Opportunity Zone
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]
2019 Council Agendas & Minutes
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
Plowing & Sanding Roads in Ortonville
We are now in the “Before New Year’s Day Blizzard” just after we finished clean-up from the “After Christmas Blizzard” – please, if you have to travel, do so with caution!
News Release from Big Stone County Emergency Management this morning
(if you have a Facebook Page, here is a link to this release)
Dec. 31, 2018 (7:15 a.m.)
The Minnesota Department of Transportation has enacted a no travel advisory on state and federal highways in the following counties due to dangerous driving conditions:
· Clay
· Big Stone
· Stevens
· Traverse
· Wilkin
High winds and blowing snow are causing whiteout conditions. Snowplows will continue to operate, but motorists are advised not to travel until conditions improve. For tips on safe winter driving, go to www.mndot.gov/workzone/winter.html. For real-time traffic and travel information in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.orgor get the free smartphone app at Google Play or the App Store.
Please have patience as the City crew works to keep our roads open during yet another storm. The video below (and post photo above) was taken during clean up from last week’s blizzard.
Winter Alerts, Notifications & Good to Know Announcements
A list of resource links as we make it through this winter season.
Big Stone County Emergency Management
Their Facebook pages
1350 AM KDIO Radio
Listen in on KDIO for all weather-related announcements and they also posts updates on their Facebook Page.
Ortonville Police Department
Posts all their emergency related announcements and notifications on their Facebook Page.
Ortonville School
Their Facebook Page posts latest updates
School Website covers urgent announcements & calendar
Artie’s Bait & Tackle
They post ice condition updates (along with fishing updates!)
…and although not weather-related, Ortonville Area Health Services posts very helpful & informative information on both their Website- OAHS.US & their Facebook Page!
Water Quality Award!
We received notice from the Minnesota Department of Health (Oral Health Program and Drinking Water Protection) this month that the City of Ortonville received the 2017 Water Fluoridation Quality Award!
This award, created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recognizes those public water systems (PWSs) that adjust the fluoride concentration in drinking water and achieve a monthly average fluoride level that is in the optimal range for 12 consecutive months in a calendar year, as documented in the CDC Water Fluoridation Reporting System (WFRS).
CDC initiated the Water Fluoridation Quality Awards program to recognize outstanding performance in fluoridation management by public water systems. In Minnesota, 233 of 605 possible fluoridating community PWSs are receiving an award for 2017.
We give an extra shout out to Sam Berger on this outstanding effort and thank you for your work providing safe, dependable drinking water for Ortonville!
Cold Weather Rule – and your Utilities
There is a cold weather rule in Minnesota that tries to help people avoid being disconnected. However, if a person doesn’t follow the guidelines, they could still have their electricity turned off for nonpayment.
Please read the Cold Weather Rule – Link: https://mn.gov/puc/consumers/help/shut-off-protection/
Further questions regarding your utilities, please call the City Office at 320-839-3428
Thank you.
City Meeting Calendar
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)
Business Resources
Write a Business Plan: https://mn.gov/deed/business/starting-business/biz-plans/drafting-plan.jsp
Financial Projections for a new business: https://www.score.org/resource/financial-projections-template
Creative Job Search Guide… Link!
Great Resource! Career Planning, Applications and References, Resumes & Cover Letters, The Job Interview, The Internet & Social Media and more! Check out this link!
Small Business Assistance Office
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
A Guide to Starting a Business in Minnesota (PDF)
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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.
Minnesota Small Business Development Centers
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.
We would be in the Southwest Regional Center – To sign-up for their free assistance/consultations: Website & Select “Request Services” located in the top right of the page.
Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission (UMVRDC)
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)
Minnesota Secretary of State – Starting a Business or Non-Profit
Minnesota Workforce Center – Montevideo – Is the Workforce Center for Ortonville and they do also have a representative in Ortonville one day per week at our Media Center (lower level of the Ortonville Public Library – 412 Second Street NW)
SBA Loans & Grants – Big Stone County
SBA – great resource page! https://www.sba.gov/business-guide
Minnesota Small Business Loans (SBA website)
SCORE – SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. We have been doing this for over fifty years. Because our work is supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and thanks to our network of 11,000+ volunteers, we are able to deliver our services at no charge or at very low cost.
Southwest Initiative Foundation – Business Finance & Loan Programs
Searching for a Job – or – are you a business that would like to list a job? — Click here!
United States Department of Agriculture USDA
Minnesota Department of Transportation MNDot
Minnesota State Demographic Center, Minnesota Planning – Includes more reports with data analysis and trends. Links to other demographic sites.
Link to EDA Programs/Assistance
EDA Programs
Ortonville EDA Assistance:
- RLF Policy & Application
- Com Rehab RLF Guidelines & Application
- Border City Enterprise Program
- Website & Social Media Assistance for Businesses
- Assistance with Business Plans & Cash Flow Estimates
Regional Assistance Opportunities:
Big Stone County Assistance Opportunities:
Starting a Business Information (Tax ID, Business Plans, Cash Flows, and more) and other Financing Assistance Options
- Business Resources (Regional, State & Federal) – assistance links
Utility Payment Options
To view your utility bills online – LINK https://www.municipalonlinepayments.com/ortonvillemn
There is a drop box for payments located on the NW corner of
Madison Avenue and Third Street NW.
Utility billings are due on the 12th of the month & payments are taken from the box on the morning of the 13th. (unless this falls on a holiday or weekend – then the next business/work day)
Utility Bills can also be mailed or dropped off at the City office
Address: 437 Minnesota Street North
Utility Bills can be paid by credit card online, by phone, or in person – LINK MORE INFO
You can set up an auto payment with your bank
You can print out the PDF Form (Bank Transfer Form), sign the form and attach a check that has been voided, and either mail or drop it off at the City Office to get the auto payment set up. If you have other questions, please contact the City office for details 320-839-3428
If you have selected auto pay and would like to enter your meter readings online,
you can complete the form: Enter Meter Readings
(We are researching options for online payments at this time)
Please print legibly when filling out checks for payment or turning in readings for your utility bills in order to ensure accurate processing.
City Office located at:
437 Minnesota Street North
Ortonville, MN 56278