Minot committee questions transparency, timelines and role of Chamber‑EDC in Magic Fund reviews

The Economic Development Plan Review Committee on Tuesday reviewed the City of Minot’s contract relationship with the Minot Area Chamber EDC (MACEDC), pressing the chamber/EDC’s leaders and city staff for clearer accounting of public funds, faster timelines for Magic Fund screening and firmer definitions of each party’s role.

Committee members focused their questions on how the $666,000 service agreement between MACEDC and the City of Minot is used, how the city and MACEDC divide responsibilities for business recruitment and retention, and how applications that seek Magic Fund (primary‑sector) money are screened and routed. The committee sought more detailed breakdowns of the contract, clarification of who sees which applications and whether the Magic Fund screening committee should review more of the requests that MACEDC filters out.

MACEDC board chair Bridal Ackerman told the committee that MACEDC is contracted to provide “economic development, workforce development, and military support. Those are the 3.” She described multiple regular touchpoints with city staff—monthly meetings with the city manager, semiannual and annual reports to the city, quarterly business retention and expansion outreach, and participation on several local boards and committees—and said the organization provides…