payments of $66,541
uh primarily legal and insurance fees. >> I'll make a motion.
» Second. >> A motion from Austin, a second from
Nick. All in favor? >> I.
» Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Uh we'll start things out this morning.
We have a guest from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation here to
share some things with us. >> All right. Thank you for having me. Uh,
is it okay if I pass out some folders? >> Absolutely. Awesome.
» Thank you. >> Thank you.
» Thank you. >> I still got mine.
» Okay.
[clears throat] Okay. Well, um, thank you everyone for
having me here today. Uh, it's I I consider it a real opportunity. Um, and
again, thank you for your long-standing partnership with Southern Minnesota
Initiative Foundation. Um, just a brief introduction. You know, New Prague EDA
has been a valued Smith supporter since 2003. Um, and has contributed a total of
$11,000 over that time to Smith. Uh we truly appreciate your commitment to
strengthening communities and supporting economic development through southern
Minnesota. Just to give you a refresher who Smith who we are at Smith at
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. Um so we are a regional
development and philanthropic organization serving 20 counties, 175
communities, and one native nation across southern Minnesota. Our mission
is to foster economic development and community vitality uh through
collaboration, partnerships, investments and uh philanthropy.
What we do uh so entrepreneurship and economic development, business lending,
uh startup financing, gap financing, technical assistance, entrepreneur
support, rural entrepreneurial uh entrepreneurship development, and more.
Um, also early childhood development, just to kind of give you an idea here,
um, early care and education grants, early literacy grants, child care
workforce initiatives, uh, free provider training, uh, community early childhood
partnerships. And then the last pillar is community vitality,
um, small town grants, placemaking projects, community beautifification,
downtown improvements, community leadership development. basically making
these small towns um across our region places that people uh want to live
because there's so much value there, but not it's not always easy to maybe see
that. And so we want to give small towns a fighting chance to to um hold and
retain um everything that makes a town and a community so wonderful. Um and
then also philanthropy. So this is uh for example community foundations,
endowments, donor advised funds, legacy giving, regional grant making, really
just giving people um a pathway to uh supporting their communities in all the
diverse ways that they could or want to. Every community has unique needs and so
for example, our community foundations are there to uh allow communities to
rally around those needs. So um why Smith partners with EDAS?
One of the reasons Smith enjoys working with EDA's EDA offices is because we're
pursuing many of the same outcomes, um, business growth, workforce
attraction and retention, entrepreneurial support, childcare
availability, community development, quality of life improvements.
Um, typically Smith serves as an additional tool in an EDA's um, toolbox.
So, we help communities connect businesses to capital, identify opport
grant opportunities, provide technical assistance. You know, we can work with
uh businesses starting out all the way up to advanced businesses. Um, for
example, Quickbooks, um, how to keep your taxes organized, pretty much
everything. Um, so it's pretty cool. We can come alongside a business and help
them flourish. Um, support entrepreneurs, you know, that's kind of
the name of the game. strengthen local philanthropy, improve childcare
capacity, development, community projects. So rather than replacing local
economic development efforts, we help communities bring additional resources
and expertise to the table. So kind of diving in here, and I'll be I'll be
brief. Um, but the Lassour County uh impact since 1986,
um, $6.9 million has been invested in the Lassour County. 322 grants have been
awarded, 30 loans provided to support entrepreneurs. Uh 3,370
entrepreneurs supported uh 72 children supported through recent initiatives
within the last three years. Um just to kind of give you an idea, we have around
31 develop approved training sessions throughout our region annually. Uh these
are training sessions that childcare providers or really anyone that works
with children um in a licensed capacity can come and um not only receive
accreditation by the state um but learn best practices in terms of how to run
their business and how to uh best serve our children. Um so, uh to give you kind
of an idea, um return on investment for every dollar donated from Lassour
County, approximately $21 has been invested back into Lassour County
through grants, loans, programming, and technical assistance. So that's the
power of leveraging local support with state, federal, philanthropic,
corporate, and private resources as well. Um so again, I kind of already
mentioned this, but business loans, this is one way that we support economic
development. uh we provide financing um from starting up all the way to equity
investments. So um that technical assistance, cash flow planning, loan
readiness, growth strategies, um you name it. But in fiscal year 2025, Smith
provided around 35 and a half hours of business technical assistance here in
Lassour County with an estimated value of around $2,840.
