NYM EDA, C&C discuss hiring summer marketing intern

By Tucker Henderson

Reporter

The New York Mills Economic Devlopment Agency met during their monthly meeting on the snowy morning of March 8, which was held earlier than ususal due to scheduling conflicts.

Energy expert, Lori Moxness, who serves as the Senior Commercial and Industrial Representative for Otter Tail Power, made the trip from Fergus Falls to inform the board of the various community programs offered by the company in the form of energy rebates and other such programs. There are a multitude of opportunities for increasing energy efficiency in buildings accross Otter Tail Power’s service area available to the public.

The proposed idea of a summer intern during the February meeting is off to a running start as the EDA board and Civic and Commerce are working in collaboration on a position description, weekly hours and a pay allotment. 

Lund Boats has also donated a sum of money to the endeavor to help cover the cost of the digital marketing internship, which will be involved in the community this summer, including during Lund Mania.

The infrastructure bid for South Point was awarded in the past month and is coming along at the anticipated pace. As soon as the snow clears and the frost recedes, construction will commmence on the sewer and gas lines in the addition, as well as the 60-unit apartment building which will be called South Point Apartments. 

The area is currently served by Lake Region Electric Cooperative, but since it has been annexed by the City of NY Mills, which has a franchise agreement with Otter Tail Power, the builders will be asking to be released from LREC’s service area and instead, Otter Tail Power would be invited to take over the service of South Point.

In other news

• The 110 South Main building has been sold by the city and closing is underway. Plans for an online and retail storefront are anticipated after renovation.

• A Community Development grant offered by the Otter Tail County CDA board offers $50,000 a year to local municipalities and NY Mills has used it in the past, but did not in 2022. The grant requires one-to-one matching funds, but could be a potential boon to city projects in the coming year depending on if the EDA board wants to pursue it.

• Succession planning may be added back to the monthly EDA agenda as business owners retire and are looking to pass their ventures on to incoming community members with those same career paths in the hopes to prevent essential businesses in the community from disappearing.

• The Country View addition will be on the docket for marketing this summer as the EDA and C&C intern will be updating the marketing video for the addition. There are 15 lots available in Country View and the newest home will be finished this spring. The lots will be listed with Centennial Realty and a rebate program continues to be available to interested home builders.

• The next meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 19 at the city hall chambers.