shopping -

Draft of new website:Draft of new website:

Website being created by Brain Magnet – St. Cloud

Showcase New Ulm’s virtual mallShowcase New Ulm’s virtual mall

At a time where e-commerce

growing rapidly , local shops must increase their

backdoor traffic to compete in this retail world --

according to Rick Segel author of

“The Essential Online Solution”

Local-e-EducationLocal-e-Education

Tech Tuesdays:

101: Setting up a basic web site.

201: Optimizing your Web site.

301: E-Commerce

Educator – Ann Treacy

Summary of Tech TuesdaysSummary of Tech Tuesdays•Due to the overwhelming response 6 classes were increased to 11 classes – we even had to have Tech Mondays and Tech Wednesdays.

•50 attendees filled over 114 seats

•Featuring these websites that were created:

•www.antiquesplusnewulm.com

•www.oldworlddeli.com

•www.stainedglassandmore.com

•www.loandluluphotopraphy.com

•www.rivercreeknursery.com

•www.newulmeyecenter.com

•www.rothherzogcpa.net

•www.mangojuicenewulm.com

•www.nuaga.com

Examples of websites created:Examples of websites created:

During Tech Tuesdays - 101During Tech Tuesdays - 101

Using templates from “Go Daddy”Using templates from “Go Daddy”

Local-e-MarketingLocal-e-Marketing• Monthly articles in the chamber newsletter• Three articles in the local paper• Well-attended introductory breakfast

Last Step – coming this winter:

Unveiling to the community:• Compelling reasons to use “Broadband”

– Chamber – Local-e-Shop– Local newspaper – cunujournal.com– Hospital – MyChart– School – parent portal – Library

Going ForwardGoing Forward

• New Ulm has created momentum and will need to look for a revenue source to maintain this project.

• Our “Get Broadband” partners will in the interim continue quarterly Tech Tuesday follow-up meetings and offer Technology Education as needed for retailers.

Thanks to our “Get Broadband” PartnersThanks to our “Get Broadband” Partners

• Blandin Foundation

• New Ulm Retail Economic Development

• City of New Ulm

• New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce

• New Ulm Conventions and Visitors Bureau

• New Ulm Business & Retail Association

• Local broadband and website providers:

NU Telecom, Comcast and Skillings Technology.

Local-e-CommitteesLocal-e-CommitteesEducation - Sheila Howk, Carissa Buegler, Dustan Cross, Kathy

Lund, Mary Ellen Domeier, Shawn Jakes, and Larry Hildebrandt

Publicity/Marketing – Jim Jensen, Ken Rockvam, Charlie Bornhoft, Sharon Weinkauf, Sheila Howk, Bruce Fenske, Shannon McKeeth, and Nancy Quam.

 Website – Sheila Howk, Ken Rockvam, Sharon Weinkauf, Jenny Eckstein, Kathy Austinson, Shannon Hillesheim, Toby Freier, Shannon McKeeth, and Jill Augustin

Budget/Background– Sheila Howk, Mary Ellen Domeier, Brian Tohal, Anne Makepeace, Donna Lambrecht and Sharon Weinkauf.