EDA recommends Bridge Center support; council delays final funding decision to August

Jordan Gman, Pelican Rapids economic development director, told the council the EDA recommended several actions, including a community outreach campaign and funding support for The Bridge Center, a proposed youth and senior space.

Gman said The Bridge Center has raised about $85,000 but needs further remediation and landscaping work to address a basement mold problem. He presented a recommendation to allocate $33,000 from an existing roughly $55,000 community‑center set‑aside to be released to the nonprofit once it is formed, with a requirement that funds be returned if the project fails.

“There’s roughly $55,000 set aside for that and the ask would be to give $33,000 of those dollars towards The Bridge Center project with the contingency that the project is not successful the money is due back to the city,” Gman said.

Council members asked for more vetting and a site visit before committing taxpayer dollars and moved to postpone the final funding decision until the end of August to allow time for due diligence and to view the building. The motion to postpone carried.

Other EDA motions approved during the item included a Yard/Exterior Improvement of the Week campaign (estimated cost $388) and authorization for staff to begin the reconveyance process for three city-owned southwest residential parcels to explore building lots. The EDA also recommended and the council approved appointing Reverend Alex Alman to the EDA board.

The council asked staff to return with more detailed budgets, inspection findings and a timeline before releasing project funds for The Bridge Center.

Next procedural step: staff will coordinate a building tour and provide more documentation to the council for the August meeting.