Article by: Chris Giesen

It hasn’t been any secret that there has been a lot of development excitement in southeast Minnesota the past few years. In 2017, the State of Minnesota appropriated $275,000 to CEDA to study the effects of the growth potential that is projected throughout the region.

More specifically the study would analyze the: (1) current and projected economic, fiscal, and demographic effects and issues; (2) direct and indirect costs and benefits; (3) positive and negative effects, including effects upon workforce, taxation, and transportation; and (4) economic challenges and opportunities for economic growth or diversification.  Because SEMLM, administratively, is a small organization with limited resources to dedicate to such a project, they brought on CEDA to help manage the project and act as the fiscal agent.  CEO/President Ron Zeigler and Vice President Chris Giesen have been assisting SEMLM Executive Director Brenda Johnson with this unique and important project.

After a search that drew interest from local, national, and international firms, CEDA and SEMLM hired the consulting group HR&A Advisors, Inc. to be the lead consultants on the project in December 2017.  Officially, the project kicked-off in January 2018 and is projected to conclude in the fall of 2018.  A final report is due to the Minnesota Legislature in February 2019.

On August 15, 2018 about 75 representatives from cities, counties, regional and community-focused organizations gathered at the Chatfield Center for the Arts Historic Potter Auditorium in Chatfield, Minnesota to listen and provide input on the draft report.  Attendees reviewed high level findings of existing economic forecasts which are thought to be too conservative and do not include new project initiatives in the region such as Destination Medical Center (DMC) or the sharp growth in our region’s tourism industry and the study’s preliminary, updated economic forecasts.

Ultimately the project is creating an updated forecast model focused specifically on the eight county region by utilizing existing data and conservative forecasts as well as information gathered from 26 participating cities and all eight of the region’s counties during a series of focus groups, phone, and email interviews.  Additional focus groups and interviews were held with representatives from regional organizations such as CEDA, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Southeast Minnesota Together, Journey to Growth, Rochester Area Economic Development, Inc., and development organizations from the La Crosse, Wisconsin area.  This updated model will generate detailed economic data at a county level which can then be translated to the local municipal level to estimate growth, population, jobs, housing, and much more.

In addition, participants reviewed the results of several specific initiatives that were tested using this new forecast model which looked at “what-if” scenarios.  The specific initiatives included housing, migration/immigration, child care, transportation, tourism, manufacturing, and agriculture.  Participants reviewed what could be possible “if” different goals were set or unmet and “what” the opportunities or consequences might be.

In the afternoon a smaller group of participants listened to representatives from the software company that is providing the forecasting model for this project and discussed potential uses of this software and model moving into the future locally, after the study is complete.   There are some 6,000 potential variables that can be tapped to study our region and how it works together or how different initiatives can multiply and have a ripple effect across southeastern Minnesota.

The final report and data sets will be available free of charge to all cities to utilize once the final project is complete.

Article by: Reva Mische

The City of Cold Spring’s Economic Development Authority (CSEDA), in partnership with the ROCORI School District’s Community Education Department and the Cold Spring Chamber of Commerce, put together a Resume and Interview Skills Course to be offered on October 9^th.  CEDA team member Reva Mische who serves the City of Cold Spring proposed and helped design this course which will discuss what to include in a resume and cover letter, how to prepare for an interview, and what to do once the interview is over. In an effort to strengthen the area workforce, this event will reach a demographic that may not otherwise have access to these offerings. There will be childcare available and the School District’s Cultural Liaisons will be available to offer assistance to Spanish-speaking attendees. Chamber President Kathy Faust, Branch Manager of the Central Minnesota Credit Union, has volunteered to lead the presentation/discussion, and Chamber volunteers will be available to help with resume help/questions after the course.

Strengthening collaboration and partnerships with are organizations has been a priority of the CSEDA’s since bringing CEDA and Mische onboard. Mische hopes this will be just the beginning of an offering like this, and is impressed with the momentum she has gained through partnering with the Cold Spring Chamber of Commerce and ROCORI School District.

Article by: Marty Walsh

The Fillmore County Economic Development Authority (EDA) held their first Business After Hours event at the new Beaver Bottom Saloon in Fountain, MN on July 24th. The event was an opportunity for businesses and community developers from communities across the County to network and engage with others, with the ultimate goal of deepening the connection of the EDA to a broad base of businesses.

