At a Winnebago Economic Development Authority (EDA) meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 4, EDA specialist Jennifer Howard unveiled the completed draft of a Winnebago marketing video.

See Me Productions has been filming footage for the video over the past few months. The completed product includes sweeping drone footage of Winnebago’s Main Street and testimonials from Winnebago residents.

Howard screened the marketing video for the EDA on Wednesday, planning to officially post the video if the EDA did not request any changes.

For the most part, the EDA was pleased with the final product.

“It looked very professionally done,” board member Lee Hodges commented.

“If people are looking for a place to live, it would pique their curiosity,” board member Jean Anderson agreed. “It’s pretty, it shows local people, and it shows all the amenities we have.”

The EDA approved the marketing video on a unanimous vote.

The EDA also discussed the community’s need for housing, observing that if recruitment initiatives such as the marketing video do their job, new residents will need somewhere to live when they move to the area.

As a preliminary step toward addressing Winnebago’s lack of housing, the city has commissioned a housing study from Bolton & Menk. Howard updated the EDA on the study’s progress, sharing that Bolton & Menk is in the process of analyzing the data collected from the housing study. A total of 186 responses were received from Winnebago residents.

The EDA then discussed other initiatives to develop housing in Winnebago. The board disagreed regarding how involved the city should be in promoting housing initiatives.

Anderson suggested, “If we want this to be successful, the city will have to be involved. In order to get the ball rolling, why can’t we all be in this together?” 

However, board member Doug Hill countered, “If the city becomes involved, who pays the bill? In my experience, the most efficient way to build housing is not to get the government involved.” 

The EDA did not fully resolve the discussion. However, several board members agreed that offering city-sponsored incentives for building housing in Winnebago could be an effective way to stimulate the city’s housing market.

In other business, the Winnebago EDA:

• Discussed past-due payments from the owners of Flip N Shake, which has been closed for several months now. Howard reported payments on a Revolving Loan which was awarded to Flip N Shake are now past due in the amount of $387.09.

“They have not made a payment since August. If they do not make a payment in January, they will be three months behind,” Howard said.

The EDA decided to collaborate with First Financial Bank Winnebago to decide how best to proceed with the property.

• Heard the EDA Annual Report from Howard, who shared that the EDA awarded $33,000 in Exterior Grant Funds in 2022 and $41,000 in Revolving Loan funds. The EDA also received $99,900 in DEED Demolition Loan funds for the demolition of the former SuperValu building on Main Street.

In total, $26,451 in grant funds were awarded to the city in 2022, and an overall total of $136,351 was secured in funds for Winnebago.

• Received an update from Howard regarding a new squad truck which was purchased with USDA grant funds for the Winnebago Police Department.

The squad truck has arrived, and Howard anticipates the city will receive the funds from the USDA shortly.

• Discussed a child care grant which Faribault County will be launching in February for county providers.

• Discussed a child care training event which the city hopes to host in March. Howard suggested the city invite local business leaders to the event to brainstorm ideas for promoting child care opportunities in Winnebago, and hold a separate meeting for child care providers to gauge their needs at this time.

• Awarded the January Business Spotlight to Razor’s Edge.

• Rescheduled the EDA’s next meeting for Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 5 p.m.