Envision Shakopee

Recruit front of house operations Leveraging Shakopee’s industrial base, the city should actively recruit front-of-house operations for existing back-of-house industries. As mentioned in the Office Real Estate discussion; Emerson, Entrust Datacard, Shutterfly and Bayer CropScience all have front-of-house office operations located in the same facility as their back-of-house production. “Front of house” refers to jobs such as office staff, management, business executives, customer service representatives, and/or retail space. “Back of house” refers to manufacturing, distribution, warehousing or other industrial jobs and facilities. Nationally, distribution and warehousing businesses often have front-of-house office workers or retail components in the same location. In the Twin Cities region, Shakopee could attract future front-of-house expansion as a way to diversify the kinds of jobs in Shakopee and test the potential for office growth in this market. Front-of-house operations could be office space for expanded company departments, retail spaces, or more. Envision Shakopee recommends that the city target these businesses in the following ways: » Market Shakopee as an expanding, well-connected, and amenity- rich city that offers both the space and access that front of house operations need along with the amenities its workers will want, such as restaurants and hotels for business travelers. » Require a percentage of total employment to be high-paying jobs, such as those that are more likely in today’s front of house operations, as a point of negotiation in future industrial expansion. » Follow the land use and design recommendations set forth in the Built Environment section of this plan to ensure the employment environment meets the demands for amenities that office workers in this market desire. » Ease regulatory barriers, such as building setbacks and height restrictions to allow the market more flexibility in adding additional office space to existing buildings.

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