FAIRMONT – While it got a less than unanimous approval, with two abstentions, the Martin County Economic Development Authority (EDA) approved moving forward with their economic recovery project at Monday’s meeting.

This next step comes as 3M has announced the upcoming closure of its Fairmont location. Community and Economic Development Associates Specialist Celia Viesselman said they are considering what Martin County’s economic future could need.

“Looking at our workforce skilled enough to do the jobs that we need locally,” she said. “Where are the gaps? What gaps do we see in the future? Recognizing that right now, most of these businesses have a surplus of workers. People are not hiring just because of where interest rates and tariffs are. We recognize that down the line, we anticipate workforce shortages.”

To work on these issues, the project is based on a federal grant process. The grant submission has passed initial review, but continuing to move forward would mean considering how to fund the $80,000 match for coordination of projects if this does go through.

Board Member Tim Terfehr asked if they could negotiate the money and potentially reduce it. Viesselman said that is something they would have to negotiate with the grant officials when the time came.

“That’s about the only way I see this happening,” Terfehr said. “We could maybe do it out of our reserves, but that’s like 70 percent of our reserves, and if we ask for next year, that’s a 40 percent budget increase for us.”

Viesselman acknowledged this, but noted that for this $80,000, they would be getting up to $320,000 from the government for business retention and expansion, microbusiness growth, skill-building training and downtown recovery workshops.

Board Member Richard Koons said it would indeed be fourfold their investment if they hit, but otherwise it is $80,000 that the County EDA and the County at large don’t have.

“That’s why it got kicked back here,” he said. “It was to give this board a chance to weigh in because at county board, it would have got shut down.”

With this in mind, Board Member Billeye Rabbe said that with the closures of 3M and Green Plains before it, they have to do something.

“We are the EDA board,” she said. “We have to have some reaction to this. What is our reaction if we pass on this grant? What is our reaction to industry closing with other closings happening and the possibility of more?”

Board Chair Wes Anderson asked if they’re supposed to find jobs for the employees at 3M. Rabbe said they are not, but the County EDA is supposed to be a supportive entity to facilitate opportunities for employment.

Ultimately, it was confirmed by Viesselman and County Coordinator Scott Higgins that if they are approved for this grant and cannot find the necessary funds to move forward, they can always decline it. But that can’t happen if they don’t move forward with it.

Terfehr made the motion to approve moving forward with the grant process, which Board Member James Kloeckner seconded. Terfehr, Kloeckner and Rabbe voted yes, while Anderson and Koons chose to abstain, meaning the motion passed with a 3-0 vote.

In other business:

— Multiple business ideas are in the works. Through The Retail Coach, a national grocery chain has expressed interest in the Fairmont area, and the new owner of the mall is working on an updated site plan for future opportunities. On top of this, an individual reached out to CEDA about potentially starting a construction business.

— The Local Housing Trust Fund Committee held a meeting, where, after reviewing housing needs, low-income household numbers and affordable housing calculations, they concluded that potential rebate opportunities could be offered to support housing goals. EDA staff have been directed to look into potential opportunities in this vein.