Yes. >> Good morning. It is 800 a.m. on Tuesday, April 14th, 2026, and I call the Economic Development Authority meeting to order. Item number one is the roll call. We have six members present, which is a quorum. Item 2.1 is the EDA March
10th, 2026 minutes. I'll make a motion to approve the March 10th, 206 minutes. >> Second. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Item 3.1
2026 PHA annual plan. Good morning commissioners and President Mark. Um you received the draft 2026 PHA annual plan at your March meeting. Um section
C4 on the HUD form 5075SM will be completed after today's public hearing. Um HUD regulations outline what is necessary for us to submit for the 5-year and annual plans for 2026. The
components to be submitted include the HUD form 5075SM PHA annual plan, um, HUD 5077CR civil rights certification, as well as comments from the resident
advisory board meetings that were held last month. Um, all of those items have been attached for your review. Um, and this is a public hearing. This is a public hearing. Does anyone wish to come forward and be heard?
>> Uh being nobody wants to be heard, I'm going to offer resolution close the public hearing on approving the 2026 PHA annual plan for the public housing section 8 housing choice voucher programs. >> I'll second that. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion or
questions? All in favor say I. I. >> Resolution. >> Resolution. >> Resolution. Please call the role. >> Commissioner Christian. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Reinhardt Caulk. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Beter. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Leeb. Yes. >> Commissioner Hen. >> Yes. >> President Mark Graph.
>> Yes. That motion carries. Item F 4.1 administrative activities March 2026. >> All right. Commissioners and President Mark Graph. I'll just note a few items here under the EDA report. Um, note that
the significant decrease in cash assets reflects the EDA's $1.5 million investment into the Garden Terrace Senior Housing Project, known as GTNU2, um, which was required as part of our purchase agreement for the sale of
Garden Terrace Apartments to Rebound Partners. Um, note under the home buyer assistance loan program, one loan closed in the amount of $10,000 and one new application was received. And note under the multifamily rental
rehab loan program that one loan closed in the amount of $50,000. Questions for director? I do have one question for the public housing. Um, since we sold Garden Terrace, we are running at a negative.
Do you see that turning around in the future? I'm not concerned now because we do have money in that fund, but um, we have had some higher expenses the last couple months. Um, one reason is because of the um, preparation for our
inspection that we had in February. So, there were a lot of maintenance expenses as we were getting ready for the inspection. And then this month we um paid our payment in lie of taxes for um the public housing property. So I do see
things settling down and getting hopefully back to normal and and see that turnaround, but um the I suppose the EDA could put money into the public housing fund. We can't use public housing money for other
things, but um I I don't see that being necessary. Okay. And when we go through the upcoming capital fund projects, um there is going to be a little bit of a balance left in in one of our funds, and I'll talk about that later, that we plan to transfer into operating. And so
that'll help offset some of those um leaner months as well. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I'll make a motion to accept the Economic Development Authority administrative activities for the month of March 2026. >> Second. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion?
All in favor say I. I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carries. Item 5.1 is the Broadway House interior painting project. All right. Um so this is the first of five bids that will come before you today. Um this is for painting the
interior common areas of Broadway House Apartments. Um we solicited bids for this project from seven um painting contractors and we received four bids. Um you can see those listed here. Um the low bid was significantly lower. Um
Deets Painting came in at about $9,900. Um the next closest bid was for Mertz Painting for $29,000. So um that's quite a quite a difference. So, I did call um the owner of Deets's Painting to go over the bid and make sure he was comfortable
with the bid he submitted and he said he was um I did tell him what the other ones came in at. So, he just could see how he compared, but um he was fine with it. He didn't want to withdraw. So, um we are moving forward and um asking you
to accept his bid. Um like I said, Mertz's painting was $29,17. Mason's Color Center submitted a bid for $36,770 and Mike's painting and sand blasting came in at $20,632.
Um, so there was quite a price range. Um, but we are asking to approve the bid from Deets Painting in the amount of 9923. >> I do have one question. I mean, that's a lot to leave 100% of the bid laying on the table. Have they ever done work for
us before? I've never worked with Deets's painting, but I know in the summer they paint for the school. Um, so he did say he would like to try to get this job done before June because then he'll be busy at the school all summer. >> Um, so, you know, I feel comfortable if
he's painting for the school on a regular basis that they must be happy with his work, but I've personally never worked with them. >> All right. Thank you. >> Mhm. And that one included everything as well like labor and supplies, materials, everything.
>> Well, then I would move to award bid for the Broadway House Interior Painting Project to Deets Painting and Design in the amount of $9,919. I'll second that. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I.
>> Opposed? Motion carries. Item 5.2, two, Broadway House flooring replacement project. >> All right. Um, as you recall, we had a discussion about, um, so this is for the, uh, common area flooring at
Broadway House Apartments. Um, we had talked about whether we should replace the carpet with carpet again or if we should go with a hard surface flooring. Um, I called and spoke with someone at Rickway Carpet to ask, you know, would
that be a liability? Is it is there a slip resistant flooring we could use so we don't have, you know, slips and falls and injuries? Um, and they indicated that they have had um extensive experience installing glue down vinyl plank flooring in common areas of
apartment buildings, including the um public housing high-rise in Mano. um several assisted living and memory care facilities and um clinics and hospitals. So, I feel like if they're able to use that type of flooring in those facilities that we should be okay. Um
and then costwise, he said it's pretty um comparable. So, that said, and it it being the tenants's wish to go to the hard surface floor um versus carpet, um we decided to take bids accordingly. Um and so we um solicited bids for the hard
surface flooring from three three contractors and two bids were received. Um Design Home Center submitted a bid for $62,55029 and Rickway Carpet submitted a bid um for $49,475.
