County delays vote on Region 7W Economic Development District application; board asks for more clarity and outreach to holdouts

Benton County commissioners received a presentation on a proposed Region 7W Economic Development District (EDD) covering Benton, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties and declined to adopt a supporting resolution this week, tabling the matter for further outreach and clarification.

Why it matters: A federal EDA (Economic Development Administration) designation as an EDD can increase a region's access to federal EDA grants. The county's vote could affect eligibility for planning and project funds; the Initiative Foundation has offered to serve as fiscal host and coordinator for the application.

Amanda (county planning staff) briefed the board on the Initiative Foundation's proposal to submit an application to the U.S. Economic Development Administration to designate the central Minnesota "Region 7W" as an Economic Development District. She described the purpose as enabling federally designated planning capacity and increased competitiveness for EDA grants. Amanda said the Initiative Foundation would serve as the host and fiscal agent, submit the application and — if Federal EDA approves — counties would appoint elected representatives to the district governing board and contribute staff time as in-kind matches. "This is not we're not asking for any funding commitment today," Amanda told commissioners.

Amanda outlined EDA criteria: the region must include an area meeting economic-distress criteria, have an EDA-approved SEDS (strategic economic development strategy) and demonstrate commitments from a majority of affected counties. Amanda said Sherburne and Stearns counties had advanced the matter in their bodies; Wright County had declined to participate so far and cited concerns about board makeup and the prospect of an additional layer of government. That left three counties supportive at present; Amanda said Wright could join later if it chose to.

Commissioners asked how board membership would be apportioned and whether the Initiative Foundation would carry any of the matching cost; Amanda said bylaws and membership allocation would be decided later and that staff time was expected to be counted as an in-kind match. Board members expressed interest in exploring the potential for EDA grant eligibility but also urged more outreach to Wright County and to learn why it opted out. Several commissioners proposed tabling the resolution briefly and returning when more counties had signed on or after further conversations with Wright County.

The board voted to table the resolution and revisit the request at its next meeting; staff said the Initiative Foundation will complete a feasibility study and follow-up before the board acts.

Ending: County staff will follow up with Wright County and the Initiative Foundation and return with any additional information and recommended bylaws or cost-sharing arrangements for the county's consideration.