So, these are businesses here um that are that are benefiting from that again
because of the partnership that Smith and the EDA have and also others. Um so,
we're so grateful for that. Entrepreneurship highlights Montgomery
uh Rev initiative. Smith awarded a $20,000 grant to support Montgomery's
rural entrepreneurial venture program, REV. Uh the project focuses on business
outreach, one-on-one entrepreneur visits, identifying barriers to growth.
Uh this initiative creates stronger local businesses and more informed
economic development strategies. Uh the promise act [clears throat] the
promise act grants um recent lassour county recipients included uh $50,000
awarded to lassour farming corporation $25,000 awarded to the lawn barber
service services in lassour um supporting business stability payroll
retention equipment modernization and business growth. Uh the new Prague
impact here um early childhood and education. New Prague area schools um
early learning program Smith invested around $17,000 to support parent
resource bags, early childhood engagement, school readiness
initiatives, and uh full day preschool programming for atrisisk students. uh
New Prague Area Community Foundation. Smith awarded $10,000 early care and
education grant to support childcare provider resource library provider
training, parent education, and then community early childhood initiatives.
Um New Prague Area Early Childhood Initiative received a
$12,000 grant um again for parent education, educator professional
development, and um and play-based learning. So, um, and and I can go on
and on about about this, um, but and it's just so special. Again, it just
highlights the power of our our kind of our synergistic, um, relationship here.
It's really great. Um, community vitality impact, the city of New Prague,
um, smalltown grant. They received $6,631
for improvements to Southside Park Disc Golf Course, uh, wayfinding signage,
park enhancements, uh, visitor experience improvements. also forward
new Prague Foundation uh small town grant in the total of $9,685
for landscaping uh native vegetation trees and shrubs uh outdoor performance
space improvements things that just make the community a wonderful livable place
um that kind of enhance it. Community foundations, of course, we do community
foundations work like I mentioned. I I won't go over everything, but uh we
support our community foundations. We sort of do all the backend work, the
legal work, tax stuff like that. uh freeing up the board um of the community
foundation to focus on what is most important and pressing in their
community. And so that's really really great. So we supported uh recent support
in the last three years. Uh for example, this uh in 2025 we supported the new
Prague Community Foundation at $6,000 around $6,000. So um and of course
Montgomery, Lassour, Alleion, you know, the they have community foundations as
well that uh we work with. So, under our Smith umbrella, I should say as well,
um, child care matters to the economic development. Obviously, parents need a
place to drop off their kids. Um, of course, and and there's many reasons why
that matters as well. So, when businesses tell us they struggle to find
workers, childcare is frequently part of that discussion. Um, so child care
impacts, workforce participation. Um, there's there's many and I'm sure all of
you know most of them. So um today childcare is economic development and
that's why Smith continues investing heavily um in that. So um I can make you
aware of some upcoming grants. I'll just say one. The small town grant uh is
actually opening this month. Um typical deadline is in October. Uh who can apply
would be cities, local governments, nonprofits, and community organiza um
community organizations. Um this is again beautifification for the
community, public spaces, downtown improvements. um and so on. So, um with
all of that, I just want to say thank you for for your time. I hope I went
over um I was thorough enough. I um your investment helps Smith continue
supporting entrepreneurs, businesses, communities, um early childhood
initiatives, and so much more in the Lassour County and southern Minnesota
area. On behalf of Smith, I specifically ask that the new PRA EDA continue uh its
support at the same level as last year at the thousand level. Um and again, we
just gratefully appreciate your partnership and leadership and your
commitment to creating a stronger future for New Craig. So, thank you.
» Thanks, Aaron. Any questions, anyone?
» Appreciate all that you and the organization do in southern Minnesota.
Great to have you join us and keep us posted.
» Thank you very much. Thank you, >> honor.
» Uh, next up on the agenda, Joe, updates on BRNE.
» We have Do you want me to go to the microphone or
» Up to you. I'm fine either way. >> We have three um visits since your last
meeting. Um, the first was at Hi and Austin. Brooke and I were able to attend
that one. It was interesting because the first time we had visited them was six
months after they opened. So it been five years since
um they grew from 13 full-time employees to 30. Um Colton the manager has very
positive say attitude towards Craig and the area said that customer growth has
the street improvement project had a slight impact but it was shortterm
otherwise very
That's about right. Yeah, good. >> And then the second one was at Heras
floors and um again another positive one. They are in the downtown. Um their
building consists of three600 square foot or 4,800 square feet. Right now
they are still looking at expanding and moving to the side of town and that
would be an expansion from 4,800 to 14,000 square feet.
