Making Ada a Place for Business and Play

Big changes in the little town of Ada, Minnesota.

The city is pushing hard to improve business and recreation opportunities all as an incentive to bring people to town.

City leaders are saying they do everything they can to recruit businesses to town and fill existing jobs, but it’s just as important for them to make Ada a city people want to live in.
 
Downtown Ada is a little more crowded than it used to be, says City Administrator James Leiman.
 
“When I arrived, there were 13 vacant buildings. We’re now down to six because we’ve had such an influx of business,” Leiman adds.
 
The Ada Area Promotions Committee is even building this new spec building without a business lined up yet.
 
“Anticipating filling it with a tenant, and we’re excited about that,” says Mark Potucek, President of the Ada Area Promotions Committee.
 
Officials say there are already more jobs than people in Ada.

But dozens of people have made the move to town this year and housing is going up to accommodate them.
 
Leiman adds, “Not only did we close one phase of a development, but we’re working on another phase in another part of town.”
 
That’s why the city is investing $400,000 in renovating the Dekko Community Center.
 
Leiman says, “My family and I probably would not have come here had we not had that. I’ve heard that from a lot of other folks, and frankly it’s a pillar to our community.”
 
Local leaders say having a place where kids can come and play, especially during the winter, is just as vital to the growth of the community as any new business or building.
 
“My kids love the pool. They love the additions to the pool and the racquetball courts,” says local tax accountant Doug Marcussen.
 
Community support for the center is strong. Hundreds came out to raise eight thousand dollars last week.
 
“When it initially got started, there was a lot of excitement to it,” Marcussen says, “and I think that same excitement’s coming back.”
 
New exercise equipment, infrastructure control, and activities spaces are a big part of the equation to help Ada thrive now, and for the future.
 
Leiman says, “It’s critical. If you were to look at it like a bike lock, you have four wheels. You have to synchronize the code precisely to unlock the full potential of a small community.”

The upgrades to the Dekko Community Center should be done in the spring.

That’s when the new spec building should also be ready for a new business to move in.