Article by: Reva Mische

Through their work with CEDA, the Frazee, MN Economic Development Authority (EDA) has had great success in connecting with their business community through Social Media that they wanted to take it one step further with the launch of Business Community Events. The EDA hosted a Coffee and Community event held on July 10^th at The Palace Café in Frazee. This was a casual event, welcoming business members as they shared ideas for supporting and strengthening the business community. Topics for discussion ranged from providing a welcoming environment for new and existing businesses to visualizing ideas for the vacant lot downtown. Attendees included area business members, community organization leaders, City and EDA representatives, and the director of the Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce. The power of collaborating was evident at this meeting, as attendees brainstormed, shared thoughts and concerns, and generated energy around area business and community initiatives.  One of these initiatives is a quarterly After Hours event, titled Community Unwind After 5. The idea for this event was inspired by discussions about how to continue fostering connections and collaborations among business community members. The kick-off event will be held on August 23^rd, from 5-7PM, at the Harvest Fellowship Church and will feature a meet and greet with the new owners of the Frazee-Vergas Forum.

Article by: Rebecca Charles

The City of Lewiston, MN has been working with Widseth Smith & Nolting of Rochester on a Comprehensive Housing Study for the City.  The final study was delivered to Lewiston on May 31st, 2018.

CEDA team member Rebecca Charles worked with the Economic Development Authority (EDA)to host a Land Owner Forum in Lewiston on June 18th, 2018.  Landowners with property directly abutting current City boundaries were invited to attend the meeting to hear the results of the Comprehensive Housing Study, and discuss how the City and its landowners could work together to solve the housing crisis that the City is currently facing.  

“There was a lot of really interesting conversation that came out of this forum” Said Ms. Charles.  “We received some great leads for exciting new projects that we will be exploring closely.”

Ms. Charles and the City’s EDA applied for and were awarded a $2,500 grant from Compeer Financial that made the study possible.

Article by: Chris Giesen

On May 30th, 2018 Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton signed into law a $1.5-billion-dollar public improvement bill which included two different provisions to extend the Harmony-Preston Valley trail about 6 miles from Harmony to Niagara Cave and the Iowa border.  This new trail segment, dubbed the Harmony Stateline Trail, received $1.5 million in traditional state “bonding” dollars and $235,000 from the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) in the bill signed by Governor Dayton.

“$1.5 million will go to the DNR for general project expenses and the LCCMR money will come directly to the City of Harmony for land acquisition.” explained CEDA Vice President and Harmony EDA Coordinator Chris Giesen.  Giesen also authored and was awarded a grant from the Harmony Area Community Foundation of $15,000 to help as a match for the LCCMR funding. The City contributed $25,000 as well to fund the purchase of option contracts and some land to secure the trail corridor. The project will total $1.75 million for completion.

Volunteers serving on the City’s trail committee had been working on securing a route for this trail segment since 1989.   In 2014, the committee finally received the last landowner handshake agreement.  The EDA then funded the purchase of option contracts to hold the City’s right to buy the land needed for the route for a period of 4 years.  Giesen and City officials worked with the legislature and Governor to change the law to designate this route as a state trail.

Giesen assisted the City in applying for the LCCMR grant to fund property acquisition.  The LCCMR grant on its own would have allowed the City to at least secure and preserve the trail corridor in the event the main funding package from the state didn’t come through before the option contracts expired.

Giesen and the trail committee are already working with the DNR to move forward with planning and construction, although no firm timelines are in place yet.  When the trail is complete, it will serve as the connection between the Root River/Blufflands trail system in southeast Minnesota with the Northeast Iowa trail system creating a 115-mile network serving multiple cities.  CEDA team members Jason Passmore and Spiff Slifka who serve Howard County Business and Tourism are also working with the Harmony team while leading the effort to connect the Iowa portion of the network to Minnesota. The trail will also connect to Niagara Cave, Fillmore County’s busiest tourist attraction and the #2 cave in the nation as ranked by USA Today.

“We appreciate all of the support we got for this great project locally and across the region and state.” Giesen explained “It’s really because of the willingness of the land owners to help and the dedication of the volunteers throughout the years that we were in position to apply for funding to complete this exciting project.”

Conceptual renderings are realistic simulations that can help demonstrate ideas or concepts. These renderings can aid communities in their advertisement and communication of development opportunities.  While the drawings are typically not business specific, the visual representation of the opportunity can be more impactful to some developers when evaluating how their structure might suit a business park or individual lot.  In addition, the renderings often display existing and planned infrastructure and neighboring businesses which are valuable considerations for developers and companies.

