Golden Valley City Council Advances New Economic Development Authority
Ordinance 819 receives first reading approval, paving the way for a broader approach to economic growth, job creation, and community marketing in the city.
The Golden Valley City Council took a significant step towards reshaping the city's economic development strategy on June 2, 2026, by approving the first reading of Ordinance 819. This ordinance officially establishes an Economic Development Authority (EDA), a transition aimed at providing the city with more comprehensive tools for fostering growth, attracting businesses, and enhancing community vibrancy. The decision, which also included the adoption of Resolution 2626043, passed with a unanimous 4-0 roll call vote, signaling broad support for the initiative.
The move from a Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) to an EDA is a key component of the city’s strategic planning process, designed to consolidate various development tools under a single body with expanded statutory powers. Ms. Costello, the city’s Housing and Economic Development Manager, presented the staff report, highlighting the crucial integration of housing and job creation within the new framework.
With a job, you need housing. We want people to be able to live and work here in Golden Valley. And if you’re working, say, at the grocery store, we want you to be able to live here. If you’re working at General Mills, we want you to live here. So they’re vital that they have to coordinate and play together.
Ms. Costello further elaborated on the limitations of an HRA, which primarily focuses on combating blight, improving housing, and redevelopment in designated areas. An EDA, she explained, offers a much broader scope, including promoting commercial, industrial, and mixed-use developments, and crucially, allows for proactive marketing of the city to attract jobs.
One of the things for me that we can’t do under an HRA is some of the marketing of the city for job creation. We’re very limited under HRA. We can’t do that with an EDA. We have the ability to go out and market the community at events, to host events where we can do that marketing to bring people in, to bring those jobs in.
Other Topics from This Document
Pledge of Allegiance and Land Acknowledgement
Proclamation for Miss Juneteenth Minnesota State Pageant
Public Comment
Agenda Additions and Corrections
Consent Agenda Approval
Public Hearing: Establishing Economic Development Authority (EDA)
Resolution 2626043: Enabling Resolution for EDA
EDA Organizational Meeting Scheduling
Items for Consideration
Want to know when new stories arrive?
Enter your email to receive updates.
We will not use your email for any other purpose. You can unsubscribe at any time.