And um so um as you can see, Rickway was the the low bid for this project. If there's no questions, I'll offer a motion to award the bid for the Broadway House uh repair proing replacement project to Rick Way
carpeting in the amount of $49,475. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? >> All in favor say I. I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Item 5.3, Broadway House Parking Lot Repair
Project. >> All right, commissioners, President Mark. Um, this is to um do a seal coat and crack repair of our um parking lot at Broadway House Apartments to extend the life of the pavement. Um we
solicited bids from two contractors. Um, only one bid was was received in the amount of um $12,500 from Mr. Paving and Excavating. >> A motion to award the bid for the Broadway House parking lot repair project to M&R Paving and Excavating in
the amount of $12,500. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Post. Motion carries. Item 5.4, family unit attic insulation project.
>> All right, commissioners. Um, President Mark, uh, this is to add additional insulation in the atticss of our, um, family unit rental houses, um, which was recommended from our needs assessment that we had done a couple years ago. Um,
I did solicit bids from two contractors and only one bid was received for this project from Riel Insulation in the amount of $10,32460. How many units would that be? We have 10 rental houses. >> And they all needed some update. Mhm.
>> And it was only $1,000 a house. Mhm. If there's no other questions, I'll make a motion to award the bid for the family unit insulation project to Riel Insulation in the amount of $10,32460. I'll second. We have a motion and a
second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Item 5.5, Family Unit Gutter Improvement Project. All right, commissioners, President Mark Graph, this is the final capital fund
project we'll be presenting this year. Um, this is to replace the downspouts and gutter extensions on all 10 rental houses. The actual gutters themselves will remain because we just put gutter guards on those a couple years ago. So,
I didn't want to um take those off and have to redo all of that again. Um but this again was a recommended improvement from our needs assessment just because of the you know they've gotten dented and um had some wear and tear over the
years. So um a small project but um one that'll approve the appearance of the outside of the houses. Um and I did want to mention so all of these projects will be using the balance of our 2024 capital
fund grant. Um, currently we have about $89,000. Um, I'm sorry, we have about $113,000 left in that grant. These projects are totaling just over $89,000 altogether. Um, so we'll have a balance
of about $23,885 left in that grant and that um will be transferred to operating. So, um, like I mentioned earlier, that'll help offset some of our months where we were in the red, um, to bring our operating fund
back up a little bit. We still have our entire, um, 2025 capital fund grant available, and we'll be receiving a 2026 grant, um, any time now. So, um, I feel comfortable transferring the balance of this grant into operating because we'll
have money for future projects. What was the timeline to spend the money and then was there limitations on how much could go to operating? >> There is not a limitation on how much can go to operating. Um the timeline for the 2024 grant we have
until I think it's May 10th to obligate these funds. And in order to obligate we have to be in a contract for projects. So that's why I'm getting all these bids approved now so I can get those contracts signed and obligate the money before that deadline. So we don't lose the money. We have another two years to
have the m Yeah, we have another two years to have the money spent and drawn down. Um and then the 2025 grant, we have another year before that needs to be obligated and two years after that to spend it. So
there's there's time Commissioners, what are your wishes? Uh, I'll make a motion to approve the award bid for the family unit gutter improvement project to Southern Minnesota Custom Gutters in the amount of $6,950.
>> Second. Have >> a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. Opposed. Motion carries. Item 5.6 EDA April 14th, 2026 claims list.
>> Being there's no discussion, I'll motion to approve the ED April 14th, 2026 claims list. >> Second. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries.
Item 6.1 and other business, funding request from New Alm Public Schools. All right, commissioners and President Mark. Um, Newm Public Schools established a regional career and technical education center.
Um, the center provides students with education in the areas of manufacturing, welding, machining, construction, automotive repair, small gas engines, and auto body repair. Um, the center provides hands-on learning for high school students in the trades. Um, and
New Public Schools is requesting some financial assistance from the EDA in the amount of $50 to $80,000 to assist with hiring a CTE center coordinator. Um, and we have um a few representatives from
that committee here to um, if you could come up to the podium and state your name for the record. Um they'll talk about what the coordinator position will mean to the CTE center. Sean Coer, superintendent, New Public
Schools. First, the commissioners uh President Mark, I appreciate the time um and consideration. So, thank you for the opportunity to speak today. Um, I really am here to talk about a partnership between the EDA and New
Public Schools. Um, I see this at kind of like an intersection between economic development and education. Um, putting our CTE center at the center of preparing students to enter the
workforce here in New M. Um, you know, our employer since I've been here, I've I've worked with the chamber. of work were, you know, on a couple different committees that talked about students and um employees leaving NewM and our goal is to keep students here in New
Home. We have about 60% of our students that go on to a 4-year school. Now, do all of them complete it? Probably not. Some of them move back home. Some of them complete it. We also have 40% of our students that stay here. Are all of them workforce ready? Probably not. But if we look at the ones that are, what
we're really focusing on is how do we retain a workforce here in New and how do we train them for work around the area to be welders to be mechanics to to work in different trades or to get them engaged to look at a two-year degree and go up to Hutchinson or go over to
Marshall or go to South Central and come back. So really what we're looking at here is how do we get students engaged in workforce ready trades and careers and how do we get them to come back to new or stay in New. So the solution for
us is we ha we have a growing CTE um center and we have a great internship and apprenticeship program and we're looking at putting a coordinator in when we've evaluated programs around the area. We've seen that coordinators are
one of the key components to connecting businesses, connecting industry, the school, and families in one direction in order to build the program, continue to build the program. So, we're looking at trying to create that
connection piece for our CTE with the new M industry and new M workforce and allow our students to enter the workforce and come back into new and really build, you know, into the community, either stay here originally or go to a trade school and come back.
