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Commission Minutes—July 27, 2022 5612 past four years. Mr. Grahm said the County's investment in the GFMEDC continues to return a positive return on investment. Mr. Raso said the County's return on investment typically returns over a $1 million investment. In 2021 the GFMEDC assisted with 29 projects and over 95% were in Cass County, and in 2022 have assisted with 15 projects. Mr. Raso said the GFMEDC has continued to focus on private partnerships and has increased private funding from 2022 to 2023 by $25,000. He said the proposed budget does not include an increase in staff salaries or programming. MOTION, passed Mr. Peterson moved and Mrs. Scherling seconded to approve the 2023 preliminary budget for Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation as presented. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. 12. JOB DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Mr. Peterson said the County has recently discussed the opportunity to create a Job Development Authority (JDA) as outlined by State Statute. He said he is advocating that Cass County create a JDA as a place holder for the GFMEDC budget, investment in the Career Workforce Academy, and other related items. He said he would also like to work on the structure of the JDA at the State level. He said the JDA gives the County a spot to fund workforce needs. He said everyone in the community knows workforce is an issue and the County needs to be a leader and do something about it. Mr. Raso said economic development requires collaboration. He said the JDA would be an opportunity to further public and private partnerships. He said private sector organizations are already coming forward to the County and asking for funds, JDA would make a formal place for the requests. Mr. Steen said the JDA would be a way to coordinate funding and efforts to enhance workforce development. He said State Statute allows the County to levy up to $4.5 mills to fund the authority. He said the County needs to start the groundwork to move forward with the JDA creation. Mrs. Scherling asked what the timeline for the creation of the JDA looks like. Mr. Peterson said there is no timeline. He said he would have liked to have information gathered to establish the JDA as part of the 2023 budget, however, he would like to get input from outgoing Cass County State's Attorney Birch Burdick before he retires. Mr. Steen said he would like the consideration of moving forward with creating a JDA to be added to the upcoming Commission agenda for August 15, 2022. 13. VALLEY WATER RESCUE Pete Fendt, Valley Water Rescue President was present to review the 2023 budget. The request is for $42,631 the same amount since 2015. MOTION, passed Mr. Peterson moved and Mr. Kapitan seconded to approve the 2023 preliminary budget for the Valley Water Rescue as presented. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. Mr. Fendt said Valley Water Rescue has made an additional $24,000 request for adequate storage for Valley Water Rescue's equipment storage needs. He said during last year's budget Valley Water Rescue informed the Commission of the dust and climate control issues where the equipment is currently being stored at the Cass County Highway Department. Mr. Peterson said part of the 2023 Building Fund is a project to construct a storage building for the Sheriffs Law Enforcement equipment which would include Valley Water Resource's equipment. He said the new storage building will fulfill the equipment needs and will be completed in the next year. He said there is no need for the Board to approve $24,000 for one year of rent when a facility is in the budget.