The Koochiching Economic Development Authority is looking for money from the city of International Falls and Koochiching County.
In its request letter to the city, KEDA says it will assist with the day-to-day operations.
The agency received assistance in February for $100,000 as it addressed a budget shortfall.
The latest funding request comes as KEDA looks to update its cold-weather testing facility to expand on the testing of electric vehicles.
Director Paul Nevanen says it meets a changing automotive industry.
“We’ve already hosted some electric vehicle testing. We’ve got four chargers at our facility right now, including the fast charger that JLR (Jaguar-Land Rover) put in. That’s where the industry is going, and that’s where we need to be if we’re going to continue to be competitive,” says Nevanen.
But Nevanan says to accommodate that demand, additional capacity is needed.
He estimates the work to cost about $45,000.
“The good news is that JLR has agreed to donate two additional fast charges. That gets us at least a reason to move forward. But we know these other customers are going to be right behind.”
KEDA is seeking $25,000 each from the city and county.
Nevanan notes the facility is well used, with JLR taking on a bulk of the testing.
“Our schedule is filling up very fast, and we typically try to target budgetary. Twelve weeks of testing and then additional Jaguar Land Rover, and we’re at that right now. We’re actually trying to make additional space available. So the good news is, we’re doing the right thing out there, and we get return customers. We don’t have to market the facility at all.”