looking at that uh from a educational standpoint. Um what we found successful in evaluating programs was putting a coordinator in place. Um what we are asking is $50 to $80,000 over the first
two years of what we deem about $120,000 ask per year for a position. We have some financial commitment from the school district. We have some financial commit comm commitment already from South Central Service Cooperative um in um Mano
um through Perkins funding. So we're looking at you know 25 to $40,000 a year, 50 to $80,000 in order to continue to uh um build towards our goal of having 120 for the first year, 240 for the second year in order to start this.
And then we'll continue to look at grant funding to fund the position, which a lot of districts do use grant funding. Um, looking at uh Hutchinson and a couple other school districts as models. So, you know, we're committed to accountability. We would could report
back. We could, you know, provide whatever information you need over time. Um but again this position and the vitality of our program growing and supporting our students in supporting the economic development of the area is is essential.
Questions for me? >> Oh, I'll I'll start it off. I'll make a comment. I love that this career technical center is in New. I like the idea of our youth, some of them actually becoming young entrepreneurs coming back to the city of Nome. Uh I want to
comment that it is our strategic plan. This is one of the items economic development that we pushed for. I have no issue myself and the EDA making a donation towards it. That's my comments. >> I appreciate that, Commissioner.
I know one of the um couple quick stories, steal a little bit more mic time. Um uh one of the sto uh one of the quick stories I want to tell you is that uh one of the local businesses uh had a student uh two years ago that uh was you
know struggling with maybe graduating, maybe not graduating, went into this program, found a niche, found something that they loved, got into a a apprenticeship program at a local business, fell in love with um diesel mechanic that that idea
working, you know, did a couple different things in uh program went off South Dakota, got a degree, and is being hired this May by that local company as a diesel mechanic. Um, another story that we just heard from um one of our
apprenticeship leads is um a student that wasn't going to graduate, took a couple classes as apprenticeship, got the credits, also did some credit recovery in the summer, but now they're going to graduate because they found something that they they feel like they work with their hands. And not everybody
is a book learner. >> Some kids need that hands-on. We have one of the highest graduation rates in the South Central. They were just touting in the paper St. Peter of having an 80ome percent or and we have 95% graduation rate because we have so many
different pathways whether it be CT business, culinary, egg, auto mechanics. Um >> you know there's so many different ways for kids to find the credits to graduate. So, the programs the programs are working and the students are benefiting.
>> Oh, I was going to say um I 100% believe in the need that we have. Um I'm very happy that we have a CTE center here because I think there was something in Hanska at one point, a trade school that closed a while back. Um and everyone knows that there has become this huge
gap um between you know hands-on and technical workers versus um you know the desk jobs that they said that every you know that that was going to be our future. Um and I am in full support of providing money. I did have a couple of
question and well and I also want to say that um I think that it's good that these students are going to get these hands-on experiences before they go and start working with other companies because you also see kids kind of go into a company and then they're getting one perspective and this kind of gives them a chance to try a bunch of
different things and and see where they fit well and what they enjoy. Uh my question is the funding request would be would it be specifically for supporting the salary of the coordinator while you spend two years kind of figuring out or
maybe three or four years figuring out how to kind of fund that in a sustainable way without the support is my question. So the the funding request would go right towards the salary for the coordinator. Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> And then what would the plan be? um you
know after a couple of years to kind of self- sustain that cuz I think we all know we have that issue with Nubric um you know wanting to be self- sustaining but we continue to fund them to the tune of $50,000 and so um so it is something that's important for us to I guess have
an understanding of. >> That's a great question. um looking at a couple different models. Um we would be um also looking at grant writing through this process, looking at future grant writing, getting on, you know, especially during the second year um of
the the 2-year program. Our our initial campaign is actually looking for three years for funding and and working through that. right now in order for us to move forward. We we had set a goal of having two years worth of funding, but we'll be looking at a combination of a little bit more skin in the game from
the school district grant writing and then looking at other avenues as well like uh funding through that we found through South Central Service Cooperative or local regional CTE sources. But um I think a lot of it Andrea would be grant writing. >> Perfect. Thank you. And then I have just
two more questions. Um would any of these funds be used to source the position or have you begun to do that? Do you have anyone in mind? Because I know just even sourcing can be be quite an expense. >> Um we actually do. Um and as all of you probably are are well aware that we just went through a lot of budget reductions
at the school district. And for those of you that have been in the community for years, this is not the first time the district has to go through budget reductions based on enrollment and whatnot. But we did uh we are restructuring um a couple of the positions um within the CTE department
and one of them um we believe would be a perfect fit for this position. Um the um the current uh lead for the apprenticeship and internship position um has really taken off. That person's connected with community, made a lot of connections with local businesses
already. We believe that would be a good um way to couple some district funds with this position um and move forward in a way that uh supports both the program and the funding. >> Okay, last question. Sorry. Um once um I'm just kind of looking at kind of the
cycle like once this is funded, is that when you plan to go out to a lot of kind of the trade companies to see what kind of um support they're willing to provide or have those conversations already been had and how is that going? Because I'll just share the example with the EDA when
we did the child care facility. We had businesses and in coming to us all the time saying we need child care spots and we need to do this and we're willing to support it. But when it really came down to it, they didn't pony up the money and we you know we still see the need and we were able to do that. But I don't know,
Heather, correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel like everyone was on board to kind of open their hearts and their wallets until the time came and then all of a sudden we were getting more um donations just from kind of local small dollar contributors than some of the larger businesses that stated that they had those need for those childcare spots.
