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Business Assistance and Services
- Alexandria Technical & Community College Customized Training Center
In today's competitive business environment, a highly skilled and productive workforce is a company's great asset. The Customized Training Center at ATCC provides training to organizations seeking to improve profitability, productivity, morale and/or quality of work life.
- Anderson Center for Management and Business Development
The Anderson Center provides management and business development services that facilitate economic progress in Greater Minnesota.
- Business Entrepreneurial Services--Minnesota State Community & Technical College, Detroit Lakes
The Business & Entrepreneurial Services Center currently has professional training opportunities, a resource library and incubator office space available in Detroit Lakes and Frazee.
- Business Services Specialists
Business Services Specialists are trained to provide practical business solutions for finding and hiring new employees, retaining employees, accessing training resources, and general human resource information.
They are often the first point of contact for businesses to get good information about economic development activities and contacts in the region. They also partner with workforce development, economic
development and career development to make sure business has a voice in regional efforts. Business Services Specialists are located throughout
the state in WorkForce Centers in Moorhead, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Wadena and Alexandria. In addition, this region has one Business Services Specialist whose specialty is working with businesses who have workers or potential workers who have a disability. Call toll-free 1.888.438.5627 and type in your zip code to contact the office nearest you.
- Center of Rural Entrepreneurship
While this center specifically serves the southwestern counties of Minnesota, it does include a lot of helpful information free for anyone about starting and running one's own business.
- Enterprise Minnesota
Enterprise Minnesota’s consulting services help Minnesota manufacturers grow via world-class competitive tools such as Lean Enterprise, Lean Office, Supply Chain Improvement and Training Within Industry. We also offer Business Growth services such as Benchmarking, Business Process Reviews and Peer Councils. Contact us today to improve your business results!
- Minnesota Business Finance Corporation
Minnesota Business Finance Corporation (MBFC) is a Certified Development Company authorized by the U.S. Small Business Administration to originate and service SBA 504 loans. The SBA 504 loan program is “the money that makes America work.” As a nonprofit CDC, MBFC, a member of the National Association of Development Companies (NADCO), promotes economic development throughout Minnesota.
- Minnesota Community Capital Fund (MCCF)
The MCCF offers four new loan products to provide creative financing solutions for small businesses and nonprofit organizations that are located in member communities in Minnesota.
- Tri-State Manufacturers' Association
TSMA assists manufacturing related companies by providing networking, education, and programs to enhance the success of members and their communities.
- West Central Small Business Development Center
Want to start or grow a business in western Minnesota? The business experts at the West Central Small Business Development Center (WCSBDC), located at the Offutt School of Business at Concordia College, are here to support you.
The WCSBDC provides free information, confidential counseling and one-on-one support to start, build and grow your business. The WCSBDC has the tools, templates, training and services to make the process as easy as possible.
Community and Economic Development
- Center for Small Towns
The Center for Small Towns is a community outreach program housed at the University of Minnesota, Morris (UMM) and serves as a point-of-entry to the resources of the University of Minnesota. Small towns, local units of government, K-12 schools, non-profit organizations, and other University units are able to utilize the Center's resources as they work on rural issues or make contributions to rural society.
- Economic Development Administration
The EDA leads the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy.
- Job Opportunity Building Zone (JOBZ)
A site selection tool of available commercial buildings and land throughout Minnesota.
- Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Minnesota communities can tap into the Department of Employment and Economic Development’s financial and technical assistance programs to help spur business growth while addressing important revitalization issues. DEED offers grants, loans and technical assistance for redevelopment projects and activities, including housing and commercial rehabilitation, wastewater treatment facilities and drinking water systems, and contaminated site clean-up.
- Minnesota Economic Development Center
The Minnesota Economic Development Center has three main goals:
Data management and dissemination
Economic and demographic information
Interpretation of data trends
- Minnesota Regional Development Organizations (MRDO)
The Minnesota Regional Development Organization (MRDO) is made up of representatives from each Regional Development Commission in the State of Minnesota, in order to combine and coordinate efforts at the State legislature and in other matters affecting Regional Development Commissions state wide.
- National Association of Development Organizations
The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) provides advocacy, education, research and training for the nation's regional development organizations. Building on nearly four decades of experience, the association offers its members exclusive access to a variety of services and benefits -- all of which are designed to enhance the ability of regional development organizations to foster "regional solutions" to local government, business and community needs.
- United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development
Committed to the future of rural communities
- West Central Minnesota Housing Partnership
The West Central MN Housing Partnership (WCMHP) is a private, non-profit housing development corporation. WCMHP's organizational goal is to assist underserved communities to preserve, improve, and increase affordable housing for low-to moderate-income families and individuals.
