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Moorhead EDA highlights flood-mitigation bonding request and border-zone tax changes in 2026 legislative priorities
Summary
Lisa Bodie told the Moorhead Economic Development Authority the city's top capital ask is $18.5 million to retrofit seven Red River lift stations to FEMA and USACE standards; the packet also urges enterprise-zone changes and flags wastewater, passenger rail and sustainable aviation fuel policy items.
Lisa Bodie, the city’s government-affairs staffer, presented the Economic Development Authority’s 2026 legislative priorities and framed flood mitigation as Moorhead’s top capital ask. "We need $18,500,000 to retrofit and improve seven lift stations along the Red River to FEMA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers standards," Bodie said, adding that certification of those improvements would help some properties qualify for lower flood-insurance rates.
Bodie told members the diversion authority recently freed up federal money that could match state bonding and substantially reduce Moorhead’s share of a region-wide package. She said the total regional need for flood and related projects is ‘‘just over $64,000,000’’ and described a path in which diversion and state funds together could complete projects the EDA lists as shovel-ready.
Beyond bonding, Bodie summarized policy priorities. She urged changes to the statutory border-cities enterprise zone, saying geographic and business-type restrictions currently prevent the city from assisting some businesses the community wants to attract — notably restaurants and entertainment venues. She said the enterprise-zone language is included in the Senate omnibus tax bill and that the city is working to secure House support.
Bodie also introduced several other items on the packet: wastewater-treatment-plant upgrades to reduce future utility-rate pressures; monitoring and supporting sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) tax credits and federal loan opportunities for a potential SAF facility near the airport; and ongoing passenger-rail planning. On the concept of social districts (temporary, bounded areas allowing regulated alcohol consumption at festivals), Bodie said the proposal did not advance this year but recommended refining regulations with police and the business community and reintroducing it next session.
Members asked clarifying questions about the capital-ranking process and whether submitting multiple projects weakens chances for individual asks. Bodie said projects are ranked through the capital investment committee process rather than awarded by single-grant competition and that multiple projects have received funding in past years. She also offered to provide briefing sheets and bill links in the EDA packet for members who want more detail.
The presentation concluded with Bodie’s commitment to report back after the legislative session concludes.