And so um just kind of, you know, looking at this as a similar yet very different um opportunity. Um, do you do you believe that and I think they should be, but do you believe that the businesses would be on board with supporting this? And what would be your range of how far you would want to go to
kind of source um, support businesses like Sleepy and Nichollet and those kind of things? >> Two great questions. Um, first off, um, yes, we do believe that we have support from the local businesses. Prior to this campaign, um the campaign uh members
were working on the still on a campaign for the equipment and since I arrived in 2023 up until the end of last year, we raised over $140,000 for equipment alone and we put in a new um router and new metal fab machine. looking at the
ability for the campaign and those are from local businesses, local areas and how far out we have internships that are in Gibbon. We have internships that are in um Sleepy um and of course, you know, around the area. So, I do believe that
we would be, you know, looking at the um wider market. And then currently, I think you started with the question, but you kind of veered from that. Currently, the we our campaign is already underway. We've already engaged. We already have our letters out, phone calls out. Our campaign has started um working on
soliciting and and talking and educating and and working with the businesses that have already contributed in the past. >> Thank you so much. >> Absolutely. >> I had a couple questions. Um obviously this position will help the CT
center to grow and expand and build and all those things. What does it look like right now just as a baseline in terms of how many students or how it's being utilized currently? >> Well, within our CTE program, we have a
couple of uh areas that are blowing up as far as like student wise. We have our apprentichip and internship program that's blowing up. We have our culinary program that's blowing up. We what we're really looking at the coordination for is a lot of coordination at the CTE center um where we could um engage
middle school students to come down and build out our um programs in auto mechanics, build out our programs, maybe add um programs in come back to what we started with robotics or metronics, add to what we're already doing down there
and then also build out our um metal fab and woodworking. We have uh our advanced welding classes happening down there. We have state-of-the-art equipment um thanks to a lot of the campaign donations. So, we would be looking at building out some of those programs. I say that, but I also know that we have
700 kids at the high school. So, if you add to one program, you know, it depend, you know, the other programs. Um the kids have to come from somewhere. So, um give you an example, we have a great internship apprenticeship program. It's blowing up, but we've seen our egg numbers go down because they're the same
kids. So, you know, we try to balance that. We try to look at that and we're trying to pull kids um that don't have experience in this or wouldn't see themselves initially with experience in to come into the CT. So that's where I see where the coordinator would help pull in and promote and grow the
program, not from within the the CTE program, but from the kids that are the unknowns. We just went through a um the 10th graders did a survey after the um the career expo and there's still you know usually 15 to 20%. They compared a
survey from 2017 with a survey from about, you know, almost 10 years ago, 9 years ago now. And there's still 15 to 20% of students that don't know what they're doing when they're in 10th grade that have, you know, and to expose them more. And we are the only school in the region currently that require two CTE
classes already for graduation. So, we're trying to do that, but I do believe that this would bolster that and this would help out on uh on that uh front. One other piece to your question is what we're hearing from students is what's the number one thing that's going
to allow them to see something different whether it be college or you know two-year degree and it's talking and with people that are within the field that was the number one thing that or number two thing that came back in that survey is talking with people in that field so I believe looking at the
internship program having a coordinator also bring in people into the program from the community and do that more often and having more people from this company or that company come into the CTE and having a coordinator orchestrate all of that would help them talk with the right people in order for them to
maybe see themselves in a field that they didn't originally see themselves in. So I think you'll you know in both regards I think it'll help grow the program. >> Okay. Um, >> did I answer your question? >> Kind of. >> I see the look on your face. Yeah.
>> The baseline though in the last year, this year and last year, how is it being utilized? What's the starting point? >> Excellent. Um, we have about 120 kids a day using the CTE center.
Like I said, we have our CTE program has a requirement of two classes for graduation. So, some of our CTE classes are up at the high school, some are down at the um CTE center depending on what you know, classroom availability if you schedule the same, you know, sometimes
you have to schedule them at the same time. So, we use some of our metal fab up up at the high school, some of our woodworking. But again, at the CTE center, we have outside of our pays lab, which is not part of the CTE, we have about 100 to 120 students a day down there.