- Western Area City/County Cooperative (WACCO)
W.A.C.C.O. is a government cooperative consisting of 27 city and 10 county governments in West Central Minnesota. It was formed in 1993 to share equipment, as well as, to cut costs through cooperative purchasing and regional training. The W.A.C.C.O. staff is the coordinators for the project, with requests for training and cooperative purchases coming from city and county staff.
- White Earth Planning Department
This site is designed to provide information on the White Earth Reservation.
Early Childhood
- Douglas County Early Childhood Initiative
Douglas County Building Connections, is a Early Childhood Initiative serving families with children ages birth to 5 years old in Douglas County that supports forming stronger connections between families, communities, businesses, and governing bodies.
- Early Childhood Development: Economic Development with a High Public Return – Art Rolnick
"Early childhood development programs are rarely portrayed as economic development initiatives, and we think that is a mistake. Such programs, if they appear at all, are at the bottom of the economic development lists for state and local governments. They should be at the top."
- Early Childhood Links page
A long list of early childhood care, education and advocacy sites
- Invest in the Very Young – Dr. James Heckman
“Early learning begets later learning and early success breeds later success.”
- Minnesota Child Care Resource and Referral Network of MN
The Minnesota Child Care Resource and Referral Network works to help families find child care and understand their care options, supports child care providers through grants and education and informs the community on the importance of child care.
- Minnesota Parents Know
Trusted parenting information, resources and activities to help your children grow, develop and learn from birth through high school.
- National Association for the Education of Young Children
Promoting excellence in early childhood education.
- Ready 4 K
The most important brain growth takes place before the age of five.
- Stevens County Early Childhood Initiative
We are group of early childhood professionals, parents, community members who want to make Stevens County a great place to raise our children. We are committed to helping families with children from ages birth to 5.
- White Earth Child Care Program
Child Care Licensing - Child Care Assistance/Subsidy Program - Readmobile Outreach Services - Early Childhood Community Initiatives -Early Childhood Education Enhancement - Quality Improvement/Technical Assistance - Child Care Learning Centers
- Zero To Three
National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families
Foundations
- Blandin Foundation
Healthy rural communities grounded in strong economies where the burdens are widely shared.
- Initiative Foundation
Unlock the Power of Central Minnesota Communities
- Northland Foundation
Building a strong foundation for the future of our region.
- Northwest Minnesota Foundation
The Northwest Minnesota Foundation invests resources, creates opportunities, and promotes philanthropy to make the region a better place to live and work.
- Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation invests in the region’s future growth through grants, loans, technical expertise and partnerships that foster workforce readiness and entrepreneurial activity—especially in areas of biomedicine, bioagriculture and alternative energy.
- Southwest Initiative Foundation
The mission of the Southwest Initiative Foundation is to be a catalyst, facilitating opportunities for economic and social growth by developing and challenging leaders to build on the region’s assets.
- The McKnight Foundation
McKnight is a Minnesota-based philanthropic organization that seeks to the quality of life for present and future generations. Through grantmaking, coalition-building and encouragement of strategic policy reform, Mcknight uses its resources to attend, unite and empower those it serves.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- County GIS Contacts
This table provides contact information for most of Minnesota's 87 counties; a starting point to direct questions about geographic data and GIS technology. It was developed through informal surveys conducted by the Land Management Information Center in 2000 and is updated annually.
- Federal Geographic Data Committee
The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) is an interagency committee that promotes the coordinated development, use, sharing, and dissemination of geospatial data on a national basis.
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources GIS Data Deli
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources GIS Data Deli, an internet-based spatial data acquisition site that allows users to download raw computer-readable data for use in their Geographic Information System (GIS), image processing system, or traditional database environment. The site includes links to extensive and summary level data descriptions (metadata) to support our users.
- Minnesota GIS/LIS Consortium
The Minnesota GIS/LIS Consortium is a forum for communicating information to, and improving cooperation among, those interested in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Land Information Systems (LIS) in the State of Minnesota.
- Minnesota Governor's Council on Geographic Information
The Minnesota Governor's Council on Geographic Information coordinates the development of geographic information technologies statewide.
- Mn/DOT Interactive BaseMap
View, save and print statewide maps including all public roads in Minnesota.
