Great River Energy News

The world has changed in so many ways since 2018. In this era of post-pandemic uncertainty, the challenges faced by small businesses and entrepreneurs are well documented in daily headlines, from staffing shortages and supply chain issues, to rising interest rates and increased material costs. Access to capital is...Continue Reading

Great River Energy invited several of its community partners to submit features to its newsletter that highlight the work they do to bolster Minnesota’s economic vitality. This edition’s guest feature comes from USDA Rural Development. At the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, we have been fortunate these...Continue Reading

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a $1.5 million loan to Stearns Electric Association through the Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Program (REDLG) to support the owners of Redhead Creamery in their efforts to establish an innovative on-farm distillery that uses the leftover whey from their cheesemaking...Continue Reading

Entrepreneurs often begin their business endeavors with a great idea to resolve gaps observed in their local economy. Despite their successful efforts, many do not plan — or want — to contemplate how their businesses end, whether to retire or move on to other business ideas. As the baby boom...Continue Reading

Great River Energy’s northern economic development office settled into its new location in downtown Duluth at the beginning of February. The new office, co-located with the Northspan Group on the sixth floor of the Sellwood Building, provides Great River Energy closer proximity to regional economic development organizations. The Northland...Continue Reading

Great River Energy has joined regional economic development nonprofits and government EDAs over the past six years at locations all over northeast Minnesota to discuss the variety of economic development lending programs available to new and expanding businesses.  Often referred to as “gap financing” or “non-traditional financing,” the programs...Continue Reading

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a $1.5 million loan to Stearns Electric Association, one of Great River Energy’s 27 member-owner cooperatives, through the Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Program (REDLG) to support the expansion of the Berkon Outdoors manufacturing facility.  Berkon Industries, LLC was established...Continue Reading

The Energy Efficient Equipment (E3) Loan Program administered by Great River Energy is seeing an uptick in activity as businesses work to overcome challenges related to workforce shortages, inflationary interest rates, and increased shipping and material costs.  One recent example is Midstate Plastics Corporation, a thermoforming and injection molded...Continue Reading