Houston County Economic Development Authority (EDA) Director Allison Wagner presented the 2023 EDA annual report at the March 5 Houston County Commission meeting.
She said, “2023 was a year of positive growth for the Houston County EDA and its partners.”
Throughout her presentation, Wagner shared a range of numbers illustrating EDA’s successful year. EDA managed three revolving loans totaling $150,000 in 2023. Currently, EDA has $441,293.71 available for revolving loans. Wagner encouraged commissioners to reach out to Houston County small businesses as EDA wants to get the money out in the community. Businesses must demonstrate job creation or retention. Currently, there are a total of 13 active loans. The interest rates on revolving loans are 3.5% and the length of the loans range from 7-10 years. Wagner stressed that businesses should already be working with a bank.
Partners of the Bluff Country Collaborative, in Wagner’s opinion EDA’s most important initiative, includes the Fillmore County EDA, Houston County EDA, area schools including all Houston County School Districts, over 100 businesses, Workforce Development Inc., Perkins Consortium, and SE Service Cooperative. The purpose of the Bluff Country Collaborative initiative is to “introduce students, parents, and educators to opportunities right here in our own backyard.”
Wagner illustrated three examples showcasing the wide-ranging opportunities provided by businesses based in Caledonia. Initially, she recounted her experience as a college student in Missouri, where she could conveniently buy Sno Pac peas at the local grocery store. Second, she explained that Caledonia Hauler trucks can be seen on the road all over the United States. Lastly, during a visit to a sick friend in Memphis, Tenn., she noticed her friend wearing Smooth Toe compression socks in the hospital, further emphasizing the national reach of Caledonia’s products.
The EDA childcare initiative established a partnership with Workforce Development Inc. (WDI) because of the $255,000 ARPA dollar investment by the Houston County commissioners, explained Wagner.
Other EDA initiatives include Keep Company Co-Working Space, with Wagner noting that both La Crescent and Spring Grove have co-working spaces. EDA will continue working with farmers, the Root River Trail Initiative, and the Houston Area Preservation Initiative (HAPI).
This year EDA will focus on housing as there is a need for all categories of housing in Houston County. For example, rehab and homeless prevention. EDA will be creating a core group like they did for the county’s childcare initiative.
The commissioners accepted the resignation of custodian Linda Ulmen while at the same time authorizing Personnel director, Tess Kruger to begin a search for a full-time custodian. Ulmen was thank for her three years of service to the county.
The 2024 NorthWoods Consulting Partners, Inc. was unanimously approved. The agenda request form states that the contract is for the Travers case and document software management system for social services at a cost of $52,500, noting that it has been in place since 2017.
Both action items on the agenda were approved as presented. The first item presented by Human Services Director John Pugleasa was the Semcac contract for family homeless prevention service. Pugleasa noted that the county received funding from the Minnesota Department of Revenue to fully support this contract.
IT Director Andy Milde appeared before the commissioners to request the purchase of a new AS400, an end-to-end system design, deployment, migration, support, and management services was unanimously approved. The cost is $43,910.00 plus $4-6,000 for installation. He said that the existing system has had “a good 10-year run.”
The meeting was adjourned at 9:36 a.m.
The next regularly scheduled Houston County Commission meeting is scheduled on Tuesday, March 12, at 9 a.m. The meeting will be held in the County Commission Board Room 222, located on the second floor of the historic county courthouse. The public is invited to attend.
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