The work session looked to accumulate long and short-term development goals from each member of the EDA. Under innovation, the authority looked at ways to improve the town for small business growth.

With business at the forefront, the New Ulm Business Resource and Innovation Center (NUBRIC) garnered its fair share of discussion. Councilman Les Schultz said Fairmont has touted a business incubation center. The center looks to aid those looking to start businesses by giving them a place to work and develop their ideas before officially going into business.

City Manager Dalton said NUBRIC is working on business incubation and they have a grant for it, but the concept comes with trade-offs.

“They make zero money, so you have to be willing to put the money up to have them there,” he said. “You’re subsidizing rent with the caveat they move out after a year or two and find a building within your city. If you’re not building within your city, then they move to a different city and you lose that business you subsidized for X amount of time.”

In the upcoming year, Housing Coordinator Heather Bregel said the CTE Center will have $90,000 in upgrades. Mayor Kathleen Backer said the center is important to develop skills in New Ulm’s youth and potentially attract investments and businesses.

Dalton said currently the plan is to work with NUBRIC on their current plans. If its plans fall through, then there could be discussions of continuing a business incubation program by the EDA.

Moving from new business to attracting people to current and upcoming businesses, EDA member Andrea Boettger said maintaining the current German aesthetic of the downtown area is a necessary piece. Even in non-historic buildings, she said continuing to put New Ulm’s heritage at the forefront is necessary.

“I feel very strongly that when you come here you get a little touch of Europe right here in Minnesota,” Boettger said. “It’s something that makes us super unique and that people love about coming here. It doesn’t look like your typical mainstream area, and how do we keep that intact even in non-historic buildings?”

She said New Ulm has been lucky as regulations on historic buildings have made it easier to continuously preserve the town’s German heritage. Boettger said there are still some steps that could be taken to improve this aspect of New Ulm, perhaps through new loan programs for building improvements.

On the topic of Skill development in New Ulm’s workforce, Dalton said New Ulm High School’s Career Technical Education Center will be an area to concentrate on relatively soon.

“CTE is looking to expand, potentially looking for equipment,” he said. “Probably gonna be about a year out or so before they ask for help on their projects.”

Housing Coordinator Heather Bregel said the CTE Center will be coming to the EDA for funding support, looking to expand with around $90,000 worth of equipment. Mayor Kathleen Backer threw her support behind this initiative.

“I believe we should look at ways to support the CTE center,” she said. “In doing so, they can continue to move forward and provide that service for us as far as education and opportunities for residents of our community to develop those skills. If we have that skill set here, maybe we attract other investments and businesses.”

With the brainstorming session complete, Dalton said they will go to the drawing board with the ideas from EDA members and compile a report on their feasibility and whether they are short or long-term goals. He said after compiling this information, further discussion will be had at a future EDA meeting.