>> Okay. Um and with the changes in budget and faculty and all those things, do you foresee any issues in terms of um faculty available to if you bring more students, bring more programs, that's more people you will
need to implement the programs. Is that an issue in terms of just having the teachers at the center? >> No, I don't believe so. We have about 15 to 18 kids in a lot of these classes and we can um some of them like welding we only have so many stations you know so we'd have to add a class but most of
them can take more students. Some of the classes that we've kept in egg you know have 10 kids but we're keeping the class cuz we believe in the program. We believe in it and that's that's a hard so we would love to see more kids. That's a that's a hard thing when we have some, you know, when we look at the
reductions to your point, um we reduced down from prek all the way up to high school English, math, and whatnot. We reduced um sections or or we reduced some offerings in the high school. And again, we did not um we did not
submarine any one program. We just tighten the belt on everyone across. We're trying to really play um um play nice with every department because we're looking at public funds and everybody has a vested interest in the success from pre prek all the way up. So I do
believe some class sizes would grow by doing this but again it just you know balancing that out. I would love to see the trades grow because of the need in New because of the need in the area the need in South Central area. And we hear it. We hear it. And there's a huge component coming out of our our co-op
about how do we bolster what we're doing with CTE programming. So, um I don't believe that uh any of the reductions that we had at the high school are going to negatively impact most of the reductions at the high school level, we're going down a 2 or a.5, which means if you have a 1.0 you know, for a
full-time equivalent, you go down a 2 or 0.5, you're reducing a couple classes from the schedule, but you're not, like I said, we did not blow up any one department um in order, you know, so I believe that there is definitely enough capacity in the CTE program to take on
the extra students. >> And then with the building and expansion of it, well, we can all agree, especially in rural Minnesota, that the trades are incredibly important. Do you foresee expanding beyond those traits or
being able to adapt that programming to growing technology and all of those things, but even beyond into um healthc care pathways? someone, you know, could a student a year or two from now be able to get their CNA at the CT center,
practice phabbotomy at the CT center, um do EMT training, um obviously the trades are a need, but are we uh broadening that, expanding into all sorts of different needs in our community?
>> Absolutely. Absolutely. health sciences um were was also on the feedback from 10th grade. One of the highest interest um from students. Um we've we're about three meetings into our um uh of exploring how to develop it. Probably
still a year out if not a year and a half out, but um developing a CNA program. Um this would exactly what you just said. I don't know if you just wanted to promote it for me, but um creating a sim lab down at the CTE center for a CNA pathway, working with
Alina. We've we've tried a couple different times, but we'd be looking at other funding sources there because the one component for a CNA is to have a licensed nurse in the state of Minnesota also be licensed with Minnesota Department of Education to provide um
that that one class. It's a one semester class on top of we have all the prerequisites for the CNA already going on. Some of them we offer college credit for um and looking at that. So that would be you know engaging in the lab doing some some internship work 16 hours of that and then preparing them for the
CNA test. We already have eight stu the last two years we've had eight students um a semester at um Alina doing internships. Um and then for our um medical terminology class, we also have hours that are required where they float
through Alina as well. Um and we would be you know engaged with them as well. The only current path for a CNA for us currently and it again we would we've encouraged some students to do it is there's a program through Oak Hills that they send them to an online school but
of course when you go to an online school in education if they go enroll in an online school they unenroll in new for those periods of class and that that's a funding loss. So we would love to be able to create the program within new school so we don't have a funding loss and lo losing students. nothing against the program. If kids want to go
to the CNA, they could also go to um you know, South Central um college and and go that route as well postsecary. But of course, we always want to retain our kids here, not just for the high school school experience, not just for the funding, but because the more things that we can do here, the more students
that we could retain here as far as employees as well within New. second they go prose secondary somewhere else they're looking at mano they're you know you know looking they could be looking elsewhere so I think I hit it that time >> yes
>> yeah I think we can all agree the CTE center is a fantastic concept and something especially given the EDA has put money into the CTTA CT previously um so of course everyone wants to see it
succeed um I'm assuming As of now, there's no way around uh that dual degree requirement of say nursing and education in order to teach a course. Um
and if you have say a welding course, does that welding instructor have to have an education degree too? >> Am I understanding that right? Well, you could be a community expert in almost all of the fields that you're talking
about, but the one that the one class the last class for the CNA does require a license court. But for the other classes, if we ran into it, you could you could have a um >> um a dual or a alternative pathway to licensing through the state of
Minnesota. So, like our welding instructor um or um manufacturing or if you're in woodworking or whatnot, you do not have to be licensed, but then we there's paperwork and other things um to prove uh expertise in the area that we
would have to accomplish. Then that >> tier one license comes from the state. So, technically they are licensed. It's just an alternative pathway. But currently for the um CNA that you talked about, all of our other classes are already offered at the high school for that pathway to CNA. And I believe I
believe the only thing left is is that one class. And we'd be looking at alternative funding, not this funding, but alternative funding in order to um fill that and then start offering through space down at the CTE center. >> But yes, absolutely on our radar and
something we're working towards. >> Yep. Okay. And I just asked because funding a CT coordinator would still require the support obviously positions within the programming itself. Um I don't think I have any other
questions. >> I don't have a question but it's more of a comment and I I am in a agreement with what the consensus sounds like that this is an important thing for us to support. I am a former educator
so report cards are important to me and I talk about metrics a lot and I saw some of the metrics that you are looking to report on annually which I appreciate. One thing I would also like to see is a baseline right now um as
kids graduate how many are staying in the community because educating kids is great but our focus is development in the community. So, how many are staying in the community now? And then annually, how many do we see are being
going through CTE training and then still staying in the community? So, do we see an uptick in the number of of kids staying here? And then that would help inform especially if you ever come back and ask for for more support for something to know it's actually doing
what it's we think it's going to do. >> Absolutely. Thank you. Any other questions for Superintendent Coer? >> Um, two, one, is any of the other schools using your program right now jointly with you or is that a future
discussion for the CT program? And two, on Michelle's, >> is and I know this probably hard to track. Is there a way to track maybe two and five years down the road, are they back in town? Because I know a lot of people leave for the first few years and then they come back and I think that's more of an indicator than if they stay
right away. Um, but some tracking would be nice. >> It's a great question. Um to your first question, yes, we have uh students uh traditionally um from both Cathedral and MVL that have come in and and utilized our program. We actually have I believe
we are um going to um yesterday I heard for the first time through um our internship program might be taking on about 20 students in the fall from Cathedral to do the internship and to set it up through our program.
