Sheila Howk

Slide 1: New Ulm Company LOGO Presented by Sheila Howk Broadband Grant, Blandin Foundation

Slide 2: Mission 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.

Slide 3: Goals: Goal 1: Increase Broadband use from 57% to 62% in one year Goal 2: Increase retail businesses that have websites/sell on line Goal 3: Create an online NU Marketplace (remodel Chamber website) Goal 4: Reach 25 Retail Businesses with training and resources

Slide 4: Evolution 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

Slide 5: Grant Budget 1/3 1/3 1/3 Retail Education: Chamber of Commerce Hardware/ Website: Software: 101: Setting up a basic web site. *Remodel of Digital Camera homepage Printer/Scanner 201: Optimizing *Interactive Adobe Full Reader your Web site. Shopping Guide Zip Drives *Virtual Mall – 2 mo. Website 301: E-Commerce hosting for 40 businesses. *Quicker Load time $30,000

Slide 6: New Ulm Chamber website Current www.newulm.com

Slide 7: Current showcase of online shopping -

Slide 8: Draft of new website: Website being created by Brain Magnet – St. Cloud

Slide 9: Showcase 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”

Slide 10: Local-e-Education Tech Tuesdays: 101: Setting up a basic web site. 201: Optimizing your Web site. 301: E-Commerce Educator – Ann Treacy

Slide 11: Summary 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

Slide 12: Examples of websites created:

Slide 13: During Tech Tuesdays - 101

Slide 14: Using templates from “Go Daddy”

Slide 15: Local-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

Slide 16: Going 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.

Slide 17: Thanks 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.

Slide 18: Local-e-Committees Education - 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.