EDA discusses ideas presented by local residents

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

What is Henning and how can it grow? Those are the questions facing the Henning EDA after seeking input from the public about what items and potential businesses the small community of 850 people would like to see in the future.

During its regularly scheduled meeting last week, which was postponed a week due to the state basketball tournament, the Henning EDA discussed some of the themes it found after seeking input from the community on the needs for town. 

Henning EDA President Andy Eckhoff said there was a wide range of topics that the community brought forward, but the two main topics revolved around bringing a coffee shop/bakery to town or a childcare facility. 

“I would say the two things from what I have seen…would be finding a way to either do a coffee shop, or bring someone in to the community to do that, or a childcare facility. I would say childcare facility would be the number one that I have seen,” said Eckhoff.

Henning EDA member Nathan Thalmann said a lack of daycare is an issue in communities throughout the region. Recently, Battle Lake completed a daycare project, while Ottertail is also getting closer to breaking ground on a new daycare project as well. Despite the new facilities, the need still persists for young families. 

“It’s not just an Ottertail or Henning thing, it’s a statewide issue and so they are trying to keep throwing dollars out there. There is probably opportunities (for state funding),” he said.

Henning city clerk/treasurer Jenna Kovarik said the biggest thing she took away from the community suggestions was to find ways to bring more businesses to town, whether that is a coffee shop, bakery or another service-based entity.

“I think the biggest thing on that board up there is just bringing businesses to town,” she said. 

After spinning their wheels and discussing some of the possibilities in Henning, EDA member Matt Goeden suggested the EDA and city first figure out what kind of community Henning is known for and where it should go. For example, Ottertail and Battle Lake are known as tourist destinations, while Henning is on the edge of lakes country, but does not have a lake within its city limits. 

“You could have as many ideas as you want, but will they work for this community,” he said. “The biggest thing in our community is the school and I like the idea of trying to enhance that.”

Following that same train of thought, Glenn Scott said Henning has always been thought of as a service community. While the EDA said attracting a bigger industrial business would be a boon for the community, Scott said Henning has a number of businesses like plumbers, medical providers, eye doctor, grocery store and up to a few years ago had a dentist.

“Henning is a service town. We are not a tourist town and we probably never will be,” he said. “You never need to leave town for anything if you didn’t want to. You just go down the line and you have whatever you need.”

Thalmann said the biggest employer in Henning in terms of number of employees is the school. He said the EDA could look at ways to enhance the school district through things like a daycare near the school, or see if there were ways to piggyback on things the school will be doing to bring new businesses to town. 

Along those lines Henning School Superintendent Melissa Sparks highlighted a few grants the school is looking into, which could bring some economic development and enhancements to the community. 

One example she provided was the school district is trying to fill an early childhood class for junior and senior high students that could provide them college level classes and credits while still in high school. She said the school district is attempting to secure a grant through West Central Initiative to pay for the class with the goal of creating interest in students to explore a career in the childcare or educational field. 

The school district is also seeking an expansive 21st century grant that could provide around $477,000 to provide activities for students before and after school and while school is not in session. She said the Breckenridge School District received a similar grant that also included 6-8 weeks of summer school as part of the program.

“That would help with childcare,” said Sparks. However, she added that the school district has yet to be approved for the highly competitive grant.

She shared several other ideas the school district is exploring that could provide additional economic opportunities for students that are still in the developmental stage as well.

Moving forward, Thalmann said the Henning EDA needs to make sure it is marketing itself and letting people know that funding is available. He also said the organization could take a more proactive approach to contact people about selling lots with dilapidated buildings on it to either make necessary repairs, or tear them down, to provide a prospective property owner a cleared lot to construct a business.

In addition to the idea board in city hall, the Henning EDA heard from an individual who owns the former creamery building near the locker plant. After putting a new roof on the building a few years ago the individual said she is planning to put in an art gallery for individuals who are interested in selling their work to the public.

She is in the process of fixing up the building now, but hopes to have the new artist gallery up and running in the near future.