The Winnebago Economic Development Authority celebrated the start of the New Year by reviewing its 2024 Priority Plan on Wednesday, Jan. 3.

“A lot of these (priorities) are going to fluctuate. This will always be a learning document,” EDA specialist Jennifer Howard clarified. “If there’s anything I missed, or you want to focus more or less on, let me know.”

The board agreed that supporting business owners looking to expand operations and entrepreneurs looking to start or purchase a business should both be classified as high priority items.

Then, the group discussed the ongoing search for a dentist, attorney and pharmacy services for Winnebago.

The board members agreed that this, too, is a high priority item, although they were particularly interested in securing local pharmacy services.

“I really think there’s a need for a pharmacy, or some type of provider,” board member Lee Hodges said.

Howard observed that Heartland Senior Living is now able to provide some basic pharmacy services. Mayor Scott Robertson also suggested that telepharmacy services could be a possibility.

After returning to the 2024 Priority Plan draft, the board agreed to rank developing housing incentives as a high priority. Other high priority items include applying to the USDA’s Community Facilities Grant Program and facilitating a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Releaf Program which recently awarded the city $50,000 in funds to address the spread of Emerald Ash Borer.

A few other items warranted a high priority rating, too, but they may not be feasible to address until the right time arises.

Howard said she thinks continuing the EDA’s Commercial Exterior Grant Program is a high priority, but only when more funds can be found to sustain the program.

“Until funding becomes available, it doesn’t have the weight,” she explained.

She felt similarly about marketing the vacant site of the former SuperValu building on Main Street.

“We’ll wait until someone has interest, and then make it high priority,” Howard said

Meanwhile, Hodges suggested that redeveloping underutilized sites in Winnebago could be adjusted to a medium-priority item.

“I think we’ve got to get entrepreneurs here first before we develop those sites,” he reasoned.

Other medium-priority items included continuing to promote businesses on social media and the city’s website, facilitating Manufacturers Week appreciation efforts and supporting childcare providers.

Finally, Hodges suggested an item which could be added to the 2024 Priority Plan: establishing an indoor recreational facility for members of the community.

He observed, however, that the effort would probably need to be spearheaded by a municipality, not by an individual.

“I don’t see a single person coming into Winnebago to do that,” he explained. “It’s going to take a municipality of some sort to offer it to our community.”

“We can think about that,” board member Jean Anderson agreed.

The EDA also reviewed and approved the EDA’s annual report to be presented to the Winnebago City Council at its next meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 9.

The report highlights several of the EDA’s accomplishments in 2023.

“This year was a big year for housing for us,” Howard noted.

The EDA participated in the Minnesota Housing Partnership in 2023, commissioned a housing study from Bolton & Menk and helped establish a tax abatement program to incentivize the development of new owner-occupied and multi-family residential housing.

By the numbers, the EDA currently has six active loans, and it awarded five Commercial Exterior Grants totaling $24,782 in funds distributed.

The EDA also recognized Manufacturing Week in 2023, during which it delivered meals to over 146 manufacturing employees in Winnebago.

Finally, the Winnebago Community Club hosted three events: the annual Easter Egg Hunt, the Community Thanksgiving Meal and Frosty Fest.

In other business, the Winnebago EDA:

• Approved Howard to apply to the First Children’s Finance Rural Child Care Innovation Program with the Blue Earth EDA.

“It’s a program to help us assess our childcare in our community and come up with some creative ideas of ways we could help current childcare providers, and solutions for future childcare,” Howard explained.

The program allows towns to apply as a cluster, which is how Winnebago and Blue Earth will be applying.

“It would help with our application,” Howard explained. “And, a lot of people in both of our communities commute to either one for childcare.”

• Agreed to offer Blue Earth Valley Eye Clinic the January Business Spotlight Award.