HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.20.26 EDA Minutes City of Farmington
Economic Development Authority
Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
The Farmington Economic Development Authority met in regular session on Tuesday,
January 20, 2026 at Farmington City Hall, 430 Third Street, Farmington, Minnesota.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Hoyt called the meeting to order at 5 pm.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chair Hoyt lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. ROLL CALL
Members Present: Chair Joshua Hoyt
Commissioners Holly Bernatz, Jake Cordes, Nick Lien,
and Steve Wilson
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Lynn Gorski, City Administrator
Deanna Kuennen, EDA Executive Director
Stephanie Aman, Economic Development Coordinator
Kim Sommerland, Finance Director
John Powell, Public Works Director
Shirley Buecksler, City Clerk
Also Present: Maggie Dykes, Assistant Director of Community &
Economic Development, Dakota County CDA
4. APPROVE AGENDA
Motion was made by Commissioner Wilson and seconded by Commissioner
Bernatz to approve the agenda, as presented.
Motion carried: 5 ayes / 0 nays
5. CITIZEN COMMENTS
No one addressed the Commission to speak.
EDA Minutes of January 20,2026 Page 1 of 3
6. CONSENT AGENDA
6.1 Minutes of the November 17, 2025 Regular Economic Development Authority
Meeting
6.2 2026 Minnesota Real Estate Journal (MREJ) Contract
Motion was made by Commissioner Cordes and seconded by Commissioner
Bernatz to approve the Consent Agenda, as presented.
Motion carried: 5 ayes / 0 nays
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
8. DISCUSSION ITEMS
8.1 Local Affordable Housing Aid (LAHA) Funds - Collaboration Discussion with
Dakota County Community Development Agency
Director Kuennen introduced Maggie Dykes, Assistant Director of Community
and Economic Development with the Dakota County Community
Development Agency.
Ms. Dykes discussed with the EDA the status of the 2024 LAHA funds and
continued collaboration for the 2025 LAHA funds.
Discussion included:
• LAHA grants were given to five Farmington households; only one
full-funded LAHA project has been completed.
• The 2024 project dollars are 100% allocated.
• The EDA would like to know what the need of the community is relative
to this one source. Ms. Dykes will find out how many Farmington
residents applied but didn't receive funds and will respond back.
• The CDA requests a continued partnership with Farmington and is
seeking the City's 2025 LAHA funds of $244,803.33 to continue funding
the program.
• The CDA is requesting the City's help in pushing out more information
about the program.
Following discussion, the EDA provided direction for Staff to continue this
partnership with the CDA in deploying these dollars on the City's behalf. The
EDA thanked Ms. Dykes for joining in this discussion.
EDA Minutes of January 20,2026 Page 2 of 3
8.2 Economic Development Website Proposed Updates
Coordinator Aman provided an update on the City's Economic
Development webpages, which will provide a more effective tool of
attracting and supporting businesses. The site will improve usability, provide
robust, up-to-date content, showcase Farmington's strengths, and support
business growth. On-going projects will be linked, and the data center page
will continue or become a resource page about data centers.
Staff and the EDA talked about adding a video to welcome users to the
website, improvements to still photography, adding additional drone
footage from around Farmington, the possibility of adding Al Chatbot for
navigation throughout the website, and a plan for tracking usage.
This update positions Farmington as a business-friendly, forward-thinking
community and ensures that our online presence reflects the opportunities
and support that Farmington has to offer.
9. DIRECTOR'S REPORT
9.1 Director's Report
10.ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Commissioner Wilson and seconded by Commissioner
Cordes to adjourn the meeting at 6:06 pm.
Motion carried: 5 ayes / 0 nays
Respectfully submitted,
S ' ley R Oksl"er
City Clerk
EDA Minutes of January 20,2026 Page 3 of 3