Warroad River Place is inviting families to add some Halloween fun to their trick-or-treat route this Saturday, October 31st.
The Trick-or-Treat and Photo Station event runs from 3:30 to 7 p.m. at Warroad RiverPlace. Families can pick up treats, crayons and coloring books, and capture Halloween memories together at a special photo station.
For more information, visit warroadriverplace.org, email arts@warroadriverplace.org, or call 218-986-0001.
By Mani Souphom – R & J Broadcasting, Inc. | Thursday, October 29, 2026
WARROAD, Minn. — The Warroad City Council unanimously approved two resolutions needed for the city to pursue a Small Cities Development Program grant through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), with funding aimed at improving housing and commercial properties.
At the council’s latest meeting, Mayor Tom Goldsmith outlined the proposed application, which would focus on rehabilitation of rental housing, improvements to commercial properties and potential streetscape enhancements.
Goldsmith also discussed what he hopes the community could gain if the application is successful.
John Wynne, who discussed the program with the council, said the proposed application would target 27 freestanding rental apartments, 14 mixed-use properties with rental units and 13 commercial properties.
The application initially included approximately $1.4 million in streetscape improvements. However, the city would need to request less funding from DEED for that work to accommodate the program’s limits on housing and commercial rehabilitation.
Wynne said the maximum request for housing activities is $600,000, with another $600,000 available for commercial activities. The combined request would total approximately $1.2 million.
Applications are due Nov. 25, 2026.
Before proceeding, the city needed to designate a slum and blight area for the commercial portion of the program and authorize city officials to complete and submit the application. Council members unanimously approved both resolutions.
The proposed commercial target area would include properties along Lake Street, extending from Warroad Motors toward Dairy Queen and the Phoenix area on the west side of Highway 11. Housing rehabilitation would not be restricted to that target area.
Sarah Carling of Warroad Community Development has been contacting commercial property owners to gauge interest in the program and gather letters of intent. City officials said demonstrating sufficient interest will be important to the application.
Under the proposed commercial program, eligible businesses could receive grants covering 80% of a project’s cost, up to $40,000. For example, on a $50,000 project, the grant could cover $40,000, with the remaining $10,000 coming from the property owner or other sources.
Eligible work would primarily focus on the exterior of buildings, although accessibility improvements could be considered when needed.
The assistance would be structured as a deferred loan. If the business continues operating and the property owner meets the program’s requirements for five years, the loan would be forgiven.
The Multi-County Housing and Redevelopment Authority has also indicated it could provide additional financing through a zero-interest loan program, with eligible projects able to draw from a pool offering loans of up to $75,000.
For rental housing rehabilitation, the proposed funding structure would cover 70% of eligible project costs, with property owners responsible for the remaining 30%. Assistance would be capped at $12,500 per unit. Improvements could include kitchens, bathrooms and other rehabilitation work.
Wynne said property owners had already expressed interest in the housing portion, including Adam Erdman of Northgate Apartments, Scott Johnson and owners associated with the historic Wings apartments above MLT. Housing projects would not have to be located within the commercial target area.
The council also discussed whether to retain the streetscape portion of the application.
Wynne said the city had considered improvements along Lake Street but determined it would make more sense to coordinate that work with a future county reconstruction project expected in about seven years.
Attention then shifted to Wabasha Street, where a one-block beautification project between Lake Street and MacKenzie Street was considered.
Wynne estimated improvements on both sides of the block could cost about $560,000. A smaller project focused on the Daisy Garden side of Wabasha Street would cost approximately $283,000.
With less than $200,000 remaining in the proposed grant budget for streetscape work, the city would have to cover roughly $90,000 to $100,000 of the smaller project’s cost.
Council members raised concerns about whether the city could afford that additional expense while managing other infrastructure and housing priorities.
Council members also discussed the timing of future water and sewer work on the block. City Superintendent Dan Trosen indicated that those improvements could provide an opportunity to address sidewalks and other streetscape features as part of a larger project.
Some council members favored removing streetscape improvements from the application altogether rather than committing city funds to the project.
The discussion highlighted the challenge of balancing downtown beautification with the city’s immediate housing and infrastructure needs. Officials also noted that streetscape improvements could be reconsidered in the future or incorporated into a later funding application.
Carling told the council that Warroad Community Development has been working to explain the commercial rehabilitation program to property owners and obtain signed letters of intent.
City staff are also preparing for additional grant opportunities expected early next year, including a larger workforce housing grant. Carling and city staff plan to review the requirements and coordinate with regional partners on potential housing projects.
Officials said the additional programs could help address Warroad’s housing needs and potentially offset some infrastructure costs associated with developing apartment complexes or other housing.
The council also reviewed revisions to a commercial incentive program intended to complement the rehabilitation effort. Staff are working toward finalizing the program before the end of the year so it can be made available on the city’s website.
City officials said the proposed incentives and upcoming grant opportunities could provide additional tools for improving existing properties, supporting businesses and expanding housing options in Warroad.