WILLMAR -- Members of the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission Operations Board had a chance Thursday to tour the agency's new office space and gain a sneak preview of how it's being refurbished.
The board also agreed to allocate up to $24,000 for the remodeling and the move into the new office, located in Centre Place on Litchfield Avenue in downtown Willmar.
The EDC will move into the new location July 29 and 30. An open house is planned Sept. 9.
The amount set aside for renovation is more than twice what the agency initially projected it would spend.
"We started with $10,000, knowing we didn't have sound numbers," said Jean Spaulding, assistant executive director of the EDC.
ADVERTISEMENT
As the list of purchases was put together, however, it became clear that more money might need to be spent, she said.
Expenses range from signage and computer wiring to paint, wallpaper and countertops.
EDC officials told the board Thursday that the money is available in the agency's budget. This year's budget allocated $10,000 for the move and another $3,000 for new equipment.
Steve Renquist, executive director, said that at the halfway point of 2008, the Economic Development Commission has spent 39 percent of its $495,000 annual budget.
"We're at a very comfortable level," he said.
Some items in the renovation budget, such as new chairs for the board room, likely will be eliminated or delayed, to help hold down expenses.
Board members said they were conscious, however, of the need to project a positive, progressive image of the Economic Development Commission -- and that this entails spending some money. Visibility and a professional environment were high on the list of priorities as the EDC researched potential office locations, settling in May on leased space in Centre Place.
"I think the real question is, how do we want that office to look? What are we willing to do for that?" said Betty Bollig, chairman of the joint operations board.