So, um, yes, but the CTE, yeah, we've had welding. We have welding is one of the bigger ones because of our welding setup and because of, you know, the, um, equipment we have there, but we also have students in other classes as well. It's usually about six to eight, uh, semester, um, from the two other
schools. Good question, Mike. Just a quick point of clarification. Um, for the amount of funding, because I've heard it and read it throughout this report, you're looking for 50 to 80,000
over two years, not 50 and 80,000 per year, right? >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Correct. >> Any other questions? >> No, just a comment. I think there's no better way to um support our community by investing in our youth. And of
course, I'm on board with all of this, too. I think we just need to decide now what what do we want to um award. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. I hear a consensus that we should support. The request is 50 to
80,000. Any thoughts, commissioners, on how much you would like to support? I would be, if it's a two-year commitment, I would be up for the full commitment of the $40,000 for the first year with the option to make whatever
decisions we need to make the second year. Um, I think that it's very important. I think it's, as Dave said, uh, it aligns with our planning and what we want. Um, and I think that it'll also show the community that we are seriously
invested in the economic development of our community, which includes workforce uh, development and retention. >> To clarify, 40,000 for one year, come back in another year for more funding. That's what you're saying, right? >> Is that what they were looking for or were they looking for the two-year
commitment? >> Both. You looking for one year, two year, either or? >> I was looking for a two-year commitment. >> That's what I thought. >> The reason for >> Can I have you go to the microphone? Thank Thank you.
>> Another great question. The reason for a two-year commitment was to as you hire someone for a position, if you only have one year of funding, sometimes someone's going to b at taking that position. If you have two years of funding, saying we're working on the third, that was the um idea of having two years worth of
funding secured and continue to work on the third through the first year to to make sure that someone feels like they have stability in the program. And so that yes, we are looking at two years of funding. >> Perfect. >> But I understand what you >> Yes. So then I would kind of like to change my suggestion to say $40,000 for
the first year with a minimum commitment of $25,000 the second year for $65,000 total with the option to increase that 25,000 next year based on I guess information and data >> and need >> and need
comments on that proposal. >> So if I understand correct you're looking at 65,000 commitment >> commitment over two years with the option to increase next year. But, you know, kind of really get the ball rolling for them with half of what their requested 2-year commitment is, which is
$40,000. And then with a commitment to $25,000 the second year with the option to increase that up to, you know, another up to another $15,000 based on kind of the outcome and, you know, what we find with the coordinator and the need. I'm all right with that with the
>> Sorry, this is going to 65. >> This is going to make you get up again. We're going to get your steps in today. I have a question. Um, >> is that going to impact though your ability to secure someone in that
position and secure the budget with that question mark being out there of maybe it's going to be this much or maybe it's going to be the full 80. Is that gonna kind of put you in a pickle that way? I guess
>> as a as a committee we were looking at trying to to raise the 240 before making an offer to someone so there is a a full commitment to them for two full years and that was the thought process. I thought it was respectful as an employer to make sure that they knew that they had two years of a position. Um to your
question, I guess that's all dependent on the other fundraising that we do. um if that would put us into a pickle of not having the 240 um before offering the position. >> And if um the other funding that you're looking for for this position position
doesn't fall into place, uh that would just this would not be an ask anymore sort of thing or you're pretty confident that the other source of funding will pan out. for the position.
>> Oh, we have a lot of uh >> or is that already secured? >> No, it's not already secured. >> Okay. >> No, no, we we were looking for a commitment from the EDA. A lot of times when when we talk about I, you know, I think I phrased it maybe as as seed money when we look at this commitment from the school district, commitment
from the EDA and uh the Perkins grant from South Central um >> and and looking at that base and and using that also in our conversations with local businesses about where we're at and how much we have. So, um >> I don't know if it would put us behind
the eightball, but I know that it make our work a little bit harder. >> Yeah. And this is I mean this is just my own thought that doesn't make it right or wrong but having more of that full buy in on ter in the terms of the school district the
EDA um would grow the confidence in other people wanting to contribute and fund that position. >> That's our thought. So I while I understand um Andrea's suggestion um I would say rather than um kind of having
one foot in one foot out >> my recommendation would be to fully fund it so we can um give it the best chance at success possible. You >> mean fully fund >> 40 this year and 40 this year to that at
all just Yeah. Yep. I am fine with that. >> Is there any other >> Do we need a resolution or just a motion? >> Approval should be a motion. >> Well, I think Andrea should amend her
motion and then we would need a second. >> Yep. Okay. Um so, thank you, Lindsay. Um I need to put my glasses back on. Um, I would make a motion to approve funding in the amount of $80,000 um with a $40,000 commitment for each
year to New Public Schools to assist with hiring a career technical education center coordinator. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion or questions? All in favor say I. I.