Positive growth for the community. They have four full-time employees and
they have subs that also assist both this store and the one
that attended [snorts] comments on that.
» No, I mean they made the normal comment of parking is
Yeah, especially on that area downtown
» No, I think things are generally going well for them.
They're hoping to make their move sooner than later.
» Yeah, they got the work for the new building out to bid. We had actually
approved and had a building permit sitting there and they just never move
forward to pick it up. So, we got to re-re the permit with the new
contractors that they may bring on board.
Sounds like a positive project.
» Yeah. Continuing to grow, too. I think one of the things I took away from there
is they're looking at adding some appliance sales and services. So, some
additional lines of business. So, it's it's good to see them having success
here locally. >> That's nice. A long-term family
business. >> Yeah.
And then we also had a visit at funeral home with a new owner. That was nice
meeting a new business person to the community. It's himself and then he
wellated wants to become involved with the
different organizations.
This is his first funeral home that he's kind of run, but he has family business.
» Yeah. Out of Lakeville.
» Yeah. >> That puts us at 10 for the year and has
been calling. So, if you have any businesses that really like to go out,
let me know. And I'll >> All right.
» Sounds good. Thanks, Joe. [snorts] uh business updates, guys.
» Yeah, real quickly. So, we did issue uh another new home permit in July. So, up
to our total of 2025 uh with a total of three, which is again, not a lot. Um, as
we've talked, we just need more lots. We did uh wrap up last Monday with the city
council the concept plan review for Harvest Fields development, which is 185
lots on um 60 acres. I had a follow-up meeting with them yesterday. They are
shooting for their plan unit development uh and annexation uh formal applications
by our October 7th deadline. Uh right now what they need to get done is kind
of more preliminary design um from grading to the traffic study and um
they're actively working on both of those right now. And uh yeah, they're
just trying to get the all the entitlement work done here uh before
they close on the land obviously and know that they have uh land use approval
uh to move forward. Uh like with any project, you know, they got to make sure
that they have um you know, the financial uh stability in the project
from not only the beginning of the project, but through how long they think
it would take to phase it, which is about a fiveyear time period, generally
speaking, um for the 185 lots, all pending market conditions and
everything. So, uh positive on on that project, at least for now.
» Ken, well, that that'll be the first one since Eastland, right?
uh or has >> we've had other plats, you know, under
10 lots [snorts] throughout town and replplats and different things, but of
of substantial size. Yeah, definitely. >> Definitely.
» Um we did and we've had town home developments, I should say, since
Eastland as well. But >> um other than that, the uh Chart
Industries property or not property, the company was acquired by Baker Hughes
back in July. Um, we have not heard directly from the new ownership, but uh,
everything I've read is that they continue to uh, operate as they have uh,
here in New Prague uh, for the time being. I don't know if anybody else has
heard anything differently um, on the EDA's end, but uh, that was something I
didn't know that was happening. I don't know if maybe Josh did. No idea. Um,
other than that, we did get the building permit for Bold North Hemp for the uh,
cannabis cultivation at the mill property. um just working on some um
code things with them on that building. And then uh TP Insurance uh is also
doing some internal alterations to their uh building on Main Street. So it's kind
of the the bulk of the projects over the past month here that we've had. One note
to add just just from yesterday actually. So there was a rumor
circulating around town that the post office is no longer moving. Um the last
couple days there have been a lot of vehicles over there. We actually did
send a staff member over and had internal confirmation that uh they are
working for USPS to renovate that building. So,
» that was my assumption. I I was going to pop in there yesterday, too, just as I'm
being our neighbor, but what I noticed yesterday was they had basically pulled
all the ventilation hoods off the roof. So, I was like, "Okay, they're not
» it's not going to be a restaurant any longer," which to me kind of
» Yeah. I mean, it's I mean, our building official was the one that went over and
took a look because while this uh USPS does not need any permits or okays from
the city, if for some reason it wasn't USPS doing work, then you would have had
to put a stop to it. >> So,
the postal service does not they can just buy a building and start doing
whatever. No notification to you. No, >> they don't even have to own it. They're
just leasing it and it's situation. So yeah, they they
» to the point of they don't even have to follow a lot of laws. Like they have
parked their vehicles illegally on Main Street and our police officers have just
been like, "Can you guys please move them? Like we can't make you move them,
but and they've just no we're good." So yeah, they tr they are truly above every
law of which we as a city could possibly try to hold up to.
