The City of Windom will be starting the process of finding a replacement for Drew Hage, Development Director for the Economic Development Authority of Windom. Hage submitted his resignation on February 16th . Hage will be leaving with a good list of accomplishments for the City, his last day will be March 31st . Hage will be taking his talents to Northwest Bank in Milford Iowa. According to Hage, taking a new position was a hard decision to make. Hage helped to secure more than $2 million in grants for the City. “Helping to move forward projects with grant funds was an enjoyable part of the position” he stated. Hage went on to say “we were able to leverage funding from sources outside of Windom to help grow Windom.”
Listed Below is information regarding a few projects that Hage has worked on.
Housing:
- Housing has been an overarching goal for all City Departments since 2016. The Mayor and new City Council members reaffirmed this housing goal in 2019. The housing goal is supported by a Comprehensive Housing Study and three rental vacancy rate updates which provide information regarding occupancy rates. These studies, along with hiring information and direct feedback from businesses, provide substantial support for the need for additional rental housing units.
- Housing Tax Abatement Program:
o This is an effective tool when talking to private developers. It shows that the City, County, and School are on the same page for supporting housing.
- Lakeside Apartment
- Guardian Inn Apartment Project
- Gove Acres
o Planning and financial assistance
- Cemstone Redevelopment Project / South Cottonwood Lake Subdivision
o Grants received, Purchase Agreement approved, developers selected (Development Agreements will be presented to the EDA on March 14th), etc.
- HyLife Foods Windom Apartment Project – EDA Spec Building Property
o Option Agreement is approved and building plans are being developed.
Commercial Development & Industrial Development:
- Prime Pork
o Minnesota Investment Fund – forgivable loan
- AmericInn
- Oddson Underground
o Minnesota Job Creation Fund – office space project
- Kwik Trip
o Construction 2022
- 10,500 square foot retail project by Guardian Inn
o Contract is signed
o Construction – spring 2022
- East Highway 60 Development
o New street by Dollar General for Crystal Clean Car Wash
o Planning for Windom Wash and Crystal Clean Car Wash
- Etc.
Growth:
Windom has been fortunate to see significant hiring and growth. This has been an exciting time to work in Windom. HyLife Foods Windom (HyLife), formerly Prime Pork and Comfrey Farm Prime Pork, have created over 1,050 jobs in the Windom Area since 2017. HyLife’s goal is 1,500 employees.
Toro and other employers continue to hire. As a percentage change in job totals compared to the previous year, from 2017 to 2018 Cottonwood County experienced the strongest job gains in the State according to Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. In 2019 through early 2021, growth continued to be strong.
Transportation – Driving investment and growth
The City of Windom is well positioned for growth. Windom is located along Minnesota Highway 60 which provides a 4-lane connection between Minneapolis – St. Paul, Minnesota, and Omaha, Nebraska. This location offers excellent shipping routes and connectivity to national shipping networks.
KDOM has enjoyed the relationship and working with Drew Hage and we wish him the best.
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We are experiencing the cold blustery winter days and there are few things as comforting as a warm bowl of soup to soothe the soul… DID you know??? TODAY, February 25th is National Clam Chowder Day. Originally considered a poor man’s food, the first chowders were fish stews made from vegetable and fish stewed in a large pot or cauldron. Clams are thought to have been introduced to the mix by the Native Americans and by the mid 1800’s were considered a main ingredient in what came to be known as clam chowder. Today, there are dozens of regional variations, including San Francisco clam chowder which comes in a sourdough bread bowl! So celebrate the day with a big hot bowl of Clam Chowder and know that you are doing your part to recognize the concoction created so many many years ago…
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Windom Area Health Governing Board of Directors will meet Monday February 28th at 5:30pm in the Large Conference Room in the Hospital.
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The Windom Area School Board will hold a work session Meeting on Monday February 28th at 6:30 pm in the Windom City Council Chambers or you can view Live at Media SB22 on You Tube.
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The Murray County Board of Commissioners will meet at 8:30 am in the Murray County Government Center, which is open to the public. If you would like to call in and listen or join via zoom you can find further information on the Murray County Home Page.
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Cottonwood County Board of Commissioners will meet Tuesday March 1st at 9 am in the Cottonwood County Courthouse in Windom.
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The Jackson County Board of Commissioners and The Drainage Authority will meet on Tuesday, March 1st at 9:00 am at the Jackson County Resource Center Cafeteria.
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The Windom Area School Board will hold a special Meeting on Tuesday, March 1st at 4pm in the Elementary Conference Room. Meeting will focus on next steps for hiring a new Superintendent.