NYM EDA to look into grant writing program
News | Published on November 25, 2025 at 3:45pm GMT+0000 | Author: Tucker Henderson
0By Tucker Henderson
Reporter
The New York Mills Economic Development Authority (EDA) met last Wednesday, Nov. 19 to discuss the development within the city.
An agenda item about grant writing software has been discussed consistently each month at board meetings and was tabled until next year. The software would be beneficial to the city, but city clerk Julie Roberts asked that the board revisit the issue once administration would have more capacity to handle new training and software implementation.
The NYM Forward committee has been working on consulting quotes themselves and wanted to run their recommendation through the EDA board. The board approved their recommendation and funding will be found for the consultant.
In the South Point addition, the trail has been worked on this summer and fall with trees being planted and shelters being installed. Concrete will be poured in the spring. A potential for solar lighting and paving has been discussed for the trail. Otter Tail County is still waiting to hear back on grant funding for the senior housing that is potentially going to be build on the south side of South Point Drive.
The Community Development Agency board of Otter Tail County discussed the Empowered Worker program and how robust the assistance has been to people with barriers to employment. The county is also looking to hire another part-time employee to assist with the program. A Workforce Summit and Poverty Simulation will take place in Fergus Falls on Dec. 11 and is open for registration.
The Family Resource Center is moving forward with materials being purchased for the renovation of the lower level space. Director Sarah Hotakainen has been meeting with various people around the local area, as well as representatives from nonprofits such as Mahube-Otwa. The Center is slated to open next year.
An idea to renew the Downtown Revitalization Grant program and increase the matching fund capacity to $10,000 per project was given. Roberts will bring the idea to the city council meeting for their thoughts and potential approval.
In other news, John Wangler was given an award by the city in appreciation for his heroic efforts in saving the life of an elderly community resident from an oncoming train last November. It was noted that with his family in attendance, there were over a dozen people present.
The next meeting of the NY Mills EDA will be on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 8:30 a.m. in the city hall chambers.