- Pine to Prairie User Group
The Pine to Prairie GIS User Group facilitates interaction between GIS users in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Grant Resources
- Internal Revenue Service Exempt Organization Search
IRS.gov's search engine will help you find the information you are looking for, quickly and easily. This online version of Publication 78, Cumulative List of Organizations, will tell you if an organization is exempt from federal taxation and, if so, how much of your contributions to that organization are tax deductible.
- Minnesota Council on Foundations Resources
Web sites that may be of interest to those interested in Minnesota and U.S. grantmaking, philanthropy, foundations and nonprofits
Nonprofit Resources
- Fieldstone Alliance
Fieldstone Alliance develops and distributes user-friendly publications that help nonprofit, community, funders, government, and business leaders improve their communities.
- MAP for Nonprofits
MAP for Nonprofits provides high-value management consulting and services, as well as board recruitment and training, to large, medium and small nonprofit organizations in the Twin Cities and beyond, helping nonprofit clients to more effectively to achieve their missions.
- Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) was founded in 1987 to meet the increasing information needs of nonprofits and to convene nonprofits to address issues facing the sector. MCN is the statewide association of more than 2,000 member nonprofit organizations. Through its Web site, resource publications, workshops and events, cost-saving programs and advocacy, MCN continually works to inform, promote, connect and strengthen individual nonprofits and the nonprofit sector.
- Nonprofits Assistance Fund
Since 1980 The Nonprofits Assistance Fund has been helping nonprofits thrive. The fund provides loans that help nonprofits realize their visions, financial management training and resources that promote healthy financial practices, and guidance to nonprofit staff on strategic financial planning and management.
Renewable Energy Resources/Green Technologies
- Clean Energy Resource Teams Case Studies
Documents providing information on existing renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in Minnesota.
- Greening the Heartland 2010 conference
Download conference session materials here. The 2010 Greening the Heartland conference promoted sustainable design, construction and management strategies and methodologies for the building industry to integrate and implement by encouraging joint leadership by the private and public sectors throughout the Heartland Region.
- Stoel Rivas LLP Attorneys at Law
Stoel Rives enjoys a 100-year tradition of excellence as a leading U.S. law firm. With more than 365 lawyers practicing across the full spectrum of corporate law and business litigation, and offices in seven states, we provide legal services to clients with local, regional, national and international operations.
Trails
Transportation
- Mn/DOT District 4 - Detroit Lakes/Morris
Supporting the transportation network of west central Minnesota
- Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Research and Innovative Technology Administration
- Fargo-Moorhead MetroCOG
The Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments (Metro COG) is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Fargo-Moorhead area. An MPO is a transportation policy-making organization made up of representatives from local government and transportation authorities
- Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is a part of the U.S. Department of Transportation and is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with field offices across the United States.
- Federal Transit Administration
Headed by an Administrator who is appointed by the President of the United States, FTA provides stewardship of combined formula and discretionary programs totaling more than $10B to support a variety of locally planned, constructed, and operated public transportation systems throughout the U.S., including buses, subways, light rail, commuter rail, streetcars, monorail, passenger ferry boats, inclined railways, and people movers.
- Minnesota Department of Transportation
Mn/DOT's most important priority is to operate, maintain and preserve Minnesota's existing transportation systems and infrastructure.
- National Safe Routes to School
Safe Routes to School lays out a 10-step process that brings parents, teachers and principals together with traffic engineers to identify dangerous locations and fix them.
- National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse
Communities across America are using Transportation Enhancements (TE) funds from the federal government to expand travel choice, strengthen the local economy, improve the quality of life, and protect the environment.
At the National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse (NTEC), we can help you learn how to use TE funds to revitalize the transportation experience in your community.
- Rural Transportation Clearinghouse
Ruraltransportation.org offers information and resources for rural transportation policy makers, planners and stakeholders. This site is a product of the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) and the NADO Research Foundation.
- Safe Routes to School - Minnesota
Safe Routes to School is a new program in the federal transportation bill, SAFETEA –LU, designed to improve the conditions and quality of bicycling and walking to school. The goal of the program is to reverse the 30 year decline in the numbers of children walking to school and reintroduce opportunities for regular physical activity.
- United States Department of Transportation
The mission of the Department is to:
Serve the United States by ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into the future.
Workforce
- Dream It! Do It! Campaign
A grassroots national campaign with the goal of introducing young people to exciting manufacturing careers and the education and training needed to claim these careers. There is a growing shortage of skilled employees in today's advanced manufacturing and a lot of young talent out there! Dream It. Do It. is connecting talent to opportunities in this great career field.
- Minnesota Workforce Center
Minnesota WorkForce Centers (WFCs) provide the tools, resources and services needed for job search, career planning and training needs.
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