News + Announcements

Article by: Nicholas Ouellette

The Kasson EDA, along with CEDA team member Nicholas Ouellette serving the Kasson EDA, is working with the owners of the historic Dodge County Independent Building to explore options to create a co-working space in the Main Street building. The building owners, Ed and Tina Butler, hope a co-working center can provide space where local entrepreneurs can grow their businesses, network and promote economic growth within the City.

The building, currently home to the Dodge County Independent, can readily be divided into smaller offices and has high-speed internet throughout the building implemented to serve the paper’s needs. The Kasson EDA is currently surveying the community to determine demand for and opportunities to utilize co-working space. A survey is available online and has been sent out to businesses registered to residential addresses, where local entrepreneurs might be starting their businesses or looking to move into office space. While managing the survey, Kasson EDA Staff are investigating co-working space models to find a plan that best fits the available space and the community’s needs.

Overall, the Butler’s goal is to provide a location for business innovation in Kasson where entrepreneurs can create a sense of community. To stay up to date with this project, check back on the City of Kasson’s Facebook page.

Article by: Heather Holmes

CEDA Team Member, Heather Holmes, Housing and Recreation Director for the City of Stewartville has been working with the Stewartville VFW Post 8980 and American Legion Post 164 to fundraise and build the Stewartville Veteran’s Memorial (SVM) Park on the south edge of the City. The project was a dream of Maurice Sinn, one of the original members of VFW Post 8980 and the last survivor of the original group.

“This has been an incredible honor to work with the group on moving this much anticipated project forward,” said Holmes, a veteran herself. “The City of Stewartville, Olmsted County, local businesses and citizens have been so generous. It is humbling to see the incredible support.”

The estimated total cost of the project is $300,000 and to date about $100,000 in cash and in-kind donations have been raised including a generous donation of $25,000 from an anonymous foundation which also offered a Matching Grant of $50,000 which will expire on December 31, 2020.

On July 21st, 2020, a $5,000 donation was presented to the SVM park committee by ONB bank at their newest location in Stewartville. Josh Buckmeier, ONB Vice President, states “when the “Rogers” presented to us early this year, we knew we wanted to contribute towards the Veterans Memorial Park. We are even more excited to learn our $5,000 contribution will turn into $10,000.”

Located on the southside of Stewartville on the west side of highway 63, The Memorial Park will provide a location for events and for visitors to honor local veterans. Work has already begun on the site. Grading has been completed and the underground electrical conduit is being installed. The next step will be the concrete work which includes new curbing off Highway 63 as well as sidewalks and picnic shelter base.

“This project is a huge undertaking,” says Roger Peterson, Stewartville American Legion Post 164 Commander. “But with the City’s support and Heather’s assistance along with the matching grant of $50,000, we hope to hit our goal and double every dollar received until the end of the year.”

Article by: Howard County Business And Tourism (CEDA Team)

Filling large empty buildings in rural communities is a challenge for many, especially if it is retail.  The CEDA contract in Howard County, IA was no different after Shopko closed its doors in the middle of 2019 at their location just outside of Cresco.  Many contacts were made and seeds planted to potentially occupy the vacant 33,000 sq. ft. building, and when Hy-Vee contacted the Howard County Business & Tourism office near the end of 2019, hope was looking more like reality.

Jason Passmore explained, “CEDA and Howard County Business & Tourism worked with Hy-Vee in late 2019 to move this project forward, with huge assistance from the Howard County Board of Supervisors and local lender Cresco Bank & Trust.”  The Cresco location is one of the first handful of stores to offer the new Dollar Fresh format that Hy-Vee is opening in various locations throughout the region.

Open seven days a week and employing over 30 workers, Cresco welcomed Dollar Fresh on June 26, 2020.  Dollar Fresh offers groceries, wine and spirits, clothing, shoes, fuel, ready-to-eat meals along with their aisles on-line format offering easy curbside pick-up.

Article by: Annie Leibel

The Winnebago, MN Economic Development Authority (EDA) recently adopted a focus to restore and revitalize the City’s Main Street. CEDA team member Annie Leibel presented an initiative called Bring Back Downtown Winnebago. A couple ideas Leibel had for the initiative included a Commercial Exterior Grant and plans to expand the Power of Produce Program for the Farmer’s Market.

In light of Leibel’s proposal, the Winnebago EDA adopted a dollar for dollar match commercial exterior grant that provides a $6,000 award to businesses. The new program will be advertised on the City’s Facebook Page, and Leibel plans to call local businesses to let them know about this program. City Administrator Jake Skluzacek noted “The City of Winnebago and the Winnebago EDA realize that action must be taken to help improve downtown Winnebago and assist business owners in the area. The commercial exterior grant will be able to give the assistance businesses need to  make a noticeable change with their places of business and how they are viewed. This will be a big first step in Bringing Back Downtown Winnebago.” Skluzacek continued, “The City appreciates the EDA’s willingness to provide the funding necessary to make the program a success.”

The City also has a Power of Produce Program, which provides $2 tokens to children purchasing produce at the Farmer’s Market. This year, the EDA is going to focus on expanding the program and adding additional vendors to the market. Leibel commented “The Power of Produce Program promotes healthy eating in our community, and also encourages families to come downtown on the weekends. By expanding this program we hope to promote local shopping and foster pride on Winnebago’s Main Street to help Bring Back Downtown Winnebago.”

Over the next few months, the Winnebago EDA will be talking about additional steps to revitalize downtown Winnebago. Future potential projects include a community mural, and a holiday lights display.