News + Announcements

CEDA representative, Mary Kennedy led efforts to organize a Business Tour Day for all 9th and 10th grade students at Blue Earth Area High School on February 4th. The event, which was the second of three scheduled events for the school year aimed to connect students with local professionals to showcase the job and career opportunities available in the Blue Earth area. 30 businesses from around the school district participated, offering 30-minute tours. The students, who were organized into 14 different groups each toured seven businesses and had lunch catered. “My favorite part of the day was talking to several students who had asked for job applications at tour stops,” Kennedy said. The events are being planned and organized by the Rural Entrepreneurial Venture (REV) group. The goal of the program, which includes one more career event this school year, more than 40 businesses, and all students in grades 9 and 10 is to show students that there are job opportunities in a variety of industries and that the community supports whatever path students choose after high school; whether that be entering the workforce, taking classes at a technical school, or pursuing a 4-year college degree. Whatever path they choose, REV hopes that the program this program provides a platform for relationship building, and offers information for the students to make educated decisions about their futures, and hopefully brings them back to work or open businesses someday. “I can’t say enough about the support the business community offered through this event. Operations were stopped for hours to provide students an inside glimpse at the behind the scenes work of career areas they have expressed interest in. When so many people come together to share the passion they have for their jobs and the community they work in, amazing things happen.” Kennedy shared.

Article by: Chris Hahn

The Fillmore County Economic Development Authority (EDA) will host an Agriculture Summit at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center on March 26th.  This year’s schedule includes presentations on Agricultural Entrepreneurship, Emotional Wellness for Agriculture Families, Succession Planning for Agriculture Business, Investment in Specialty Crops, and Value-Added Agriculture Processes, among others.

“We believe it is important to offer an event that engages ag-based businesses and families in Fillmore County and the neighboring communities, offers resources, and provides real-world examples of success in new and evolving business practices,” said Chris Hahn,CEDA representative and EDA Director for Fillmore County.

Agriculture remains the primary economic driver in Fillmore County. The 2017 Census of Agriculture counted over 1400 farms in the Fillmore County, contributing around $291 million in agricultural products sold. Approximately 32% of all farms represent operations less than 50 acres in size.  With more than 375,500 acres dedicated to agriculture in Fillmore County, innovation and process improvements remain a critical piece to the continued success of the agriculture industry, and offer new opportunities and challenges for agriculture-based businesses.

Karen Reisner, President of the Fillmore County EDA, states that “agriculture is one of the two greatest economic drivers in Fillmore County, and it influences almost every aspect of our daily lives. Farmers support many businesses in the county, state, and country. Today’s farming umbrella covers a diverse group of small and large farming operations.”

The Fillmore County Economic Development Authority is inviting agriculture families, businesses, and the general public to attend the Fillmore County Agriculture Summit at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center located at 28097 Goodview Dr., Lanesboro, MN 55949 on March 26th at 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM.  A continental breakfast and snacks will be provided.  Sessions will run approximately 25 minutes, with additional contacts, information, and resources on topics to be provided by presenters to take home.

This is a free event; however, pre-registration is requested to estimate the number of attendees. To pre-register, please go to https://fillmorecountyagsummit2020.eventbrite.com.

For more information about the Fillmore County Agriculture Summit, please contact Chris Hahn, Fillmore County EDA Director at 612-327-9729, or via email at chris.hahn@cedausa.com.

Article by: Abby Wright

On Tuesday, January 21, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced that the MN Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), in its fifth year of the Border-to-Border Broadband Grant Program, shall award 30 of 80 broadband project requests submitted last September from around the State, totaling $23,270,933 in funded projects. The largest awarded request at $2,895,318—with a total project cost of $9,651,059—was authored by CEDA Community Grant Specialist, Abby Wright, on behalf of one of CEDA’s longstanding partners, AcenTek, a communications company that provides internet, voice, and video services to 33 communities throughout MN, IA, and MI. Located in the City of Houston, MN, AcenTek sought to expand its fiber-to-the-home infrastructure to make high-speed broadband accessible beyond the City limits, where, for the people who live and work there, lack of dependable, affordable, remote communications often necessitates long commutes in addition to other major inconveniences.

“The project clearly aligns with the ‘B2B’ program,” Wright says, “It’s going to make so many people’s lives better.” Over 200 residents, farmers, and business owners in the project area expressed in letters of support that high-speed internet will allow them and their family members to bank and manage their healthcare online, telework, stream videos, and conduct faster research for homework, jobs, or to self-educate. As a result of AcenTek’s construction of infrastructure for fiber optic internet in the project area, about 485 unserved and 424 underserved locations in Houston and Winona Counties will see improved broadband service levels that exceed the 2022 and 2026 State speed goals. 

Chief Financial Officer of AcenTek, Darren Moser, who led the project, says, “These residences, businesses, and farms will get state-of-the-art facilities and services for years to come.” 

Cris Gastner, CEDA’s Senior Vice President, oversaw the project on CEDA’s end. The photo below depicts Gastner representing CEDA and introducing AcenTek at a public hearing, which over 35 people attended, including Wright and Allison Wagner, EDA Director of Houston County and the Small Cities Development Program Specialist at CEDA. The Houston County EDA Board had just voted to support the project with a three-year, interest-free loan to AcenTek. The loan combined with AcenTek’s own investment equated to a 70% match of the total eligible project cost, though AcenTek will not see a financial return on investment for at least 13-15 years.

Moser says, “Without the public-private partnership with the State of MN and the Office of Broadband Development, this project could not happen, and we could not have been successful without CEDA and our other partners in the application, Houston County and the engineering firm, Cooperative Network Services. We are grateful for CEDA’s professionalism and attention to detail in putting this application together.”

Article by: Emily Legel

NW Illinois Economic Development (NWILED) launched its largest-ever Build It Grow It class in January.  The CEDA team member serving the NWILED contract, Emily Legel, organized the event from finding locations, registering attendees, doing publicity, speaking about the event at area business meetings and door to door discussions.  Over thirty-two individuals from twenty-five businesses attended sessions in Galena and Fulton, Illinois, learning about the Growth Wheel and different types of financing for their business. With participating industries ranging from retail and hospitality to fitness and non-profit, attendees range from a newly created start-up to more established companies from Galena and every life cycle stage in between.  

Thanks to generous donations from NW Illinois businesses and communities, area businesses are able to learn about topics from organization and employee issues to networking and sales to differentiating themselves in their market. A weekly marketing email and private Facebook community are also included with the course. Attendees also get the option of free one-on-one counseling sessions with Brian McIntyre, a certified business appraiser and licensed business counselor, a value of over $900 per session, and the course will end with a pitch competition where participants can win $1000 for an expansion effort.

“NWILED exists to help businesses in NW Illinois grow. When we had to move the Galena location due to an outpouring of interest, I knew we were getting somewhere. In the past 6 months alone, I’ve seen the program grow and develop, and based on the turnout we saw in January, I have no doubt we’re on the right track,” stated Legel.

This is the sixth time this program has been offered, with several alumni crediting the course with their success. One returning business owner mentioned a dramatic increase in sales in the year following the program, with another returning business owner mentioning how the private counseling sessions pushed her to expand from a home-based business to a storefront. For more information on the course or to sign up for future sessions, please visit www.nwiled.org/build-it-grow-it.php or contact the office at info@nwiled.org.