News + Announcements

By Joshua Schuetz

Cannon Falls, a picturesque community nestled between the Twin Cities and Rochester along Highway 52, has seen a modest increase in population over the past decade. From 2010 to 2020, the town grew by 137 people, marking a 3 percent uptick, notably lower than other communities along the corridor, which were doubling or even tripling their percentages.

Now, Cannon Falls Economic Development Authority is breaking ground on a major housing development that community leaders hope will spur more population growth, alleviating the city’s workforce shortage and bringing more residents and students to town.

“We want to create a larger pool of housing for our workforce,” CEDA team member Laura Qualey said, citing the challenges of transportation and the need for more housing options. The project’s first phase, comprising 29 lots, broke ground just before Thanksgiving, with storm sewer installation already underway and small utilities slated for installation yet this winter.

The Cannon Falls EDA used money from its revolving loan fund to purchase the 40 acre property and an interfund loan from the city’s general reserve funds to make the project work. To market the lots effectively, the EDA adopted a strategic partnership with a local realtor- builder out of Dundas. This collaboration not only showcases various building options but also provides a cost-effective marketing campaign without the need for commissions.

Qualey anticipates a promising spring ahead, with plans to start on the second phase once half the lots are sold. Other local developers have taken notice as the Hardwood Estates project gains traction indicating a positive shift in Cannon Falls’ housing landscape. In another part of the city, a developer has recently purchased a failed development that took place decades ago, with plans to build 15 homes on the property.

As Cannon Falls looks to the future with optimism, the Hardwood Estates project stands as a testament to the community’s resilience, strategic planning, and commitment to fostering growth.

By Joshua Schuetz

Housing is a top-ticket issue in communities throughout Greater Minnesota, and Lake City is no exception. Thanks to the efforts of CEDA team members Cailin Richard and Ben Strand, the city is leading a new push to promote accessory dwelling units as a way to open up more housing to seniors and families.

ADUs are standalone structures by a home that offer additional dwelling space at a smaller scale than the home itself. By building an ADU, a property owner can age in place and have family or friends move into their home to provide care, or rent their ADU or home out. Despite revising its ADU ordinances in 2007 and 2018 to create more favorable conditions for development, Strand said the city had not seen a single building permit for one, something the Lake City Port Authority wanted to see change.

“This came about through the Lake City Port Authority’s work plan, as we look to improve housing mobility and because we have an aging population compared to the rest of the state,” Strand said. “We applied for and received $10,000 through the American Association of Retired Persons’ Community Design Challenge to raise awareness about ADUs” he said.

In July, two community sessions were held to raise awareness about ADUs, and one resident was selected to receive incentives to build one on their property. The city is also creating 3D designs for ADUs, which Strand said residents will be able to use to design their own. Both sessions were well attended and the city used a signup sheet to identify residents interested in starting projects.

“Now that we’ve raised awareness and generated some interest, our goal is to get some projects happening,” Strand said. “We’d really like to see one person complete an ADU project over the next year.”

By Joshua Schuetz

KickAss Beef Jerky, a company with products spanning beef jerky, a vodka line, Bloody Mary mix, and seltzers, is set to expand its footprint in the City of Goodview. The Goodview EDA purchased 1.5 acres of land at the intersection of Highway 61 and 54th Avenue from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. This marked the first time the EDA acquired land, making it a groundbreaking move for the city’s economic development.

CEDA team member and Goodview EDA Coordinator Dusty Liston, played a key role in facilitating the expansion. Liston guided KickAss Jerky through the process, stating, “I was basically recruiting them and telling them what we do, I walked them through the purchasing process and helped them negotiate a price and helped them get meetings with the EDA, and I helped with the creation of a TIF district, which they requested and they got approved.”

KickAss Jerky’s decision to expand was driven by their success and the desire to offer more to their customers. Liston said, “They wanted to expand and they bought our EDA land.” The company’s CEO, Jeremy Littel, has a significant following on TikTok, and played a pivotal role in propelling KickAss Jerky’s success.

The move is a win for the entire county, as the community rallied together to help KickAss Jerky stay local. Liston emphasized, “They’re a great local company and they didn’t want to leave Goodview, so it was great to see the community rally together to help them stay local.”

The planned facility is more than just a warehouse; it’s a destination location that will feature a distribution center, retail space, and a diverse range of products, including jerky, mix, cheese curds, and snacks. Liston highlighted, “It’s the first time the Goodview EDA created a TIF district as well, so it’s a first for the EDA two times over.”

By Joshua Schuetz

The City of Jackson broke ground on a project that will provide nearly 60 units of housing for the community, thanks to the work of CEDA team member Dave Schmidt, who serves as the city’s economic development coordinator.

Phase IA of the project, which will entail the construction of one 41 unit apartment complex and two four-unit townhomes in the Belmont Heights subdivision, broke ground on November 1st, with the city starting to move dirt just two weeks prior.

While the city had been on the hunt for new market rate housing for years, progress came thanks to a conversation between Schmidt and DBS, a development firm based in Rochester, at CEDA’s annual meeting in 2022.

“This project would not have been possible without the relationship between Jackson and CEDA,” Schmidt said. “Within 16 months we went from an introductory conversation to moving dirt, which is just lightspeed.”

The need for market rate housing in Jackson is especially dire due to the number of people employed at industrial companies, including AGCO and HitchDoc, in the city. Schmidt said there are waiting lists for all market rate rentals in the city, and the only vacancies are in the low- income or subsidized spaces, which most workers make too much money to qualify for.

“If you took everyone off our waitlist, you’d nearly fill the apartment building we’re constructing,” Schmidt said.

The land was set aside for housing, but a TIF district was not an option due to the income requirements, making the initial financing of the housing project a challenge. Multiple entities have collaborated to fund the project, including an investor’s group, local employers and the city itself. Schmidt said the development will be done in phases, with up to 240 units of housing planned.

“They’re doing a pre-lease now and assuming the apartment building fills up, they’ll start looking at another apartment building and additional townhomes in spring,” he said. “I want to emphasize that this project 100 percent would not have happened if CEDA was not in Jackson, because if it was not for these relationships we have through CEDA, our project would not happen.”