Co-op hosts weeklong economic development course

A five-day course designed for those new to economic development as well as seasoned professionals seeking to deepen their knowledge and skills in the field was hosted at Great River Energy’s Maple Grove office in late July.

The Upper Midwest Basic Economic Development Course provided intensive training in the basic concepts, methods and strategies of local economic development.

Attendees learned from a diverse and experienced faculty who provided a blend of theory and practice during the course. They studied the core building blocks of the industry, including: business retention and expansion, financing, marketing and business attraction, strategic planning and workforce development.

The course was sponsored by the Minnesota Economic Development Foundation – of which Tom Lambrecht, economic development manager at Great River Energy, is a director – and is accredited by the International Economic Development Council.