Positions Open Listed Below:

Of the 509 eligible low-income census tracts in Minnesota, Governor Dayton could designate 128 census tracts as Opportunity Zones.  The Ortonville EDA completed the application and sought support from the City and the County to submit Ortonville’s census tract for consideration as an appointment – with success!

Opportunity Zones are a new community development program established by Congress in the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 to encourage long-term investments in low-income and urban communities nationwide.

Opportunity Funds are a new class of private sector investment vehicles authorized to aggregate and deploy private investment into Opportunity Zones.  Opportunity Funds allow U.S. investors holding unrealized gains in stocks and mutual funds to pool their resources in projects located in Opportunity Zones, which will be invested in rebuilding low-income communities.

U.S. investors are eligible to receive:

• A temporary tax deferral for capital gains invested in an Opportunity Fund.
• A step-up in basis for capital gains reinvested in an Opportunity Fund.
• A permanent exclusion from taxable income of capital gains from the sale or exchange of an investment in a qualified opportunity zone fund if the investment is held for at least 10 years.

As the final details of this program have been rolled out, we are excited that the timing is coinciding nicely as we finalize our work with the Minnesota Housing Partnership (MHP) to address the needs that were identified in the 2018 Housing Study by Maxfield Research & Consulting.

Staff  from both the Ortonville EDA and the Big Stone County Housing & Redevelopment Authority along with a committee have been working with MHP on project planning:

What do we have?  
Community:  Families, youth, vets, seniors, etc.
Resources:  Available land, infrastructure, etc.
What do we want?
Workforce housing rental single family, rehab
What do we need to get what we want? 

The Committee is currently drafting a Request for Proposal (RFP) which will go out to developers.  This Draft RFP will first be taken to the City Council for review and then the Committee plans to host a public meeting for the review of the plans for input/changes before being released.  The housing projects under consideration in the RFP will be Opportunity Zone — project friendly!

Housing Committee Members are:

• Dalen Roe, Cenbank
• David Rogers, Ortonville Area Health Services
• Kristi Ehrenberg, Big Stone Therapies
• Mary Hillman, Big Stone Lake Area Chamber
• Garry Swenson, Ortonville EDA
• Kim Sykora, Ortonville EDA/City Council
• Nancy Lee, Big Stone County HRA Staff
• Vicki Oakes, Ortonville EDA Staff

If you’d like more information on the Opportunity Zone and/or preliminary information on the housing projects, please contact Vicki Oakes at 320-839-6155 or email [email protected]

City Council’s regular meeting schedule is:
1st & 3rd Monday’s of the Month

Link to Council Meeting Videos

 

LINK to 2018 Minutes & Agendas
LINK to 2020 Minutes & Agendas

Below, PDF links to the City Council Meeting Agendas & Minutes

If you have questions regarding meeting dates, times or locations, you can call the City Office at 320-839-3428 during office hours or you can confirm times/reschedules any time of day by texting or calling Vicki at 320-305-2434 (Web Maintenance)

Loan Resources
The Ortonville Economic Development Authority helps new and expanding businesses navigate
development options within the community connects you to resources including loans, planning tools, and technical assistance. The EDA is a great starting point for economic development in Ortonville!
EDA Programs/Assistance

Big Stone Area Growth (BSAG)
The Ortonville EDA works closely with BSAG which is Big Stone County’s economic development
agency.  BSAG, as with the Ortonville EDA, offers free business assistance for starting or expanding
businesses and Business retention and is an additional funding source.

Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission (UMVRDC)

Southwest Initiative Foundation – Business Finance & Loan Programs

Business Planning Tools:
Southwest Minnesota Small Business Development Center – A statewide network of Small Business Development Centers provides the professional expertise and guidance that every small business owner needs to flourish in today’s competitive and ever-changing business world.  The Minnesota Small Business Development Centers are funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.  To sign-up for their free assistance/consultations visit their website and click on Request Services in top right corner.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is a state agency that facilitates an economic environment to produce jobs and improve the quality of the state’s workforce. Below are helpful resources for starting and financing a business and finding workers.

• Starting a Business
• Financing a Business
• Finding Workers
• Organizing your Business

Minnesota Secretary of State
The Minnesota Secretary of State Business Services Division reviews, approves and files articles of
incorporation and amendments for all business and nonprofit organizations conducting business in the state.

Small Business Administration (SBA)
The SBA is an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the
interests of small businesses. The organization helps Americans start, grow and build resilient businesses.  Their website provides a business guide and information on loan resources.

SCORE
SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and
achieve their goals through education and mentorship. Their work is supported by the U.S. Small
Business Administration (SBA), and a network of 11,000 + volunteers to deliver services at no charge or at very low cost.

Writing A Business Plan
Financial Projections For a New Business
A Guide To Starting A Business In Minnesota

Workforce Resources
Career Force, Montevideo can assist both those looking for work and those looking for workers. Services include Dislocated Worker Services for people laid off from work, career exploration and planning services, connections to education and training resources, and job search assistance including resume revisions, interview prep and more.

Minnesota Works is a website where job seekers can search for jobs and businesses can list openings.

Data Resources
United States Census Bureau
Minnesota State Demographic Center, Minnesota Planning – Includes more reports with data analysis and trends.  Links to other demographic sites.

Other State and Federal Agencies
These State and Federal Agency websites can help provide additional information on business
financing resources and transportation data.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development
Minnesota Department of Transportation