Houston County EDA reports loans, workforce efforts and childcare grants in 2024 annual summary

The Houston County Economic Development Authority presented its 2024 annual report to the county board, detailing small-business loans, workforce partnerships and a county-funded child-care grant program.

Allison, presenting the report for the EDA, said the authority approved three loans in 2024 totaling $101,000 to support local businesses. She listed projects including a $30,000 loan for Frank and Julia's market and deli in Caledonia, a $52,000 loan for Green Terrace Properties to operate an inn in Houston, Minnesota, and a $19,000 loan to River Market Cooperative to purchase a walk-in freezer.

The EDA reported it had 13 active loans and $413,000.24 in cash on hand in its revolving loan fund at the end of 2024. Allison said the Knutson project (Frank and Julia's) created two full-time jobs and one part-time job; the inn project retained one full-time job; River Market Cooperative retained two full-time and 13 part-time positions, though its freezer project had not been fully paid out by year-end.

The EDA highlighted the Bluff Country Collaborative (BCC), a partnership that includes Houston and Fillmore county EDAs, local school districts, more than 100 businesses and workforce partners. Allison said BCC funds a youth workforce navigator, Mary Ann Smith, and runs capstone events and hiring fairs connecting students with local employers.

On housing, Allison said the EDA established a local core team with public health and other partners to study housing needs after receiving new housing dollars. She said the group is exploring options including a local housing trust fund or working with the Bluff Country Housing and Redevelopment Authority, and that the joint board of health would discuss housing cooperation with Fillmore County later in the day.

The EDA also reported on a Houston County child care initiative funded with $255,000 in ARPA dollars for a three-year grant and training program administered by Workforce Development Inc. Allison said the 2024 grant work “helped preserve 121 slots and create 10 new slots” (two of those created in 2024), with a reported preserved-cost figure of about $16,000 per preserved slot under the program's accounting. She said more applications arrived in 2025 and funds remained available.

The EDA listed other ongoing initiatives including farmland and preservation work (HAPPI), trail expansion efforts, and co-working partnerships with Lansing Works in Iowa. Allison closed by asking commissioners to refer businesses seeking start-up or expansion capital to the EDA.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the childcare grants, project timelines and loan repayment status; Allison said some projects were still pending final disbursement and record updates.