With three members absent, the Winnebago Economic Development Authority (EDA) board just scraped together a quorum to hold their meeting on Wednesday, June 8.

A full agenda was primarily aimed at exploring initiatives to market local businesses, and Winnebago itself.

Seeing a need to streamline the Winnebago EDA’s online presence, EDA specialist Angie Stier suggested creating a Winnebago EDA Facebook page.

“Currently, the EDA is posting and sharing information on the City of Winnebago Facebook page,” Stier explained. “The process could be more efficient if the EDA were to implement a specific page for the Winnebago EDA.” 

Stier suggested the page could be used for a variety of purposes, including employment updates, community and city marketing, event scheduling, tagging and sharing business or organization information and promoting new businesses.

She noted the page, if it were created, would be managed by EDA staff.

After some discussion, the EDA board gave Stier permission to create the page and implement measures to manage its activity.

The discussion drifted toward other ideas to promote Winnebago and its businesses.

For example, city administrator Judi Hynes suggested changing the name of the Winnebago Area Community Club to ‘Experience Winnebago.’

She theorized the new name would attract more members to the group and thereby help it serve Winnebago’s business community more effectively.

“There are businesses that need help,” Hynes said. “The only way they’re going to get help is if we jump in there.” 

The EDA board also discussed the city’s website, which is in need of updates.

At the end of the discussion, Stier concluded, “If we want people to move here, we need to show them why they should move here.” 

Her statement segued into the next agenda item: a proposal from SeeMe Productions to create a commercial to promote Winnebago.

Stier explained Winnebago’s Minnesota Housing Partnership team wants to create a ‘Liveability’ section on the city’s website to promote Winnebago’s amenities. The team feels a promotional video would be an important addition to that section of the website.

SeeMe Productions estimated the commercial would constitute a $3,920 investment. Stier has since been researching methods of funding the project.

She located a Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) Small Town Grant Program which invests in proposals to impact the culture, education, economy and social aspects of towns in the 20-county region with a population of 10,000 or less.

SMIF’s grant offers up to $10,000 for community projects with such a purpose.

Since the program requires a 25 percent match, Stier also located a Compeer Financial Grant which could be used as a downpayment to gather the remaining funds from SMIF. She shared she has requested $980 in funds from Compeer Financial.

The EDA board was receptive to the idea.

“The video could be beneficial,” EDA board member Doug Hill said. “I think it’s a worthwhile investment.” 

The EDA board approved Stier to pursue SeeMe Production’s proposal and apply for both the Compeer Financial grant and the SMIF grant for funding.

In other business, the Winnebago EDA: 

• Awarded a Commercial Exterior Grant to Dan Stauffer, owner of Stauffer Trucking, in the amount of $3,550.92.

Stauffer will use the funds to replace damaged siding and paint the exterior of his business.

• Approved a donation request from the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) – South Central Region, which provides no-cost customized technical assistance to businesses.

“Many, many, many small businesses utilize their services, and many of ours have,” Stier noted. “They’re requesting $1,000, and honestly I feel that is the least we can do.” 

The EDA board voted to approve a donation to SBDC in the amount of $1,000.