UMC EDA Center | Publications | Completed Technical Assistance Projects

Each year the EDA disseminates a "Request for Technical Assistance" to economic development agencies across rural Minnesota.

Technical assistance requests are typically planning, research or technical projects that have a direct or indirect impact on job creation, business development or capital investment. All requests are reviewed by EDA Center staff, as well as the EDA Center Advisory Board; and those requests selected comprise our annual work plan. For more information regarding the EDA Center's RFA process click here.

Projects

Long Prairie Business Incubator Project
Completed July 2009
Todd County EDA Evaluation
Completed July 2009
Tower Business Park Marketing Plan
Completed July 2009
Region One Industry Impact Analysis
Completed July 2009

Region One Industry Impact Analysis

Completed July 2009

Local EDA/Organization:	Northwest Regional Development Commission
EDA Center Faculty/Staff:	Arthur Nash, University of Minnesota Extension Educator in Community Economics artlnash@umn.edu
Project Description:	The Northwest region of Minnesota is comprised of 7 sparsely populated agriculturally-based counties. However, in addition to the region's rich agricultural production, it is also anchored by at least 5 large manufacturers that each has at least 1,500 employees. These are national/global manufacturers with brands such as Marvin Windows and Doors; Polaris; Arctic Cat; etc... Further, due to the entrepreneurial nature of the region, there are other key mid-size manufacturing and distribution firms that are poised for growth as well. Focused action in the region to date has been in workforce recruitment and development, as several recent key business decisions have led to the some of these firms to site new plants outside the Northwest Minnesota region.
EDA Center Involvement:	The EDA Center is working with the Northwest Regional Development Commission to conduct: An industry sector analysis examining employment and sales by industry sector. Estimates of economic impact of the manufacturing firms in the region. An examination of economic opportunities and barriers in the region for future job growth and development as it relates to workforce development activities.
	Download Report (1801KB PDF)

This document was prepared by the University of Minnesota, Crookston under award number 06-66-05304 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

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