*** Editor’s note: corrected error of Carroll County contribution for FY24 from $87,000 to $82,400.
Several members of the Carroll City Council are requesting more information from the Carroll County Growth Partnership (CCGP) before they agree to a $102,000 funding request from the organization for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. CCGP is seeking a nearly $20,000 increase from FY24 to support new programs and initiatives, such as HUB 712, to revitalize Carroll, Carroll County, and the surrounding area’s economy. In 2020, the city provided additional funding to the Carroll Area Development Corporation (CADC), now CCGP, to help fund a three-year contract with the Retail Coach to recruit and retain businesses within the community and an additional CCGP staff member. During a budget work session on Monday evening, At-Large Councilwoman JJ Schreck asked City Manager Aaron Kooiker why Carroll pays significantly more than any other community in the county.
In FY24, the City of Carroll contributed $82,000 to CCGP, while Carroll County contributed $82,400. Ward 3 Councilman Kyle Bauer says some of his hesitation comes from what he sees as a need for more communication between the council, the Chamber, and CCGP.
Kooiker says the council is made aware of potential agreements as soon as possible in almost every case. Often, the council can’t discuss them in a meeting setting as they have not been formalized yet. He says the ones that don’t make it to the council chambers ask too much of the city.
Ward 2 Councilman Jason Atherton says economic development is obviously a priority, but there needs to be a return on investment for taxpayers.
At last night’s (Wednesday) budget session, Kooiker presented data from peer communities throughout the state that show Carroll is very near the median annual contribution from cities for economic development programming. During an interview on KCIM Wednesday morning, CCGP Executive Director Kimberly Tiefenthaler, who joined the organization near the end of 2021, says she is aware of past challenges between the city, Chamber, and CCGP and has been actively working to improve those relations over the last two years.
She points to 2023 as proof. Tiefenthaler and Kooiker see their momentum as just a starting point. From the Downton Assessment to the pending launch of HUB 712, including an accompanying $250,000 grant to fund a significant portion of that project, CCGP had a banner year in 2023. The council did not take action on the economic development line item during Wednesday’s work session, but it is likely to be discussed further during the council’s Monday, Feb. 12 meeting.
