The Crookston Housing & Economic Development Authority Board met on Tuesday, July 29, at Valley Technology Park.
The main agenda for the meeting started with a request for the EDA to serve as the Fiscal Agent for Prairie Skyline Foundation. Housing Director Theresa Tahran says they have done this before for the Prairie Skyline. “Kaye had asked us if we would take a look at being a fiscal agent again. Back in 2019, we did do a fiscal agent for her, for a grant,” says Tahran. “Basically, it was just a pass-through to help her with a grant. We would pay for the invoices, and she would reimburse when she got grant funds.”
The EDA served as the fiscal agent for Prairie Skyline Foundation in 2024 for a grant that was applied for in 2024. Now in 2025, the Prairie Skyline Foundation, under the direction of Kaye Hegge, is applying again for grant funds, as well as asking that the EDA be the fiscal agent, Tahran says. “She has asked for $40,000 line of credit, and currently, with our funds kind of running low, the board declined to go with the line of credit at this time.” The motion failed as the board unanimously voted against being the fiscal agent.
Next on the agenda was to approve a program agreement with the University of Minnesota. Taylor Wyum explained that the agreement is funded by a grant. “This program agreement allows us to work with somebody who is currently a full-time employee at the University of Minnesota on a project that is outside their typical workload,” says Wyum. “This person will be working with us on a project for a grant funded by the Pollution Control Agency. It’s called a local climate action planning grant, and they will be working with us on community engagement and resident outreach, especially around energy efficiency and home weatherization.” The board unanimously approved the agreement.
The board heard a recommendation from Theresa Tahran to the Council for an HRA Levy. Although the board agreed that it is a good idea and in the future it could be an option, it is not feasible for the upcoming budget year. The board agreed to keep it on the agenda so that they make a plan to bring to council in the future with what the Levy funds would be used for.
The board finished the meeting with a discussion on their 5-Year Economic Development Vision. At the June 24th meeting, the board was asked to bring ideas to the next meeting to try to gather information and ideas on the board’s top three priorities. Phil Schramm laid out his ideas, starting with Housing, Childcare, and attention to the Industrial Park. All members agreed that Childcare needed to be the top priority. Discussion will continue at the next meeting on Tuesday, August 26.