Vision Fund Committee advances New Freedom Family Center and approves larger local match for solar firm

The Vision Fund Committee voted Oct. 23 to advance a New Freedom Family Center application to the city commission and approved an increased local match for a solar company, steps that move two locally based projects closer to financing.

Eric London, the city comptroller, told the committee the Vision Fund had about $995,000 in cash on hand, with roughly $286,000 already dedicated to approved projects and three approvals not yet drawn. "We don't currently have any of our previous buy down loans in repayment at the moment, but those should be starting here in mid year 26," London said. The committee moved to accept the financial statements and carried the motion by voice vote.

On a substantive item, Nathan (city staff) introduced an application from New Freedom Center Incorporated requesting a local match through the BND flex PACE program to finance the purchase of 1405 Skyline Way, a former Best Western. The packet listed a requested local match of up to $107,006.92. Nathan said the project scored 10 out of 14 on the committee’s scoring matrix and noted precedent for funding similar facility purchases.

Andrea Swindler, identified in the meeting as one of the owners of New Freedom Family Center, described the proposal as a conversion of the hotel into an apartment-style treatment program for pregnant and parenting women that would allow them to bring children while receiving care. "We are targeting pregnant and parenting women," Swindler said, and added the state had approached the owners about the identified service gap. She said the program already admitted its first residential patient in September and currently had 10 clients.

Committee members pressed for details on ownership and business model; Swindler said both the existing center and the new entity operate as for-profit facilities. The project representative said the purchase price was about $6.2 million and that personal collateral and funds were part of the financing mix.

A committee member moved to recommend approval of the application to the city commission; the motion was seconded. A roll-call vote recorded affirmative responses from members present and the committee approved advancing the application to the city commission.

The committee also considered a request from Surya LLC (doing business as LightSpring) to increase a previously approved local match. Nathan told the committee the earlier approval had been for $85,000 and the requested increase raises the Vision Fund portion to $94,273.93, an increase of $9,273.93. He said the change would shorten the buy-down period from 120 to 101 months, meaning the Vision Fund would begin receiving repayment about 19 months sooner.

Jim, a company representative, described LightSpring’s local operations, workforce growth and plans to buy an additional 2,080 square feet for manufacturing and battery energy-storage work. "We're building our first solar wall in North Dakota. We're working on the first microgrid in North Dakota," he said, describing ongoing installations and hiring.

A motion to approve the increased local match for LightSpring was made, seconded and approved by roll call.

The committee closed with a planning discussion about the Vision Fund pipeline and future funding: members noted that, after the two approvals, the fund would have capacity for approximately four more projects and discussed possible sources to replenish or reallocate funds, including moving money from another program or seeking additional budget allocation next year. Nathan said one application remains outstanding and several other conversations are ongoing.

The committee adjourned after completing agenda items.