Froeschl said that efforts to locate the proposed Citroniq Chemicals project south of Falls City are ongoing, noting the project is in the de-risking mode at the current time with work being done on utilities. The proposed Falls City project would be the company's first pilot plant.
Froeschl also discussed the use of a grant, received from the Department of Energy to study what would be the best use of the $15 million grant Falls City received from the state.
The study took a look at what solar or battery investment would look like in Falls City. The report indicated those avenues would not be good investments unless the project was subsidized by other funds.
A secondary electrical transmission line to Falls City to provide more electricity to the City is the path that is being followed.
EDGE is also assisting with a study concerning childcare centers in the southeast corner of Nebraska. The state of Nebraska is attempting to put together a substitute program to help area childcare facilities. In our area, the project would include childcare facilities in Falls City, Auburn, Nebraska City , Humboldt and Pawnee City.
Through the program, if a worker at a childcare center needed to be absent from work, the facility could call on the substitute program to fill in with state approved childcare providers during the absence.
The final part of the report concerned a question concerning the former National Guard Armory that was transitioned to house City Hall and the Police Station in Falls City. The building now houses only the Falls City Volunteer Fire Department.
Froeschl said EDGE has fielded some inquiries about the building. He asked the Council if a conversation should be held on the role EDGE could play in publicly marketing the building if the city desires to sell the building. EDGE currently markets the cities industrial sites and other properties for sale.