» Oh, the fed boys. >> Interesting.
» Oh, you're in the wrong business, man. You need [laughter] to be in the federal
government. I don't want to dabble with any of that. That's that's dark arts
over there. >> But but yes, we we had heard a few
because I mean we because of that they've never formally informed us they
were going in there. Um we had actually heard rumors. I we got a few phone calls
from a couple residents. I think even the paper reached out to both of us
» trying to figure out, hey, we'd heard that they' broken their lease and
weren't moving anymore and you know more than us then because we know nothing.
and our boots on the ground just sending the building official in uh kind of
confirmed that they kind of are ramping up and I think they've almost gutted the
building. >> Yeah, it's completely gutted at this
point. >> Yeah, they a day
» they moved pretty quick because I I was out of town last week but they I think
it was Thursday and Friday there before I left the week prior saw a couple
vehicles and then it was just boom. >> Yep.
» But to that point, Nick, it has caused problems. I know.
» I can't imagine. Well, they don't have to notify you, do any code reviews,
everything. Oh, sounds great. >> I was say the problem comes, especially
when they try to sell or if they're leasing the building. Like, if they're
no longer in there, >> the building owner is now stuck with a
building that isn't code compliance. >> They think, well, it's the federal
government. It's got to be up to snuff. Well,
» they do. >> So, federal government owns the building
or they found a private buyer and they lease it.
» I believe the building is still actually owned by the same owner.
» It's leased. They typically do 99ear leases. They're just under a long-term
lease of federal government. >> But the [snorts] new postmaster, you
know, I don't know how long he's been there. Maybe a year, three quarters a
year. He did announce it at city club. >> Oh, [laughter]
» so you missed the official meeting. >> Missed the official meeting.
» You stood up there and say, I got an announcement. I'm the so and so and we
are moving to the >> so much shady about this entire thing
that's going on. It just doesn't feel good.
Okay, great for our new post office. >> All right.
» I just hope it still looks like a pizza ranch when they're done. Pull up looking
for pizza. >> Oh, no. It's drive-thru chicken. Hey,
[laughter] >> get the drive.
» God, there you go. Nice. >> That wrap it up, Ken.
» That does. Yeah. >> Okay. Uh Joe, CDA updates.
» You clarified new happenings have a lot of different uses. [laughter]
» That's hard to believe. Well, all the Facebook, so you can go in with the real
information and no one will believe you. >> Um, CDA updates, we are undertaking our
strategic plan for the next five years. So, starting today, we'll have a social
media post with a link to a community survey, happy to send that link out to
you as well. But if you have input on the direction and focus that our agency
should have the next few years, get your input.
And um today we are hosting tax tips for businesses from 11 to 12:30.
Aaron Anderson from Dems Consulting will be presenting free lunch if you want to
come. Finally, uh Fastrack Challenge. Our
applications closed for this year's 10th annual event and we applications from
four cities. So our board will be
finalist within the next Great.
Uh we do not have anyone from the school district with an update today. So that
moves us along to Josh with the executive report.
» Uh yeah, just a few general updates of various things going on. Um as you know,
um CVF Racing has submitted a TIFF application to the city. We continue to
try to work through that process on our end. Um, of note, I don't know if I
updated this to you guys before, um, they have also submitted and are running
through the same process over in Bell Plane at the moment. Um, there are
between the two cities, our offers are very different, but our assumptions are
also very different through that. And so, um, we are just trying to present
the best possible offer that makes sense for us as a city without necessarily
piffing back money that CVF may not necessarily need for the project. So, we
continue to work through that process. Hopefully, we'll um come to a
conclusion. Hope more hoping [clears throat] good than bad sooner
than later so it doesn't remain open, but we continue to work through that. Um
did the TIFF application reflect just the parcel that he's considering or was
it for the entirety of that parcel that's for sale there?
» Just I think it be just for that building. Yeah, just just for the port
portion that he is using >> like 12 [snorts] whatever acres. Yeah.