Some CEDA communities are utilizing this tool to strategically attract businesses.  The City of Stewartville, MN’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) recently worked with architecture and engineering firm Widseth Smith Nolting (WSN) to produce conceptual renderings that would depict a strip mall including a drive through entity in the City’s Schumann Business Park highway adjacent lots. CEDA team member Joya Stetson and City Finance Director Barb Neubauer met with WSN staff to discuss potential options for the business park’s future as it relates to amenities, features and priorities. Ultimately, the final design layout was based upon lot structures, traffic counts and community feedback. The EDA plans to share the drawings with potential businesses and developers to incite interest and showcase advantageous commercial development opportunities in the Park.

Kasson, MN also worked with WSN in the production of conceptual renderings that highlight the Kasson Commercial Park.  CEDA team member Rebecca Charles aided Kasson in formulating the image for the future of the Park. These drawings are a useful tool that the City expects to distribute and promote as a part of their business development efforts.

View the Stewartville Renderings HERE.

View the Kasson Renderings HERE.  

In the establishment of their CEDA produced 2018 work plan, the Stewartville, MN Economic Development Authority (EDA) prioritized community engagement efforts.

CEDA team member Joya Stetson who serves the City drafted and distributed an electronic community survey which received an impressive 373 responses.  This survey was supplemented with an engagement event with middle school students, a project with the high school senior economics class, and direct outreach to the Center for Active Adults, a local social activity organization for senior citizens.

The EDA also held a community-wide round table input session which was organized by CEDA team member Stephanie Lawson to accumulate even more data on citizen thoughts and aspirations for the future.

Stetson collected and evaluated all survey and focus group responses to generate a comprehensive report which will be utilized by the EDA to ensure that programs and projects are consistent with community priorities.

“This report offers a thorough analysis of resident and business opinions about the community” Stetson noted. “The statistically significant data illustrates marketable assets as well as areas for improvement; ultimately, the results will allow our EDA to continue to make the City of Stewartville an even better place to live, work and do business.”

The final report expresses constructive documentation including but not limited to:

– Quality of life ratings

– Reasons for residing in the community

– Evaluation of individual amenities

– Citizen priorities for development

– Satisfaction with public communication efforts

Stetson will report quarterly on progress related to the aggregated data in order to ensure and communicate progress.

You can view the final report HERE!

Where:

Chatfield Center for the Arts
405 Main Street South
Chatfield, MN 55923

When:

Starting at 9 AM
August 15, 2018

RSVP by clicking here!

Questions:

Chris Giesen
Vice President
Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA)
507-990-1822
[email protected]

More Information:
Through a grant appropriation from DEED, in early 2018 SEMLM and CEDA engaged HR&A Advisors, Inc. to conduct a study to understand the economic growth facing cities and counties in Southeast Minnesota. The Southeast Minnesota Economic Study aims to provide communities in the eight-county region with long-range population, employment, and economic forecasts at the county- and region-wide scales. These forecasts will equip municipalities, counties, and the Region with quality data that can inform long-range planning, guiding important municipal and county decision making for things like investment in new infrastructure and public works, municipal services and schools, land use planning, and strategic downtown planning, in addition to regional considerations about transportation investment and housing growth. With a clearer understanding of the future population and economy of Southeast Minnesota, the Region can work to ensure that this growth is equitable and sustainable, serving all residents and workers.

On Wed., Aug. 15th, HR&A will present its draft report findings, providing an opportunity for city and county officials, administrators, economic development specialists, and regional policy groups to ask questions and provide feedback on the Study before the report is finalized and published. The morning session will be dedicated to an overview of the Study findings and implications. In the afternoon, HR&A and its team at REMI Policy Insight will offer a training focused on the economic development implications of this study and an overview of the REMI economic model. This study uses REMI Policy Insight to model baseline growth and to test the impacts of economic development scenarios in the Region. REMI’s dynamic modeling capability enables it to construct comprehensive forecasts of economic and demographic characteristics; it is an industry standard, frequently used as a simulation tool to help regional policymakers understand the long-term consequences of socioeconomic trends and policy decisions.

Economic Study: Preliminary Findings and Policy Recommendations
Chatfield Center for the Arts
Potter Auditorium
9-11am

REMI Model Training: Economic Development Implications and Software Training
Chatfield Center for the Arts
Potter Auditorium
1-3pm