Staff photo by Clay Schuldt New Ulm Mayor Kathleen Backer gets some assistance as she snips the ribbon to officially open Inspire Wedding and Event Center on Thursday.

NEW ULM — The Willkommen Committee of the New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed Inspire Wedding and Event Center into the business community with a special ribbon cutting Thursday.

The business is located at 126 N. Minnesota in the former Ben Franklin building. The building has been fully renovated with the events venue space on the main floor. The business was started by Brittany Jones and Melissa Ostrom. The two had previously worked together and a wedding boutique in St. Peter and found there was a need for wedding venues in the area.

Ostrom is originally from New Ulm and said the town was a popular location for weddings. This business was seen as a need.

Mayor Kathleen Backer said she was excited to have a new venue for weddings. She had heard of many weddings delayed for years due to a lack of available locations.

Inspire officially opened October 2021 with a wedding. Since then, Inspire has hosted events from birthday parties and retirement parties to corporate events and even a murder mystery party.

Construction is ongoing at the building. A separate restaurant is a scheduled to open on the second floor of the building. Condominiums are also under construction. One of the condos is planned to be rented as a wedding suite.