ELY – The Ely Economic Development Authority is poised to continue their efforts to grow and enhance the business community and economic development. They gathered this week and brainstormed a list of priorities for 2017.

The authority is comprised of City Council members who help guide the activities and efforts of the city’s contracted economic developer, John Fedo, to develop opportunities for job growth and overall economic improvement.

Fedo initiated the discussion Tuesday night by breaking the news to the authority that the city was recently awarded a $34,000 grant by the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board for continued downtown development. “This is one of the larger grants that they awarded,” he said.

Ely Clerk-Treasurer Harold Langowski said the downtown beautification grant, secured through the efforts of Incredible Ely, will be used to add benches in the downtown area. “We will possibly add some poles for banners, new streetlights, flower planter boxes, bicycle racks,” he said. “The money will be used in the core downtown area.”

In addition, Fedo said he is continuing to work “aggressively” with the IRRRB and local developer John Ott and family to put an economic funding package together to help them finish some of their existing buildings and to start new activity going into 2017.

In looking ahead to another year of successful economic development, Fedo suggested reviewing the priority list from last year, and removing or expanding on priorities that can be accomplished this year.

“We want an opening statement that indicates we want to support local business with the expansion and creation of jobs,” he said. “This could be our number one priority. It seems to be the underlying element of everything we are involved in. This takes into account the business park expansion and the continuing effort to fund the 17th Street reconstruction.”

He also pushed for the initiation and expansion of the energy improvement program for Ely businesses and residences. The property-assessed clean energy (PACE) program allows for financing energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements on private property. PACE programs allow local governments to fund the up-front cost of energy improvements on commercial and residential properties, which are paid back over time by the property owners.

The extension of a broadband fiber optic grid remains a high priority for the city. “We made some pretty substantial progress in this area,” Fedo said. He highlighted the recent Blandin grant of $75,000 for planning and engineering of an initial construction phase in the Sheridan Street corridor.

“There is supposed to be $100 million proposed by the governor in this year’s (state) budget,” he added. “The opportunity is there for us to step into that. We would be ready for any opportunity,” he said.

The development of a recreational trailhead facility on the city’s west side was also moved from last year’s list to this year’s priority list. “I think we should keep this as number three on our list because of the progress and activity in this area,” Fedo said. “Again, the governor’s bonding proposal includes the Prospectors (ATV) Loop.”

Mayor Chuck Novak suggested prioritizing the continued push for the Minnesota Department of Revenue to expand employment at the Ely facility. “We’re talking about jobs that pay $38,000 to $46,000 per year,” Novak said. “This can be funded through a finance bill that comes out of the legislature.”

The continued work on the reuse of the Community Center was dropped down on the list as a priority, for lack of activity and any real prospects for redeveloping the city landmark. City officials voted to maintain the vacant structure through the end of 2017.

Langowski said a recent meeting with the Community Center Foundation concluded with the suggestion that an appraisal should be completed on the building to determine its worth in the real estate market.

Other economic development priorities carried over from 2016 include the continuation of working with St. Louis County on acquiring tax forfeit property or exchanging property parcels. This, along with additional Brownfield cleanup projects, such as the former city dump site, would involve cooperative efforts with the outlying townships.

Joint tourism marketing with regional attractions like Giants Ridge, Fortune Bay, and other nearby recreational businesses remains on the priority list. The EEDA continues to look for new housing initiatives in conjunction with the Ely Housing and Redevelopment Authority, and continued airport expansion projects.

EEDA members will continue discussion of the 2017 priority list at their next monthly meeting on Feb. 14.