City of Falls City staff summarized a quarterly economic development report that covered small-business incentives, workforce housing, grant-funded studies for bioeconomy and community solar, industrial‑park lot availability and a land bank website.

Staff described a small‑business equipment rebate program: “Granted, there's a 5% rebate, up to $25,000 for local businesses looking to upgrade company assets,” the staff member said, and added that applicants must be members of the Chamber or Edge. Staff specified investment thresholds mentioned during the briefing: “So the minimum investment for, a business with 5 employees or less is $20,000. And if you have 6 or less, it's $50,000.”

The report noted several grant and study initiatives. Staff said the city received a $75,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to study designation as a bio‑development zone and that that study — described as 74 pages — will detail local corn‑stover availability (staff reported “600,000 bone dry tons of corn stover”). The city also said it received a $50,000 grant from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to prepare a cost‑benefit analysis of community solar installations and that it is in discussions with the Center for Rural Affairs about a community solar program (staff said the Center had been awarded a larger “Solar for All” grant). Staff also said they launched national advertising for the development site.

On housing, staff reported a rural workforce housing fund project at 6012 Fulton that will be a four‑bedroom, two‑bath house with a two‑car garage and an expected sale price “around $330,000.” Staff described the build as a revolving‑fund approach intended to reuse proceeds to build further units. The city also reported that industrial‑park lots are available and that some blocks are city‑owned while others are managed by Edge; staff said the Chimpanix Crossing website lists available lots and that electrical infrastructure is scheduled near Moorhead Court to create 11 buildable lots in the first area.

Staff announced the land bank website is live and listed properties available for redevelopment: 1604 Morton, 1704 Morton and 812–820 McLean. Staff encouraged property owners who cannot meet code requirements to contact the land bank to explore options.

The briefing also noted a recent employer exit: staff said Vantech ceased operations on Aug. 22; the company had supplied Kawasaki and had employed as many as 30 workers previously but had 13 employees at shutdown. Staff said they are working with a contact at Vantech regarding the available spec building.

Staff closed by inviting further questions and noting continued community engagement on the development project; no formal city actions or votes were recorded during the report portion of the meeting.