Mayor Shelly Carlson thanks Visit Fargo-Moorhead executive director Charley Johnson.

The Moorhead City Council honored Charley Johnson, soon-to-retire executive director of the Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau, for the organization’s recent contribution of $150,000 to downtown Moorhead redevelopment.

The funds help support construction of The Loop – the new library and community center being built on the corner of Center Avenue and Fourth Street North. The Loop is a 48,000-square-foot multi-use public space designed to serve as a central community hub for people of all ages and abilities. Completion is expected next spring.

Governmental affairs director Lisa Bode applauded FMCVB’s gift as she announced it to the council Monday.

Johnson – a Moorhead resident who’s headed Visit Fargo-Moorhead for 13 years, said, “I love to be able to give money away to a lovely project like this that will bring visitors and residents alike to our community.” He added, “The reasons people come to visit are the same as the reasons they come to live here.”