hello I'm mayor myON Bailey with your May mayor's moment the icse trade show is an annual Gathering that takes place in May it is a three-day Gathering of real estate professionals and Industry experts who are driving innovation in the retail and Commercial development Marketplace members of the city's economic development team will attend the event the show brings together over 800 exhibitors and 26,000 attendees giving us the opportunity to make connection and attract retailers and Commercial investors to our community while we have a very low commercial vacancy rate here in the city we know that keeping our retail and investor relationships is important as the city continues to grow of special interest currently to the investors and developers seeking locations in the city are the vet properties along Highway 61 from landed Village towards the city's Southern border investors and developers are also seeking opportunities along innovation Road from Highway 61 to our northern border and the shops at Cottage View Property which is adjacent to Walmart we will be actively marketing these properties at the show and will meet with retailers and their broker representatives in the restaurants hotels shopping and Services Industries in addition to our marketing efforts we will also do our due diligence on the properties we highlighted in the show by commissioning studies that assist us in the planning process we have already completed a hotel Market study and an area market analysis this year we are going to commission a small area plan and a market analysis for the properties in and around Highway 61 and Innovation Road the studies show developers and investors who we will meet at the ICC that we have taken proactive steps to make properties in the cities more marketable in addition this proactive due diligence makes our community a more desirable place to invest at the show we will share plans for the Hunter Street realignment project which when completed will open up over 500 acres of land in the area along Highway 61 and Innovation Road this $47 million project is slated to begin in 2026 if the final 25 million is secured from the federal grants we have submitted to date the city has received almost 14 million in grant funding and we have several more grants in progress over the past 10 years we have made connections with Brokers and ERS who represent Quick Trip Ulta beauty Orange Theory Fitness Jersey mics HomeGoods TJ Maxx and more there are others who are just waiting for the ideal location to become available past success at icse keeps us going back because we know how much a personal visit to exhibitors and investors can influence current and future decisions we know that icse 2024 will be another great year for us and we look forward to sharing our efforts Upon Our return to keep you up to dat on ICC and all their happenings in the city be sure to visit the city website or follow us on social media to learn more about the cottage girl's Economic Development efforts you can always reach out to me or the city's economic development director Gretchen Larson for your May mayor's moment I'm myON Bailey