>> Opposed? Motion carries. Congratulations. >> Thank you. Item 6.2, EDA business consultant. Wendy Anderson, first quarter report. Wendy here? >> Yep. >> Oh, okay. I couldn't see her behind the
>> post. I thought I saw you come in earlier. Thank you. >> Good morning. Thank you for coming and for the report. I know last time um Lindsay had some questions. Did this report
help you or did you want to see different things too? Um, I'll maybe let Wendy go through her piece and then answer that question. Perfect. Okay. Now use this one.
Yeah. Yeah. Can hardly get on this one. >> Maybe >> we have I can just go through the print. >> I don't have a print out. Know why I have to look on here to see it? low internet today. That's really slow.
Wow. Slow internet. As soon as it Does anybody ever print? >> I didn't print anything. >> We're paperless. >> Maybe in the future you want to bring it
with you. so much. Go up there. I feel bigger. We're getting there. voila. Okay, great. All right, Wendy Anderson, special um
EDA consultant for the city of New Home. uh it was asked to have the reports more and specifically just from numbers to a little more of what's going on. We had a lot of grant applications we've been working on with clients,
but we still work with retail clients, several different ones as you can see. Um there was one business that we ran the numbers. Let's see if we can get this going. that found out that it just wasn't
feasible to buy the building he was looking at. So just kind of high level topics here questions. I do think the little bit more detailed report is helpful not only to kind of see what um
what you've been working on but also kind of what the business community is experiencing right now. um positive things, challenges, um anything specifically that you're seeing or noting. Uh a lot of it goes into uh
fitting the needs of getting your IRS and I ein number that just for these new businesses to figure that out to figure out what the bylaws are because every time they open a bank account, you have to provide bylaws even if you're a
single member LLC. So have helping them navigate through those pieces is really huge. even the Minnesota uh Department of Commerce getting your tax ID set up. It's pretty cumbersome for some of these businesses. But once
they get it and they keep at it, you can see that they're they're um happy that we the EDA provided that assistance and getting that help from you to get going, get started, get their EIN and
all those things set up. Um, do you see them or have they been sticking with you and continuing to come back and okay, now I need help on this part. Now I need help on this part. Continue, >> which which is great. That's what I'm
there for is to be there to support them through this startup piece. Um, and sometimes, you know, there was a little um where I had to have translation between the father with the son who went to
school here, but the father is more Spanish speaking. So, different things like that. And and um just Yeah. And then I find that the banks once we help with the banks and help them through that process,
especially some of the loans and the other funders like Smith, they um also keep coming back to >> sending people our way. >> I don't have any other questions. I'll make a motion to receive an order filed EDA business consultant Wendy
Anderson's first quarter report for 2026. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you for coming, Wendy. >> Item 6.3, transfer funds from commercial
rehab loan fund to small business loan fund. Uh, commissioners, this is based on the decision you guys the the commission made to separate the the small business loans from the commercial rehab. So, I set up a completely separate fund within the financials and per state statute. I
just need a resolution in order to move funds between the two. Um, and I believe when you decided to separate them, you indicated you also wanted to move 15,000 into the small business fund so they would have enough to make a a loan initially while they're waiting for the
other payments to come in. I'll offer the resolution to transfer 15,000 from the commercial rehab loan fund number 255 to the small business loan fund number 256. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion or question? >> Mhm.
>> Resolution. >> Resolution. >> We have a resolution and a second. Any further discussion or questions? >> I just I'm sorry I missed who seconded that. Dave did Dave. Thank you. Director Brago, please call the role.
>> Commissioner Christian, >> yes. >> Commissioner Reinhardt, yes. Commissioner Becker, yes. Commissioner Lee, >> yes. >> Commissioner Hen, >> yes. >> President Mark, >> yes. That mo that resolution carries. Item 7.1, economic development activity report.
>> All right. Uh, commissioners and president Mark, um, I'll just highlight a few items here for you. Um registration has closed for our annual child care provider event um that will be held um this coming weekend, Friday night and all day Saturday. We had 64
providers register for that event this year. So it remains um popular to the child care provider community to be able to come and get those free training sessions um all in one weekend. um if they attend all of the sessions
offered, they can get 12 of their 16 annual training requirement hours met um in this one weekend at no cost to them. As well as um they're welcome to join us for a catered lunch on Saturday. All of the um trainers and the catered lunch
are sponsored by Smith, so the only cost to the EDA is staff time and some incidental in expenses. I usually buy um some breakfast items and some um like cookies for snack on Saturday afternoon. So minimal cost to the EDA, but um an
event that um this is our fifth year offering this event and it remains very popular with our providers. I think it shows that we value the work that they do and we appreciate them and we want to make it easier for them to either get into the child care business or to stay
in it once they're in it. um to keep their um meet their annual licensing requirements. Um so that'll be this weekend. Um under the commercial property rehab loan program, I just wanted to note one loan
closed in the amount of $67,440. Under the small business loan program, three applications were received. Two loans closed each in the amount of $10,000. those applications were already in the works prior to the changes to the
program. So, they um got the maximum that was allowed of 10,000. The other application that came in um will be the first one that will be able to go up to 15,000. They're requesting around 135 um for what they need to do.
