Melrose Area Development Authority - MADA

10/01/2026

When we talk about economic development, we often think about manufacturing, restaurants, new housing and large employers. But sometimes it's something much simpler: space.

🚚A local contractor needs somewhere to store equipment.
🏠A family needs storage to maximize their house and garage space, or while building or remodeling a home.
📦A growing business needs a place to keep equipment before it is ready for a larger building.

Having affordable, secure and accessible storage can help people start, grow and stay in a city. Economic development can also be about making sure the families and businesses have room.

S/O to our Melrose space providers. Thank you for creating room for us!

Melrose Mobile Home Park & Storage
Melrose Blue Door Storage
MKI Storage

09/25/2026

Redevelopment update -- we will post more frequently about this project as things are moving forward.

Side Note: 🚛 The trucks in the JOTS parking lot are Xcel. They are leasing space as they work on their power lines in the area. Residents will see helicopters being used to hang power lines along their transmission lines in the next month. 🚁

W. Gohman Construction leadership and architects have been in the former plant. They are working on the bid pack, which are the guidelines and information for contractors who are interested in bidding for the demolition of the plant. Bidding will be later this fall with demolition planned for throughout the winter.

The City Council at its meeting September 17th authorized the purchase agreement with J-T of Melrose, which is the real estate arm of Leedstone. They are acquiring the southwest side of the site, which includes the precast area across from the former Church of St. Mary's, the truck sheds, and approximately 150 feet north of the precast, which will be vacant after demolition.

The extension of 1st Street SE from Turkey Lane to 5th Avenue SE is included in the city's 2027 budget.

The preliminary plat for the west side of 5th Avenue SE will be reviewed by Planning & Zoning at its September 28th meeting. This plat creates the legal description for Leedstone's lot, lays out the street extension, and creates additional commercial lots which will be available.

A TIF district was created at the September 17th meeting, allowing for the possibility for developers to use TIF as a tool on both sides of 5th Avenue SE.

If you have questions, please contact Community Development Director, Sheila Hellermann, or City Administrator, Tom Budde, for more information.

09/25/2026

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd. It is the midterm elections and there are local races, including mayor, city council, and school board.
This is information about the constitutional amendment concerning school funding. It is important to note that with constitutional amendments a blank vote counts as a no vote -
Melrose Area Public Schools

Important Voter Information 🗳️

Minnesota voters will consider a proposed constitutional amendment related to the Minnesota Permanent School Fund during the November 3, 2026 General Election.

The graphic below provides a brief overview of the proposed change and what each vote would mean.

09/23/2026

It's almost the end of the season! Sometimes economic development looks like a folding table, a roadside stand, a farmers-market booth or someone selling a product they make at home.
Roadside stands, side hustles, home-based businesses and farmers markets create economic activity, entrepreneurship and community identity.

It starts with “I have an idea” → “I have customers” → “I have a business.”
🥕 Keep more dollars local by connecting residents directly with producers and small businesses.
🚀 Creates a pipeline of future businesses. Today's farmers-market vendor or roadside seller could become tomorrow's Main Street business in Melrose.

And by supporting those little beginnings, it can create something much bigger: a culture where entrepreneurship is visible, normal and encouraged. We support economic development of all sizes!

09/22/2026

This is National Farm Safety and Health Week (September 21–25) and here in Melrose, that message hits close to home. Agriculture is the backbone of our local economy. Our farmers and local businesses don’t just grow crops and raise livestock—they create jobs, keep our rural infrastructure strong, and show up supporting our stores and community. Feed mills, lumber yards, hardware stores, processing plants, grocery stores, financial institutions, health care, accountants, lawyers, and more – throughout our community, we all are proud to partner with local farmers.

A safe and healthy ag workforce means successful harvests, resilient family farms, and continued economic growth for everyone who calls Melrose home.

To our local farm families and ag workers: thank you for the long hours and hard work. It’s harvest, so we all need extra awareness on our roads. Stay safe out there.

