The Fairmont Economic Development Authority is ready to apply for a Greater Minnesota Business Development public infrastructure grant, which would pay 50 percent of the project cost for sanitary sewer and water main extensions to a planned 37-acre industrial property. Running infrastructure to the proposed new industrial park off Interstate exit 99 will cost Fairmont more money but keep options wide open for a variety of potential businesses.
Linsey Preuss, Fairmont economic development coordinator, told the F E D A Board and City Council on Monday that the cost estimates for the infrastructure had to be recalculated because of an ineligible use of a small portion of land.
“We would have to restrict what would go out there,” she said.
If the small parcel was included in the proposal for grant money, the land’s use would be restricted to manufacturing, technology or research and development, although it is an ideal location for a truck stop to service the many semis that travel by on their way to the local ethanol plants, soybean plant and the city’s existing industrial park.
The city’s share of the $982,000 infrastructure project will be increased from $450,000 to $548,000.
Preuss said the city should find out about the grant money within six months, which would allow the project to be bid for construction in the spring of 2020.
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