So, they're not taking the full amount. Um, and I expect that one to close by the end of this month. Under the small business incentive grant program, note that seven applications were received during the um grant window this year.
The application window closed on March 31st. So, I am planning to go forward with um five grant awards. Um, and I'm working on that now. Um and then um if we are capping it at the five, then I'll notify
the other two applicants that they um they will not be funded this year. Um other notes, I am starting to get up and running now with Placer AI. We've had several training sessions with them. Um it was
very overwhelming, but um I actually got a lot of practice. I worked with Sarah at the chamber and I asked her, "Okay, what what do you want to know?" And she sent me a whole list run, you know, for all the different events and she sent me all the dates and I ran several
reports for her which she um was very appreciative to receive that data and that gave me some great practice. So, I'm feeling a little more comfortable with um that platform now. Um, I also sent an overnight leakage report to a developer that's been working on a
potential downtown hotel project um to show the dollars lost for people that are going to surrounding um hotels in surrounding communities. Um we're losing about $2.5 million a year right now to hotel leakage. So, um does seem to show
um that we maybe could benefit from another hotel in town. um completed seven business outreach visits in March. Um and note um I did include and I will begin including this every month um the
um domestic travel and tourism report from from Placer AI that gives you a broad overview of um the data that we can see from Placer AI. Um and that shows visitor spend. I
should explain um visitors traveling at least 50 miles to New Alm um and they're spending what is it about $18.5 million a year $18.9 million a year in NewM so shows the value of tourism to our
community >> and then um just update Fourth and Broadway they're currently putting in utilities um there right now so correction is done. Uh they should be doing footing and foundation probably in 2 or 3 weeks uh after they put the utilities in. And then city council
approved um the drive-thru for scooters. So that'll be one of the retail tenants uh in at that location. >> Okay. If there's no other comments, I'll make a motion to accept the economic development activity report for March 2026 activities. Second. A motion and a
second. Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. I. Opposed. Motion carries. Item 8.1, New Business Resource and Innovation Center first quarter report. And the chair for New Brick is here.
>> Good morning, commissioners and president Mark. It's uh it's a pleasure to be here this morning. Um I just want to share something real quick. So many years ago, my son was 12 and uh a referendum for the school district
looked like it didn't pass. And he came to my uh it was early in the morning. He said, "Why doesn't the city of New and why don't the residents support us?" And it was about 2 hours later there was a dropbox that wasn't counted and the
referendum actually passed. And I have to commend you for what you did this morning. I mean the students are smiling. Um New Brick has worked alongside with ISD88 for a lot of years actually. Uh personally I've been
involved for about since the CT center started and again what you did this morning and what you've done and what you're going to do for the school district is amazing. So I don't know how often somebody would actually say you're awesome but you are. So thank you.
So um I'm here for questions. um any questions that you might have for New Brick this morning. Filling in for Steve. He's out for a minor surgery today. >> I'd love an update on the tiny or small homes project. >> Yeah. So, we are scheduled for
groundbreaking. Um basically, we're going to start the ground work on the 25th of May. And uh we um approximately a 90-day schedule to complete that. Um, so we're hoping in 90 days to actually have the first two homes built.
>> And again, weather dependent, of course. So, >> is the purpose for those two to be more model homes for people to just initially kind of look at or are you wanting to build and sell them as quickly as you can?
>> Yeah, good question. Actually, there's a lot of interest already. We've already had groups reach out to us and say, "Hey, can we get a block of your homes?" Um, so to your to to answer your question, um, we'll be renting them. Uh, there won't be any sale of any of the
homes. Um, we would anticipate and actually yesterday at our board meeting, we worked on ideas for funding for the future development the last, uh, I think there's a total of 15 units and we would anticipate that the following spring, we're just going to go full full speed
ahead with the building. But it was an idea the public model as you mentioned the first two um but it seems like it's being over you know that's being there's excitement about at this point so yeah >> it's great. >> Y
>> any other questions? >> Looks like we're going easy on you today cuz Steve's going to be jealous. It's like >> I read the report. The only question I have um can you tell me a professional testing center? What type of testing
would be done there? Who would that who would be the target audience for those that would come in to be tested? That was my only question. >> Yeah. So, we were approached Newark was approached by that company because uh there's a need in regional testing. For example, um Carissa Bugler just went up
to uh the cities for some licensing or testing. And um there's actually a need locally to reertify for, you know, it could be a number of things. It could be plumbers, it could be um anything to do with the
trades, nursing, um really a broad range of retesting or licensing. And that would be an income source. We're looking at that an income source actually for the CT center. uh itself. Um we've uh recently looked at uh um can we office
down there um for that initiative. New brick would manage that. It would be approximately 5 hours uh 2 days a week. And along with that, the small business development center. Um I know you didn't ask the question, but Brown County is one of the few counties that does not
have one, and they have a new administrator now. So, we're moving ahead with that initiative as well. And with that said, um we're looking for space at the CT CT center as well for that. So there's a lot of balls rolling right
now. They're all positive and we appreciate your help that uh you're helping us move along with that. >> Any further questions? >> Thank you. >> Thank you. We appreciate your time. I'll make a motion to receive an order filed the new business resource and innovation
center first quarter report for 2026. >> Second. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion or questions? All in favor say I. >> I. Opposed. Motion carried. There being no further items, this meeting is adjourned. We will rem
session.