09/21/2026

Why Melrose? There has never been a better time. Looking for a place to build your career, raise a family, and put down roots?
🏠 Housing — New homes, existing homes. Come and look around – entry level homes, lots available for new construction, rental availability.
💼 Jobs — Local businesses are hiring, growing, and have opportunities in a wide variety of fields.
🧸 Daycare — We have childcare availability because having places for children to learn and grow is essential to families and to the local workforce.
🩺 Medical services – We have access to rural health care and assisted living for seniors. Local primary care is everything! We also have a critical access hospital.
🏫 Schools connected to the community. Elementary school options. A high school known for its academics, and many options for sports, arts, and extracurricular groups.
🛍️ Local businesses where your dollars stay close to home.
🌳 Parks and events.
❤️ Melrose is community where you can become more than a resident — you can become part of it. Welcome Home.

09/18/2026

Like we mentioned, every community has things that people drive past, walk past, because you might not realize it is there. So today another feature of “What is something in Melrose that you think more people should know about?” Economic development isn't always about attracting something new. Sometimes it's recognizing, promoting and connecting the assets we have.

Today we feature Junior’s Produce. Located on 5th Avenue SE, Sal and Betty have amazing fresh produce and your other groceries.

The Melrose Area Development Authority (MADA) is proud to have supported Junior’s Produce when they opened in 2023 with a Commercial Rehab Deferred Loan for their new doors.

🍊🍍🥭🍓🍎🍐🌶️🫑🍅🥑
A small produce store can offer something that larger chains often struggle to replicate: freshness, personal selection, and pride in the product, and Sal is very proud of the quality they have available.
🍊🍍🥭🍓🍎🍐🌶️🫑🍅🥑
Quality + Personal Service + Local Ownership + Community Character + Local Spending = Economic Development
🍊🍍🥭🍓🍎🍐🌶️🫑🍅🥑
Don't overlook the little businesses. Sometimes the businesses that make the biggest difference in a community are the ones with the smallest storefronts. Junior’s Produce been a great addition to Melrose – check it out!

09/17/2026

In a small city, economic development is also about the businesses that quietly help other businesses succeed. Today we are thinking about the local business owners who help everyone else look good. The businesses in our community who creates signs, posters —large and small.
🏪 Business signs that help a storefront look established
🪧 Yard signs for businesses, organizations, campaigns and community events
🎉 Parade signs and banners that help local celebrations come alive
🏫 School and community signs, posters, programs, invitations
🎪 Raffle tickets and event signage for festivals, fundraisers and community organizations
🚚 Vehicle lettering and graphics that turn local work trucks into mobile advertising

That means these businesses are not simply selling signs. They're part of the infrastructure that allows Melrose businesses and organizations to communicate, promote themselves and grow. Economic development is supporting the small business owner who helps every other business, organization, school and community group get noticed.

Sign Lava LLC
Schmidt Dan Printing

09/14/2026

It's National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (September 13-19)
This week, we salute the truck drivers who keep America moving—but here in Melrose, we also want to recognize the people who make sure those trucks can keep moving.

🔧 Our local semi-truck mechanics and repair businesses!

This includes
🔧Rock Bottom Diesel
🔧Melrose Truck Repair
🔧Melrose 1 Stop

They may not always be in the spotlight, but they are an important part of Melrose’s economy and our region’s transportation network. Local mechanics provide the knowledge, equipment and quick response needed to get trucks back on the road—and keep products, supplies and paychecks moving.

It's also a great example of the economic development that happens every day in Melrose. This National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, thank you to the drivers—and a special salute to the mechanics behind the scenes who keep them rolling.

09/14/2026

Every community has things that people drive past, walk past, or take for granted because they are so familiar. Or you might not realize it is there. So we are going to start featuring “What is something in Melrose that you think more people should know about?” We have treasures in Melrose and invite people to discover them. Economic development isn't always about attracting something new. Sometimes it's recognizing, promoting and connecting the assets we have.

Today we feature Martinez Meat & Grocery. Did you know there is a restaurant in the back of the store? It is the former VFW for those around Melrose long enough to remember (IYKYK). Maria and Paul expanded their store in 2011 - 15 years ago - to include the restaurant. A hidden gem!