Civil Municipal - April 2024

combined with efforts to improve housing and community amenities, will mesh into one fine sales pitch for out-of-town companies looking to bring their business to Fairmont. A YMCA Community Center is also in the works for 2024. Funded by various non-profits, the project is working through some delays with the goal of starting construction in the spring or summer of this year. Once that’s complete, likely in 2025, Fairmont residents will get state-of-the-art exercise facilities, indoor swimming pools, and, generally, just a new hub to bring people together. And while the Minnesota area at large faces some uncertainty, Fairmont remains a beating heart of progress where the local economy and quality of life are the top priorities. “My best guess for Fairmont is that we’re going to see incremental growth,” says Koppen. “The projection for Southwest Minnesota over the next 10 to 20 years is that we’ll see some decrease in population. I think Fairmont has the potential to go the other way. I would like to see some incremental growth that allows our businesses to keep expanding, and that makes for a healthy community.” PREFERRED VENDOR/PARTNER n United Hospital District www.uhd.org United Hospital District (www.uhd.org) , based in Blue Earth, MN, is an independent system of care comprised of a 25-bed acute care hospital, comprehensive outpatient services, ambulance service and a home health/hospice care program, all supported by a 25-plus multi-specialty provider group with three clinic locations across two counties. UHD was recognized as a 2024 Top 100 Critical Access Hospital, a 2023 Best Small Hospital Under 25 Beds, and a 2022 Top 200 Workplace in Minnesota. 88 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 5, ISSUE 04