(KNOX) – East Grand Forks Economic Development Director Maggie Brockling and President and CEO of the Grand Forks/East Grand Forks Chamber Barry Wilfahrt met with a dozen businesses and conducted a survey for the Grow Minnesota program. The Grow Minnesota program is an economic program led by the state Department of Commerce that also features partnerships with economic development organizations.
The results were presented to the East Grand Forks City Council on Tuesday, and Brockling shared them in a slideshow presentation.
Despite there being a decrease in operating costs, Brockling outlined three specific areas where businesses are being financially hit.
Brockling did also say that there are businesses who have a lot to look forward to.
33 percent of businesses also said they are finding it hard to hire new employees, but that 42 percent of businesses plan on growing in Minnesota and adding more staff.
Meanwhile, East Grand Forks City Engineer Steve Emery spoke to the City Council Tuesday about a draft feasibility report for street and parking lot improvement projects in 2027. City street improvements are projected to cost $5.9 million, and parking lot improvements would cost roughly $852,000. The projects would also include mill and possible overlay on streets, as well as seal coats. The draft report says mill and overlay would cost $4.8 million, and it would cost $586,861 to seal coat streets. Emery also suggested that the improvements could be pushed back to 2028 so that the projects Bluepeak is working on don’t overlap.
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