J-M sold
Name of new owner has not been released

The J-M Manufacturing site is shown above as it looks today while the inset photo shows how it appeared prior to being shut down in 2007. After 17 years of sitting idle, it was announced at the Winnebago EDA meeting that the site had been sold. The name of the new owner has not yet been revealed.
Towards the end of the Winnebago EDA (Economic Development Authority) meeting on July 11, city administrator Judi Hynes surprised those in attendance when she announced that the former J-M Manufacturing plant in Winnebago has been sold.
“The deal is done,” Hynes said. “But, I am unable at this time to reveal who the buyer is.”
In November of 2023, the owner of the property gave notice to the Winnebago EDA that they were ready to move forward with selling the property.
J-M Manufacturing halted production at their Winnebago facility on April 16, 2007. A group of the plant’s former employees attempted to purchase the plant after it closed but was unsuccessful. Now, 17 years after the plant closed, the property finally has a new owner.
“I do not know at this time what the new owner plans to do with the property,” Hynes concluded.
News of the sale of the J-M Manufacturing site was not the only big news to come out of the EDA meeting.
“I have received word that the city of Winnebago has been awarded a $120,000 grant from the Blandin Foundation for residential home rehabilitation,” EDA specialist Dave Schmidt said. “We do not have the funds yet and are working with Blandin on the contract and documents for the funds as well as the guidelines and application for implementation.”
Schmidt shared that the grant will be geared to assist low income families.
“Blandin reported they had received more applications then they could have imagined,” Schmidt commented. “I credit Jennifer (EDA specialist Jennifer Howard) for the work she did on applying for this grant.”
Schmidt reminded the board that once more details are available the EDA will have to begin working on how to structure the process for applying for the grant.
Schmidt said the city’s application to be a part of the Empowering Small Minnesota Communities (ESMC) study was also approved.
“This is another thing Jennifer had worked on,” Schmidt noted. “Winnebago will be part of a pilot program being operated by the University of Minnesota. The project will conduct a survey of the infrastructure of small towns in southeastern Minnesota. This study will take a deep dive into what affects the smaller cities in this part of the state.”
Hynes reported that the city had received a reimbursement from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in the amount of $17,682, as part of the ReLeaf Grant.
“We have the trees and are waiting to plant them,” Hynes said. “The next reimbursement to the city is due in December of this year.”
The July Business Spotlight Award was given to Winnebago Chiropractic which is owned and operated by Doctors Chasten and Amy Fenger. Winnebago Chiropractic is located at 115 First Avenue Northwest in Winnebago.
In other business:
• The EDA received word that the application by Winnebago Ambulance to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) for funding is on the back burner due to a lack of available funds to meet the request of $50,000 by Winnebago Ambulance.
• Schmidt informed the EDA that visits with Winnebago businesses had started in June.