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Chamber awarded $14,000 marketing grant as visitor numbers drop; EDA discusses trail and CARES Act funds
Summary
The Harmony Chamber received a $14,000 marketing grant from Explore Minnesota amid a sharp drop in visitor-center traffic (49 visitors in June 2020 vs. 856 in June 2019); the EDA discussed trail land transfer to DNR and possible use of about $77,000 in CARES Act funds by the city.
At the July 2 meeting Melissa Vander Plas delivered the Chamber of Commerce report. She said the visitor center will reopen for regular hours when volunteers are available, and the Chamber was awarded a $14,000 marketing grant from Explore Minnesota with no usual restrictions; Vander Plas said she will coordinate plans with the marketing committee and EDA staff.
She reported visitor-center traffic fell sharply amid the pandemic: 49 visitors in June 2020 compared with 856 in June 2019. The Taste of the Trail event was cancelled for 2020; the Chamber is considering a Customer Appreciation night in August.
EDA staff Chris Giesen also updated prospects and the trail-extension project, reporting he expects transfer of land ownership to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources by the end of 2020 and urging the board to pursue the full trail route rather than a truncated segment. Giesen noted the city is expected to receive about $77,000 in CARES Act funds to address pandemic impacts and suggested the board consider projects eligible for those dollars.
The board took no formal votes on these items at the meeting.
