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West Central Initiative briefs council on regional loans, grants and local investments
Summary
West Central Initiative (WCI) presented its annual report and regional programs, telling the council WCI has invested about $21 million in Fergus Falls since its founding and described lending, Promise Act grants, transportation planning and other regional services.
Representatives from West Central Initiative (WCI) presented the organization’s annual report and summarized recent activity and funds directed to Fergus Falls.
Rebecca (WCI) said the organization serves nine counties and 82 communities and distributed their annual report and a local investment summary that lists roughly $21 million in grants and loans made in Fergus Falls since WCI’s founding. The city’s typical annual contribution for WCI operating support was described as about $7,000–$8,000.
Greg Wagner, WCI director of business and economic development, described WCI lending and business support programs. He said WCI operates microloan and gap‑loan programs that partner with banks to fill financing gaps for small businesses. Wagner noted that WCI had administered COVID relief grants in the region and ran a Promise Act program that combined loans and grants; in the most recent round, WCI delivered $1.15 million in grants regionally and funded 10 successful applications for Fergus Falls businesses totaling about $170,000.
Wagner said WCI also serves as a regional planning organization and economic development district for federal planning, which can help secure federal and state funds for infrastructure such as industrial‑park expansions and bridges. He described WCI’s community programs—early childhood coordination, transportation planning including Safe Routes to School, local food system work and a rural leadership program—and encouraged continued municipal partnership.
Council members thanked WCI for its long‑standing engagement with Fergus Falls and noted previous collaborations on loans and local projects. WCI said it would follow up with a letter during the city’s budget process; WCI staff said the typical municipal contribution to WCI operations is in the mid‑thousands per year.
