Council to serve as additional economic development authority

City News June 30, 2026

At its June 22 meeting, the Albert Lea City Council voted to create an Economic Development Authority (EDA) to complement the existing Port Authority and Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA).
 
The EDA will help address economic development opportunities that fall between the traditional roles of the Port Authority, which focuses on industrial and infrastructure projects, and the HRA, which focuses on public housing. The new authority will provide greater flexibility to support redevelopment efforts, market-rate housing, and broader community economic growth. One area of focus will be workforce housing to help employers fill job openings.
 
City leaders emphasized that creating the EDA does not involve hiring additional staff. Instead, it establishes the legal framework for the three organizations to work together more effectively on projects that often overlap.
 
The city council will initially serve as the EDA Board, with plans to add community members in the future. The council met as the EDA Board immediately after adjourning its June 22 council meeting, electing Mayor Rich Murray as president and Councilor Rachel Christensen as vice president. City Clerk Daphney Maras will serve as secretary to the EDA Board with Finance Director Kristi Brutlag as treasurer.
 
The EDA will meet quarterly, with its next meeting planned for September. City staff will continue working with the Port Authority and HRA to define responsibilities and coordinate efforts that support Albert Lea’s long-term economic growth.