Essentia Health has pledged the largest donation to date for the development of the Essentia Riverwalk. This multi-use public space, previously known as the Loop, will cover a 48,000 square foot area featuring both indoor and outdoor walking tracks. The indoor track has been christened the Essentia Health Walking Loop. This project is expected to stretch from Viking Ship Park to a natural play area along the river corridor. The announcement event generated significant media attention, described as having “incredible synergy,” and was met with enthusiastic community engagement.

The economic development team expressed their optimism about the positive public sentiment surrounding the project. The community’s excitement was also attributed to the success of the Morheart Award program, which has been encouraging local stories and transforming community members into brand ambassadors. This program has been active for about two and a half years and has played a role in community storytelling.

Another topic of discussion was the upcoming redesign of Moorhead’s city website, slated for launch in the spring of 2026. The current website is considered outdated and challenging to navigate, especially on mobile devices. The redesign will focus on creating a landing page dedicated to economic development and business growth. This initiative is expected to resolve technical issues and streamline access to vital information, thus preventing potential disengagement from developers and business prospects.

Concerns were raised about the inefficiency of the current website. Acknowledging these challenges, a collaborative effort with various departments is underway to ensure the new site meets community needs effectively. Funding from marketing is being utilized to enhance the design capabilities of the revamped website. The importance of maintaining communication with the public through e-notifications and social media was also emphasized, with the economic development team highlighting their effective use of humor and relatability in social media outreach.

The meeting proceeded to business items, with a notable focus on the approval of the 2026 budget. The preliminary budget, initially discussed in August, includes a maximum tax levy subject to adjustment before final adoption. The proposed budget features a modest increase anticipated to be absorbed through the city’s natural growth, thus minimizing the impact on individual residents. Key changes include a $20,000 increase in funding for entrepreneurial services and downtown development, specifically for the Spark Center for Entrepreneurship, which is expected to open in the spring of 2026. This funding boost aims to enhance curation, coordination, partnership development, and community engagement within the center. In addition, the budget allocates more support to the West Central Minnesota Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

The meeting also addressed efforts to enhance educational and entrepreneurial resources on the college campus, fostering a supportive environment for students and entrepreneurs. This includes collaboration with local organizations like the Luminary and the Spark Center to increase attendance and interactions with the SBDC programs.

A contract with Downtown Moorhead, Inc., in place since 2018, was highlighted, with a nearly $4,000 increase proposed to sustain ongoing support for downtown redevelopment and citywide economic development. The funding allocated for professional services was noted as contributing to these efforts. Discussions also touched on lobbying expenses, which were described as experiencing a typical modest increase during contract negotiations.

The motion to approve the 2026 preliminary budget was proposed, seconded, and passed without opposition. Discussion on the reserve fund balance followed, with emphasis on its importance for future significant projects. The reserve fund was reported to be “north of a million,” and there was consensus on the necessity of maintaining a robust reserve to accommodate upcoming initiatives.

Economic development updates included attendance at a chamber celebration honoring Jeff Folk from Moore Engineering, recognizing the firm’s contributions to Moorhead. Additionally, a significant investment from Essentia Health in the downtown area was positively received. Updates on ongoing construction efforts downtown mentioned anticipated road openings, particularly on Third Street near American Crystal Sugar. Discussion on the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s focus on I-94 improvements and public engagement for potential expansion was also featured.