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<br /> <br /> Staff Report <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />To: Mayor Fischer and Members of the Little Canada City Council <br /> <br />From: Ben Harrington, AICP, Community Development Director <br /> <br />Date: April 22, 2026 <br /> <br />Request: Opt-In To Ramsey County EDA Services and Programming <br /> <br />Actions To Be Considered: <br />Motion to approve, table, or deny the following: <br />• Adoption of a resolution exercising the City’s authority to opt-in to, and support, the <br />Ramsey County Economic Development Agency (“EDA”) <br /> <br />Background: <br />In 2025, Ramsey County pursued and received special legislation expanding the allowable uses of <br />its Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) levy to include economic development activities, <br />specifically entrepreneurship and small business programming. Because the HRA is established in <br />state statute with a primary focus on housing and redevelopment, this change required the formal <br />establishment of a County Economic Development Authority (EDA) to administer these expanded <br />activities. The legislation explicitly did not create a new taxing authority; instead, it allows the <br />County to allocate a portion of its existing HRA levy toward business-focused programming. <br /> <br />As part of the legislative framework, cities within the Ramsey County HRA area of operation must <br />formally “opt in” by resolution in order to participate in the expanded business programming. Cities <br />that opt in retain access to existing housing and redevelopment programs while also becoming <br />eligible for new economic development resources. Cities that do not opt in will continue to receive <br />the current HRA programming but will not have access to the expanded business-related services. <br />There is no new or additional cost for opting-in. <br /> <br />Ramsey County is currently implementing this framework, with cities required to adopt opt-in <br />resolutions by June 1, 2026. Following adoption, the County will establish the EDA’s area of <br />operation and begin deploying enhanced programming, anticipated to include technical assistance, <br />small business support, and direct investment tools funded through the existing HRA levy. Initial <br />program funding is expected to range from approximately $1.5 to $2 million annually, with <br />implementation beginning in 2027. <br /> <br />Recommendation: <br />Staff recommends the adopting a resolution exercising the City’s authority to opt-in to, and support, <br />the Ramsey County Economic Development Agency (“EDA”) <br /> <br />Attachments: <br />1. Attachment A – Resolution <br />2. Attachment B – Memo from Ramsey County “Ramsey County EDA Implementation Next <br />Steps” <br />3. Attachment C – Ramsey County EDA FAQ