FAIRMONT – The Martin County Economic Development Authority (EDA) approved attending a broadband summit on April 29, sending a CEDA member to attend and report back.

CEDA Specialist Amber Patten said this came across her desk and is being led on a large scale.

“Some state leadership is going to be hosting a broadband summit up in the cities on April 29,” she said. “Informational purposes. They also are going to have some breakout sessions, permitting grant management, workforce development. Again, since Martin County has a good stance in broadband, I wanted to bring it to the EDA’s attention.”

Board Member Tim Terfehr asked who the committee leader is on that, and Amber Patten said Jim Langborg is. Monday was Langborg’s first meeting, after having joined CEDA around three months ago.

“I have quite a bit of governmental experience, most of it was in the fire service,” he said. “I did 31 years in fire service and 37 in EMS. During that process, I rose up as a fire chief for the last 10 years and got my master’s degree in public administration. Part of the retirement plan was to move from the West Coast to the Midwest, more affordable living. I’ve been with CEDA for about three months now, am enjoying it and learning quite a bit.”

All the present board members and staff introduced themselves, and decided that Langborg’s first big assignment should be attending this broadband summit. The EDA unanimously approved covering expenses for Langborg to attend the summit on April 29.

In other news:

— Information on developing business is slow, but Patten said there is some development happening. In the mall, Patten said lease term timelines are being developed with a potential developer, but a snag has been hit in the form of maintenance issues at the mall. As of now, Patten said the Hardee’s building sale remains pending, and what is planned for that location has not been shared with the EDA. There are also multiple potential small businesses opening in the Martin County Area, including a coffee shop in Trimont and a repair business in Welcome looking to expand.

— The Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation held discussions with the Martin County EDA. Inquiries were made about community economic development, entrepreneurship opportunities, challenges the EDA faces and the current planned initiatives of the EDA.

— A proposal for a potential hotel feasibility study for Sherburn was presented to the Sherburn EDA. Patten said there has been interest in the Sherburn area in the past, but cost and lack of a current hotel feasibility study have stopped them from moving any further.