SBDC asks for financial backing

The Southwest Region Small Business Development Center on Tuesday requested Lyon County appropriate funds to help offset money problems born from a declining economy, staff shortages and high gas prices.
Monies would allow the SBDC to match federal funding to help the organization stay viable.
According to the SBDC, consulting services within the southwest region have increased 80% since the pandemic. Its ask from the county is $10,000.
“Things have really changed for our center,” said Liz Struve, regional director of the SBDC. “We had CARES funding that helped us get through the pandemic; at that time, we had over a 100% increase in the number of people that became clients. As of right now, we are about 80% over and above what we have done historically. It’s just a different atmosphere.
The Southwest SBDC provides consulting, training and research to assist small businesses to start, grow and transition. The Southwest SBDC has a regional office at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall and satellite offices at the Enterprise Center in Hutchinson and on the Lower Sioux Reservation at the office of Dakota Futures.
Since January 2020, 164 clients in Lyon County have received more than 850 hours of service. Struve said the SBDC has people available to continue to work with small businesses in the region it serves (18 counties), but the amount of federal money available to them to do so will come up short.
“We do have grant dollars that will be coming in for the first part of 2023,” Struve said. “In any other year that would probably be sufficient, but with the increase in the number of people that are asking for our assistance, we’re definitely going to run short … we can easily be short anywhere from $60,000 to $75,000.”
The last time the SBDC came to the County for financial support was 2019, but that $10,000 has been used up, Struve said. The board said it will take the request under advisement as it works on its 2023 budget.

In other news …
• The board approved new contracts with area townships and cities for 2022-25 for assessment services provided by Lyon County. The previous contracts had expired. All of the contracts are on file at the County Assessors Office and are available for review. As of Aug. 16, the Assessor’s Office was still waiting for the return of the Fairview Township contract. The motion was made by Commissioner Charlie Sanow and seconded by Commissioner Gary Crowley.
• The board approved a resolution to apply for an operation grant and to authorize Veteran Services Officer Heidi Fier to execute the grant application for up to $10,000. Proceeds from the grant can be used to outreach programs to veterans in Lyon County. The motion was made by Sanow and seconded by Commissioner Rick Anderson.
• The board approved to allocate $200,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the City of Minneota to replace lift pumps. Crowley made the motion to approve, with Anderson offering a second. The board also approved ARPA funds of $67,143 to the City of Lynd for an electric generator and transfer switch to power a lift pump.
• After a motion by Anderson and second by Crowley, the board approved a request to support the repair of a 12” CMP pipe on Lake Marshall that has been washed out. The total allocation is $34,458,08, which is 75% of the total cost of the project ($42,944.11). The remaining 25% of the cost of the project would be covered by Soil & Water (15%) and the landowner (10%).
“To wait for Area II to get funding … it’s only going to get worse,” Crowley said.
“I agree,” Anderson added. “You never know what’s going to happen with the bonding bill.”
Anderson made the motion to support the project, with a second coming from Crowley.
• After a proposal by Murray County, the board agreed to appoint two commissioners to serve on a future joint ditch board with Murray County for a redetermination of benefits on County Ditch 14. A small portion of that watershed lies in Lyon County.
• The board approved the sale of 0.49 acres of wetland bank credits to the City of Ghent for $31,000. The City of Ghent’s original asking price was $24,500. Anderson, who acknowledged he is not in favor of selling credits, made the motion to sell the credits for $31,000, and commissioner Charlie Sanow seconded.
• The board awarded bids for two striping projects, both to Sir Lines-A-Lot. One os for $364,252.64 to place an epoxy center and edge lines on 92 miles of county-paved roads; the other is for $59,267.22 for latex striping, which will cover the county’s new seal coat rods and any additional miles that need restriping. Crowley made the motion, with Commissioner Paul Graupmann seconding.