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Ely city officials say they may need to toot their own horn - at least when it comes to the city’s efforts in promoting economic development.
That was one of the themes Tuesday, when council members gathered for their monthly meeting of the city’s economic development authority.
The session included an appearance by Richard Stuart, who briefed the group about happenings and hits on the development authority’s website (www.eeda.ely. mn.us).
Discussion veered to the city’s overall efforts, coordinated by John Fedo, and the city’s involvement in projects ranging from the trailhead development and the old “Depot” and Community Center renovations to a series of initiatives that have helped businesses obtain funding.
“We certainly have been active,” said council member Paul Kess.
Council member Jerome Debeltz agreed and took issue with criticism, at a candidates forum event last month, that the city has not done enough to help businesses.
“It’s important they know,” said Debeltz. “I think the city of Ely is very generous with businesses.”
Debeltz pointed to the assortment of low-interest loan programs available for business owners, and council members agreed to get signs made that would advertise economic development authority in projects.
Stuart also suggested that the city “have some signs made that say this is supported by the EEDA and go up along all other construction signs.”
Mayor Heidi Omerza endorsed the idea.
“I hear a lot that we’re not good at saying what we do,” said Omerza. “This is a good way to explain who we are... I think (the sign) is a really good idea. That’s got to be one of the easiest things for us to accomplish.”
Stuart said the website could also be used to promote “success stories” of businesses that have utilized city resources and programs to make improvements.
“Sometimes we’re so close to the information we don’t realize there are others outside of our sphere who don’t know what’s happening,” said Stuart.
Via the city, business owners can tap into loan programs not only from the city, but through agencies such as the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board and the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency.
Loan programs have covered improvements to enhance energy efficiency, job creation, or development in the downtown corridor.
“We have a long list of businesses who have taken advantage of those programs,” said Harold Langowski, the city’s clerk-treasurer and operations director.
He suggested reaching out to business owners who have utilized the programs for information pieces that could be added to the website, and Stuart also suggested quarterly updates in the Ely Echo.
Langowski also endorsed placing a sign at businesses doing construction with loan funds secured via the city.
“It could be part of our requirements to use these funds that you display a sign as part of the project so people see ‘oh, that’s the program they’ve been talking about,’” said Langowski. “We’ve worked from one end of town to another. A cross section of businesses have received different types of assistance.”
Regarding the website, Stuart said the city is seeing “year over year” increases in page views and that “people are continuing to look for information regarding business development and economic development.”
In his monthly report, Fedo noted progress on both the Depot and Community Center redevelopment initiatives, which are in line for IRRRB funding for initial phases of the respective projects.
Fedo noted that there are current businesses seeking to take advantage of the various loan programs.
• In other discussion, city officials discussed perhaps reaching out to the state of Minnesota and area legislators to suggest that Ely be home to some employees of the newly-formed Department of Cannabis.
The city-owned Revenue Building, which now houses some Department of Revenue employees as well as the VA Clinic, was touted as a potential office space.
“It might be worth a simple letter saying ‘we’ve got some space, what do you think?’” said Langowski.
• Eva Sebesta, director of the Ely Chamber of Commerce, briefed council members about the spending habits of vendors at the organization’s two festivals.
The Chamber surveyed vendors who were at Whiteside Park for the Blueberry/ Art and Harvest Moon festival and found both events had significant vendor spending in Ely.
“For the Blueberry/Art, vendors left approximately $151,000 in Ely,” said Sebesta. “Lodging was up slightly and store and restaurant purchases were a little down.”
The Harvest Moon Festival has far fewer overall vendors and more who are either from Ely or in driving distance of Ely.
Nonetheless, the survey found vendors spend $44,600 while they were here.
Sebesta noted that she was thrilled that the Harvest Moon made USA Today’s list of the nation’s Top 10 fall festival.
“We think that’s going to help grow the Harvest Moon Festival,” said Sebesta.
Sebesta also thanked the council and city staff for inkind services provided by the city for the events.
“If we didn’t have your support behind these festivals or these other events they couldn’t happen,” said Sebesta.
