Since the inception of Waseca County’s Economic Development Authority in early 2014, the seven-member board has worked to bolster business in the county.
But while there have been some successes, county Planning and Zoning Administrator Mark Leiferman, whose job includes economic development, says they’re only just getting started.
We sat down with Leiferman recently to get an update on the county EDA, its work and what’s happening business-wise in Waseca County.
What is the Economic Development Authority?
Leiferman: The board has seven members, two who are sitting county commissioners. Each member of the board appointed one of the remaining five members, so it has representation from across the county.
What does the EDA do?
Leiferman: The EDA’s goals include increasing the tax base and bringing quality jobs to Waseca County. It also looks to encourage tourism and housing, make existing businesses competitive, eliminate blighted properties and develop infrastructure.
Its four-pronged mission seeks to
• Support agriculture
• Promote existing businesses
• Encourage new business development
• Encourage responsible development of shoreland and residential development
The board often works in conjunction with the county’s cities and townships, and has an agreement with the city of Waldorf to act as its Economic Development Authority. The county’s other cities have their own EDAs.
The EDA has several tools at its disposal, including tax abatement and tax increment financing, to help encourage economic development.
How important is that first pillar: supporting agriculture?
Leiferman: It’s very important in our rural county. A feedlot with 25,000 hogs can cost $750,000. That’s pretty decent economic development.
Why might a business prefer locating in the county versus a city?
Leiferman: Some businesses, such as a feedlot, are better suited for a rural location. The Guardian Energy ethanol plant in Janesville needed to be near a rail line, and wanted access to water without the costs of city utilities. That made a rural site ideal for them.
What have you and the EDA been involved in in the last year?
Leiferman: In the last six months, the county’s gotten 15 feedlot permit requests. Typically, the county sees three to five per year. Some were as small as 40 to 50 animal units, while about seven involved about 2,400 hogs.
Birds Eye is working on improving the efficiency of its Woodville Township spray fields, which is expected to reduce the odor from its aeration ponds.
Earlier this month, the county board approved conditional use permits for a winery south of Waseca and a pizza farm in Blooming Grove Township. These agritourism projects are in conjunction with a proposed brewery approved last year. That project has received a one-year extension on its permit which runs through spring 2016.
In April, we sponsored, in collaboration with BEST of Waseca, a two-day Economic Issues and Opportunities summit designed to educate area leaders about economic development. It helped showcase the type of programs available and which may be beneficial for the communities and townships.
There have also been some changes to the county’s zoning ordinances that should encourage development in certain areas, including along Hwy. 14.
The new section of Hwy. 14 has been good for travelers, but created challenges for the cities which are now bypassed. How can the EDA help?
We need to reintroduce those cities to the traveling public and get motorists off the highway and into town. But how do we get the message out? We’re considering direct marketing and possibly billboards. We may even be able to tap into some city funds to help market our cities.
What’s next?
Incoming City Administrator Curt Kephart starts in a few weeks. He has expressed a strong desire to promote Waseca County and aid our economic development efforts.