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KEDA director Paul Nevin to retire July 1, 2026; updates FTZ progress
Summary
Director Nevin told the board he plans to retire effective 2026-07-01, will support a transition, and provided updates on foreign-trade-zone outreach and an AI demonstration tied to community development in the county.
Director Nevin updated the board on foreign-trade-zone (FTZ) activity and then announced his planned retirement. “I am gonna announce my retirement… effective 07/01/2026,” Nevin said, and added he would support any transition work the board appoints.
On the FTZ, Nevin said staff are working to finalize funding and a project timeline that could begin construction this summer; he reported outreach to a regional manufacturer based in Winnipeg that is considering a subzone at a Minnesota location that would fall under the FTZ jurisdiction. Nevin said Digi-Key remains the lone active FTZ user in the county and cited software issues that have complicated FTZ reporting for that company.
Nevin also summarized a University of Minnesota Extension presentation on AI tools and community-development strategy, noting the demonstration considered opportunities for Cooch County and local industries; commissioners who attended described the presentation as promising for strategy work. Nevin urged the board to consider succession planning and asked members to volunteer for a hiring or search committee at the next meeting.
Board members thanked Nevin for his years of service and noted his role in stabilizing and advancing local economic development efforts. Nevin said details about committee formation and the hiring timeline will be discussed at the next meeting; he did not specify a formal search timeline beyond offering transitional assistance.
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