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Rural communities often depend on strategic investments from innovative economic development programs to support local businesses, infrastructure and community development projects. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant (REDLG) Program has played an instrumental role in many such initiatives, providing low- or zero-interest loans in...Continue Reading

The board of directors for Great River Energy member-owner cooperative East Central Energy (ECE) approved four new Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) loans in 2024, providing $730,000 in financing to support a variety of economic development and business expansion projects in east central Minnesota. From food processing to fire trucks, this RLF...Continue Reading

Minnesota’s ethanol industry contributed $2.1 billion to the state’s gross domestic product in 2024, according to a new study by the University of Minnesota Extension.The study said 1.4 billion gallons of ethanol was produced in Minnesota last year, which in turn, generated $5.2 billion in economic activity and supported 18,434...Continue Reading

Minnesota may be losing residents to nearby states, but communities outside the metro area are gaining people from migration. Researchers are urging those cities and towns to work together to keep people migrating in.A new report from the St. Peter-based Center for Rural Policy and Development highlights how migration has...Continue Reading

Surging demand from organizations’ use of AI is driving the record data center development, CBRE says.The demand is giving AI-related occupiers increasing influence over data center development decisions like site selection, design and operational requirements. These occupiers are “prioritizing markets with scalable power capacity and advanced connectivity solutions,” the report...Continue Reading

The race for power is reshaping the data-center landscape.Groups building power intensive data facilities are having to look farther afield for opportunities. A recent report by Cushman and Wakefield Inc. found that among 569 data-center facilities in markets across the Americas, the vacancy rate stood at 4.9% at the end...Continue Reading

A growing number of businesses are struggling to find smaller warehouse spaces, even though the pandemic-era uptick in warehouse demand has cooled. According to real-estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield, the vacancy rate for U.S. warehouses under 100,000 square feet was 3.9% in the fourth quarter, much lower than the...Continue Reading

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today announced nearly $6.2 million in grants to support local community and economic development on Minnesota's main streets.Nine partner organizations will use their Main Street Economic Revitalization grants from DEED to offer assistance – 30% matching grants up to $750,000 –...Continue Reading

The city of Hibbing and Tourist Center Senior Citizens were honored earlier this month for their contributions to educating folks about mining.The Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration presented the entities with the Minerals Education Coalition (MEC) Partnership Appreciation Award at the MINEXCHANGE 2025 SME Annual Conference and Expo in...Continue Reading

A south metro not-for-profit power cooperative is looking to relocate to Lakeville with expanded headquarters, according to planning documents.The Dakota Electric Association, or DEA, has submitted a preliminary plat to the city of Lakeville for a project that, if built, would develop a building that’s about 176,700 square feet with...Continue Reading

Formulating an effective economic development strategy requires asking a full range of questions to identify community needs and priorities. Comprehensive economic development plans should address pressing and long-term needs in a community. Collaborating with key stakeholders ensures challenges and opportunities across all community sectors are acknowledged and considered as strategies...Continue Reading

Napoleon Hill’s iconic quote, “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve,” embodies the spirit of possibility and ambition that fuels innovation. This mindset is essential for driving not only individual success but also the evolution of entire industries. Innovation thrives on the belief that challenges can be...Continue Reading

The Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (MPFA) today announced over $60.3 million in loans and grants awarded to 17 wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects throughout the state.MPFA awards funds to help cities build public infrastructure that protects the environment and public health, promoting economic growth. Since its inception in 1987,...Continue Reading

Helium is best known as the ultralight element used to lift party balloons and the Goodyear Blimp effortlessly into the sky.But it’s also a valuable commodity increasingly in demand for applications ranging from aerospace to the manufacturing of semiconductor chips.And that’s led many people to cheer the ongoing exploration for...Continue Reading

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced today that nearly 89,000 Minnesota homes and businesses could receive new high-speed broadband service through the state's $652 million federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) allocation.The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has formally accepted DEED's proposed map of final...Continue Reading

The industrial sector has undergone a seismic shift over the past five years, transforming from a stable yet unremarkable sector into a high-growth, frenetic superstar sector. Nonetheless, exponential growth is not forever, nor should it be, and as the industrial sector stabilizes, new opportunities and challenges emerge for the property...Continue Reading

Amazon has purchased a piece of land on what was formerly the Thomson Reuters campus in Eagan for $52.5 million in cash, according to a certificate of real estate value released Thursday.The CRV says the property will be used for a distribution warehouse, which aligns with the master plan for...Continue Reading

The following article explores site selection strategy in the United States, examining the implications of rail service as a top consideration for companies seeking to invest in the U.S. Site Selection Group (SSG), a full-service location advisory, economic incentives, and real estate services firm, regularly facilitates site selection projects for...Continue Reading

The Initiative Foundation and its Partner Funds delivered 125 grants during the fourth quarter of 2024 totaling $397,000.Initiative Foundation Partner Funds during the fourth quarter awarded 96 grants totaling more than $225,000. These grants supported a robotics team in Delano, the Sauk Centre archery program, musical instruments for students in...Continue Reading

Great River Energy is part of a nationwide alliance of energy cooperatives. As a member of Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, the organization has access to research, communications resources, and employee training programs to better engage and serve members. This positions the cooperative to stand out as a trusted source of power...Continue Reading

St. Cloud manufacturer Premier Stone Design will be more than doubling in size with a move next fall to St. Joseph. The $4.2 million expansion is expected to create new jobs.The company, currently located in a 9,000-square-foot space at 3423 County Road 74, will be moving to a new 19,000-square-foot...Continue Reading

Great River Energy’s foundation of cooperative principles and organizational strategy emphasizes the importance of providing affordable, reliable and cleaner power. Environmental stewardship and sustainability initiatives are chosen and supported by members based on the topics they value most.Safely delivering affordable, reliable and cleaner powerAt Great River Energy, we’re focused on...Continue Reading

The U.S. Department of Energy (US DOE) announced last week the awarding of four grants totaling over $8 million to the University of Minnesota’s Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) to support the research and development of transformational technologies essential for reducing energy demand and improving American industrial competitiveness, beginning on...Continue Reading

As the world shifts to new energy sources, companies have a responsibility to innovate and continue to provide reliable, affordable energy. Because of this, it’s clear that the future of power is electric cooperatives. The co-op model gives members a say in how their energy is sourced, distributed and priced.Great...Continue Reading