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Thumbs Up/Down

EDA funding

Thumbs Down: The New Ulm Economic Development Authority has agreed to provide $50,000 for the New Ulm Economic Development Corporation (NUEDC), turning down a request from the City to provide $50,000 in funding for the Economic Development Director/Assistant City Manager the city plans to hire.

Confused? Why not? New Ulm is transitioning from a 20 year relationship with the NUEDC, which employs its own economic development director and carries on ED activities with money it has received from the city and from the New Ulm Public Utilities Commission.

This year the city council voted to fill the long-vacant city managers position, and decided not to provide the $50,000 annual subsidy it pays to NUEDC. The PUC decided to continue providing the $50,000 it provides to the NUEDC. Both the city and the NUEDC were looking to the EDA for funding for their positions.

In the end the EDA decided to support the NUEDC to allow it to continue its operations while the city looks for its own person.

It makes some sense, we suppose, but it would have made a lot more sense if the city had worked on its plan, involved its partners in the decision and come up with a smoother plan of action than it employed in September.

Santa’s Closet

Thumbs Up: Christmas is a coming, as the old song goes, and year’s worth of planning, fundraising and volunteer work is coming to fruition today with Santa’s Closet. The program, sponsored by the New Ulm Sertoma Club, provides toys and gifts for Brown County families that might not otherwise have a very merry Christmas this year.

We applaud all the Sertoma members who are involved, and all the generous donors throughout the community who give to the project. We hope the smiles on Christmas morning will be as bright as the Christmas star.

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