» Yep. That answer that's >> his plan at this point would be just to
annex as far as we know that small portion of the property
» for his property for his building. Yeah. Okay.
» Uh other notes. Um city center over here. I know we've
talked about there possibly being trying to use up money over there. I don't
think we're going to be able to use all the money at this point. We kind of
heard back yesterday that there are certain things that are eligible to use
the money for and other things that aren't. And so
I know dur kind of during our discussions we talked about well uh what
if the city or EDA kind of opens up kind of business loans, low low interest or
forgivable loans to businesses to help do improvements? We may actually have
money to be able to do something like that um and be looking to spend it uh so
that way we don't have to give it back. So Ken and I will kind of keep looking
into that as we wrap [clears throat] up that uh city center process. Really now
at this point I think is we just need to get on a call with Bolton Mink who's
been helping us through that as to okay they're telling us we're able to use
500,000 of it for grading andor storm water improvements. Just how do we get
that unlocked get that move forward so we'll know exactly how much we'll have
left then to put into some sort of initial pot or something for business
loans. But yes, Chuck.
» No, I was just wondering once we get that done, are we going to market that
north part of it? >> I think that would kind of be the next
step of that of now what do we do with the rest of that lot? It might be the
selling of the rest of that lot is what kind of helps finish off some of those
sidewalk improvements and park that area.
» And what's the latest on the last two lots that we sold? Um, as far as
» Yeah, so yeah, they've been closed on. Um, okay. I don't believe they've
submitted any building permits for those at this point. They do have a full year
to get a shovel in the ground, which I believe is May.
» Yep. >> Next year. So,
» that's not unheard of. I believe Scott Equipment, it was about
» nine months after we closed that they finally submitted their stuff. So,
they're aware and we are certainly willing to work with them however we can
to make sure >> that those two lots build successfully.
Uh, that is all I've got unless you guys have other questions about happenings
around the city. >> About city hall. How's that? The new
city hall. >> New city hall. Well, if you voted
yesterday, you would have got to check it out.
» Um, otherwise, no. We had our first meeting with the uh parking for the
election. Was it >> uh I think for 98% of the day it was
good from what I've heard. And Ken can probably speak to it as he was one of
the head judges. So, if you didn't like how the elections turned out, talk to
him. Um, I think parking was generally good from what I've heard for most of
the day, other than there was kind of about probably a 20 minute window where
you had the >> first crew and second crew change over
» plus the lunch rush. >> Plus the lunch rush all trying to use
all that parking at one time. I think it got a little hairy,
» but there's plenty of street parking around there and I think the street
parking was able to absorb it. >> Good. So, street parking did what street
parking was meant to do, and that is >> be parking.
» So, I think talking to Chief Applin and our other um judges that we think that
we're going to try to find an alternative location for our judges to
park because when we had the the changeover, we had nearly 30 cars u
filling up the north parking lot and >> yeah, there wasn't much place for the
public then at that point. So, we're going to maybe talk to the hotel. Um
that's generally not full during the middle of the week,
» right? >> So see if we can park over there.
» A pizza ranch. >> Yeah, [laughter] depending on
» We don't know what's going on there. >> Yeah, for all we know, it's a vacant
building, so we can just park at Pizza Ranch.
All right. >> Oh,
» to answer your question. So, we had our first design meeting here like two weeks
ago and kind of went over general concept of what the city's looking for
and uh I believe we're meeting on Monday here again. They were going to kind of
come back with some few a few options of high levels of okay, this is what we
could do or this is what we could do. Kind of a few options of that. And I
think the plan is to go to the city council then and say, "Hey, here are
kind of some of the options we're looking at
how would you guys like us to proceed?" And uh and then hopefully there's not
it's not a ton of work. It's not like we're redesigning the whole building.
And so I hope I'm I'm hoping by October we certainly got this whole design phase
wrapped up and they can get the um construction documents drawn up and we
can kind of figure out how the improvements are happening from there. I
know they were going to look at stuff so far as the this is the stuff you need to
do now. This is stuff we'd recommend you doing, but you could wait three, four,
five years if you want to put some money away so you can take care of it then.
» All right. Any other items? If not, take a motion to adjurnn.
» So move second. >> Motion from Nick, second from Troy. All
in favor? I. >> Thanks all. You