visitors from near and far. New Ulm is also home to the August Schell Brewing Company, often called Schell’s Brewery, one of the oldest breweries in the United States, and an attraction to the area. Often called “The City of Charm and Tradition,” New Ulm is a community of 14,120 people, with the opportunities and amenities of a modern city. Mayor Kathleen Backer illustrates, “We have a wonderful backdrop for people to come in and enjoy the heritage of our community. But besides that, we have a terrific workforce. We have one of the top 10 medical centers in the rural United States. So, as we look at our community, we have the perfect setting, not just to ‘live, work and play,’ but to invest.” SUPPORTING DEVELOPMENT FOR A THRIVING ECONOMY The city’s economic development initiatives focus on attracting investors and supporting new businesses. A notable example is an EDA grant program, offering $7,500 to start-up businesses and successfully helping many new enterprises establish themselves in New Ulm. “With that program, the focus is to get new businesses and entrepreneurs through that first year of business, that’s always the hardest year. If they can make it through the first year there’s a pretty good success rate of them continuing,” conveys City Manager, Chris Dalton. According to Dalton, New Ulm welcomed 14 new businesses in 2023. Among the notable additions are Gypsy Girl Consignment Boutique, located downtown, Rush, a rooftop restaurant that is a first for southwest Minnesota, and White Boxer Coffee Company, an independent roaster supplying local coffee shops. Other new businesses include Broadway Bait, Midwest Detail Garage, and several transportation services addressing local needs. Additional service-based companies such as Revive Aesthetics,AMS Grooming Salon, and Cove Collective have also recently opened, contributing to the city’s growing business landscape. A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN Downtown New Ulm is a bustling area, as Mayor Backer portrays,“I don’t know many communities our size that have a shortage of available storefronts in the downtown area for people to come in with new businesses. We have been very, very fortunate in the last couple of years with an influx and reinvestment of individuals and organizations in our downtown.” Dalton highlights ongoing and future improvements for New Ulm’s downtown area, where the city currently offers facade improvement programs for businesses, and is considering a streetscape project.“Right now, it’s a one-way street through our downtown area, 149 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 08 NEW ULM, MN
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