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EDA adopts 2025 priorities; board highlights commercial lots, CRM and lagoon property possibilities
Summary
The Economic Development Authority approved a set of 2025 priorities focused on business outreach, selling remaining lots, using enterprise tax tools and pursuing commercial land development; the discussion also noted the city’s decommissioned lagoon property is available for sale or lease.
The East Grand Forks Economic Development Authority on Feb. 26 approved a set of 2025 priorities that emphasize building year-round business relationships, marketing and selling remaining residential and commercial lots, strengthening a customer-relationship management system and pursuing commercial land development opportunities.
Staff presented a narrowed set of priorities derived from the city’s strategic plan and recent intergovernmental conversations. The priorities include: expanding consistent business outreach (beyond one-time business retention visits), finishing a customer-relationship-management (CRM) rollout and website pages targeted at business support, more active use of the border cities enterprise tax tools, and encouraging commercial land development and sales of city-owned properties.
During discussion the EDA also mentioned the decommissioned lagoon property. Staff said the lagoon site was previously considered for multiple uses, including potential renewable-energy proposals; a prior attempt to sell to MMPA did not proceed. Board members noted the parcel remains an option for sale or lease and that city staff will continue to consider development, rental or sale opportunities.
The motion to approve the 2025 priorities passed by voice vote. Board members asked staff to pursue concrete actions aligned with the priorities, including stakeholder outreach and a potential spring event to showcase available lots and vacant commercial spaces. Staff described options for short, targeted public events and working with the mayor’s proposed state-of-the-city format to present available inventory to prospective businesses.
Members also discussed the recent intergovernmental retreat, where affordable housing and funding uncertainty were recurring topics and Northern College reported an enrollment increase approaching its 10% target. The EDA asked staff to produce a short action plan identifying next steps for each priority and to report progress at future meetings.
