Historic Red Wing To Open Doors With Economic Gateway

RED WING, Minn., Jan. 11, 2011 (GOLDEN SHOVEL AGENCY) -- The Red Wing Port Authority has chosen Golden Shovel Agency and its online Web solution, Economic Gateway, for assisting business expansion and relocation to its historic and scenic community.

Golden Shovel Agency is a Minnesota-based Web development firm specializing in online tools for economic and community development. The firm’s economic development Web system, Economic Gateway, features a Software as a Service (Saas) subscription model, suite of economic development Web site modules, and the EAGL-i GIS-based site selector tool.

Red Wing, MN, just 45 minutes from Minneapolis/St. Paul and Rochester, Minnesota, offers the best of both worlds; small town charm and immediate proximity to major metropolitan areas. The thriving community is home to Red Wing Shoe Company and several other major Minnesota industries.

The Port Authority is the primary leader for promoting economic and industrial development, identifying and coordinating redevelopment and contributing to the economic vitality and quality of life for the City of Red Wing.

Golden Shovel president Ron Kresha knows the value of a strategic and scalable Web solution for economic development and the importance of a strong Web presence. "Economic Gateway broadcasts communities to a wider audience,” said Kresha. “The SaaS subscription model and Web site modules allow partner agencies to share their community stories online easily and at their own pace. Because each partner community is involved in the creation of its Economic Gateway presence, there is a deeper understanding and connection to the solution and to the community.”

Myron White, Executive Director of the Port Authority, said the Web solution will bring the agency several steps further in its development efforts and reach the appropriate audiences with a direct message. "The Red Wing Port Authority allows our city to proactively seek out, attract and retain businesses that add to the long-term vitality of our community,” said White. “Economic Gateway will assist us in reaching site selectors, real estate brokers and business owners more effectively, and even with limited funds, this cutting-edge Web solution will help us compete in the global marketplace and market Red Wing in ways we have never been able to in the past."

The Red Wing Port Authority joins a growing list of economic development authorities in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Kansas to sign on for Economic Gateway.

About Red Wing Port Authority
The Red Wing Port Authority owns 46 acres of prime development land in two industrial development parks. Twenty-five acres are part of the Minnesota JobZ program that offers significant tax incentives for businesses that expand or locate to those areas. All areas are complete with roads and infrastructure and are ready for immediate development. To access available industrial building and land information in Red Wing, please visit http://www.redwingportauthority.org/port_authority_property.htm.

About Golden Shovel Agency
Golden Shovel Agency is a Minnesota-based company specializing in Web solutions for economic development. Golden Shovel brings over 10 years of experience combining Web technology and design expertise to present communities in their best light and is located in Little Falls, Minn. Information: http://www.GoldenShovelAgency.com

About Economic Gateway
Economic Gateway is a revolutionary new economic development Web system that brings Greater America online quickly at an affordable price. Because the system employs a SaaS subscription model upgrades will continually occur as they are developed. As such, there will be no need to update the Web site or site selector tool in the future – it will always be state-of-the-art, saving organizations both time and money. Information: http://www.EconomicGateway.com

About EAGL-i Site Selector Tool
The EAGL-i (Economic Advantage Geo Locator Interface) tool is a product of Eau Claire, Wis. geographic information systems (GIS) company Applied Data Consultants, Inc. (ADC), and provides an easy-to-use interactive mapping interface that allows viewers to quickly access information without having to leave the Web page. Information: http://www.adc4gis.com/EAGL-i