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Lindstrom business group seeks EDA support to fund Midsummer concert and summer events
Summary
The Lindstrom Business Group told the EDA it needs roughly $17,000 to support three events this year and asked whether the city would consider a service agreement that ties funds to deliverables; staff said a contract (not a direct donation) would be the allowable path and will draft terms for June consideration.
The Lindstrom Business Group told the Economic Development Authority that it has organized three community events this year — Midsummer (June 20), FikaFest (September) and the Tree Lighting — and is seeking help bridging a roughly $11,000–$12,000 fundraising gap.
Irene Holtzman, introduced as the group’s treasurer, said the organization aims to raise $14,000 for programming plus about $3,000 in formalization costs, and that “we currently have around 5,000 between 5 and 6,000,” leaving the group to close the balance. Gus Galvinson, the group’s president, described the Midsummer schedule and emphasized downtown activation with a shore- and lake-focused concert at Beach Park.
Holtzman provided the most concrete expense estimate for the EDA’s consideration: “And and to answer your question on the concert, it's roughly $5,000 for just the concert alone.” The group said the concert is the single largest line item and argued a modest contribution would sustain the event and increase visitor traffic for downtown businesses.
City staff told the EDA the city can’t simply make an unrestricted donation to a private group but can enter service agreements that tie payments to specific deliverables and reporting. Several commissioners praised the Lindstrom Business Group’s growth and its role in bringing new visitors to town; none of the board members moved to approve direct funding at the meeting.
Staff said they will work with the business group to craft a service-agreement option that specifies deliverables, reporting requirements and a proposed budget, and will return to the EDA in June for formal consideration.
