News & Events

Monday, July 06, 2020

Creating a business plan is one of the most important steps you will take because the plan serves as your road map for the early years of your business. The business plan generally projects 3-5 years ahead and outlines the route a company intends to take to reach its yearly milestones, including revenue projections. A well thought out plan also helps you to step back and think objectively about the key elements of your business venture and informs your decision-making on a regular basis. Though a business plan is important, it can be difficult to know where to start, how t...

Pillars of the West Central Economic Development Alliance

Monday, June 29, 2020

The pillars of the West Central Economic Development Alliance derive from our mission, which is "To give a voice to the economic and business interests of Wadena County and surrounding communities by providing educational, networking, and advocacy resources and opportunities." The purpose of these pillars is to provide a foundation for all of the activities of the Economic Alliance. They are designed to be adaptable to different projects and objectives as community needs and trends change. The pillars are: Education: The purpose of this pillar is for the Economic Alliance to provide training and resources on topics that are crucial for busines...

Strategies of the West Central Economic Development Alliance

Monday, June 22, 2020

The West Central Economic Development Alliance is committed to making Wadena County the best place to do business. In June of 2018, the Economic Alliance Executive Board approved their strategic plan. The plan is designed to provide a roadmap for the activities of the Economic Alliance. It contains a description of the three pillars of the Economic Alliance--education, networking, and advocacy. It also includes priorities and strategies for implementation including attracting the retaining businesses, infrastructure improvement, and workforce development. The foundation of this strategic plan was input from community and business leaders. It was their dreams and concerns for the regio...

The History of the West Central Economic Development Alliance

Monday, June 15, 2020

The West Central Economic Development Alliance (the Economic Alliance) was formed as a private, not-for-profit in 2011 from the need for a voice for economic development in our area of West Central Minnesota. With the goal of collaboration and flexibility in mind, the Economic Alliance was organized to represent both public and private interests, and not to be confined to a defined governmental boundary. Today, the Economic Alliance consists of an Executive Board of volunteers representing banking, government, non-profit, and private industry interests and a full-time Executive Director who carries out the day-to-day operations and strategic mission of the Alliance. The Economi...

Making Our Communities the Best Place to do Business

Monday, June 08, 2020

The West Central Economic Development Alliance is committed to making our communities the best place to do business. The Economic Alliance is a non-profit that focuses on economic development in Wadena County and the surrounding communities. Our mission is to give a voice to the economic and business interests of Wadena County by providing educational, networking, and advocacy resources and opportunities. One way we do this is through our website which is designed to be a tool for aspiring entrepreneurs, business owners, and community members. We also work to bring awareness to the community by promoting it as an excellent place t...

Follow Our Social Media for Local News & Updates

Monday, June 01, 2020

Follow us on social media and stay up to date on news from Wadena County and our surrounding communities. Here at the Economic Alliance, we like to keep people informed about what is going on in our community. We will feature information about local programs, events, businesses and community initiatives, in addition to news that may be of interest to community members and site selectors. These social media platforms are also a great way to stay connected and connect with other community members. Click here to go to the Economic Alliance website and follow us on social media today!

A “Now, Next, Later” Approach for Dealing with Pandemic Challenges

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the U.S. spread in March, leading to shelter-in-place orders in most states and a rapid slowdown of the national economy, businesses have started adopting Baker Tilly’s “now, next, later” framework in dealing with the pandemic challenges: “Now” is focused on the first 30 days; “next” is focused on the following 60 days; and “later” focusing on 90 days and beyond. The “now” response reflects the immediate reality for businesses – survival. An early March 2020 poll by the National Association of Manufacturers showed 35 percent of manufacturers are facing significant interruptions in supply chain operations, though onl...

Business Stories

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

If you have a good story to tell about your Minnesota business or labor organization helping during this time, or have photos or stories showing creative solutions to social distancing and keeping workers safe, please submit these stories to GoodBusiness@state.mn.us. Read about businesses doing good and workplace social distancing and safety ideas here.

2020 MN Broadband County Gig ranking. From 99 to 0 percent coverage. How do you rank?

Friday, May 22, 2020

The new MN County broadband maps are now up on the Office of Broadband Development websites- showing percentage of each county with (and without) broadband access. Earlier I looked at how counties ranked for access to 25/3 (the 2022 MN State speed goal), to 100/20 (the 2026 speed goal) and now Gig access! (You can download the full spreadsheet of MN county details for speeds or 100/20 and Gig.) We haven’t looked at Gig access in the past so I’m just going to put it out there and say congrats to the top of the list and good luck to the folks are the bottom. (You can also download thi...

Minnesota nonprofits, schools participate in first-ever Give At Home MN campaign

Thursday, April 30, 2020

The first week of May will feel a lot like November as Minnesota nonprofits make a flurry of pitches for donations in a first-ever virtual fundraising campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting Friday, GiveMN — the nonprofit that in November puts on the largest annual giving day in the state, Give to the Max — is hosting a new eight-day campaign called Give At Home MN. Thousands of nonprofits and schools across the state will participate May 1-8, appealing to donors for extra help during the outbreak. COVID-19 has boosted demand for nonprofit services, especially at food shelves, homeless shelters and others dealing with it...

The Secret To Retail Success Post Coronavirus? Adopting A Consumer-Centric Approach

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Fashion retail was facing unprecedented upheaval long before any of us had even heard of coronavirus or could imagine a situation where all stores would be forced to close and the world would be in global lockdown. This pre-coronavirus need for change was being driven by shrinking margins and an increase in nimble new entrants to the market who were growing their market share at a rapid pace, striping away sales from large incumbent brands and retailers. For the majority of retail businesses, trying to evolve and keep pace in recent years has been a painful experience as it’s meant questionin...

Announcing new tools to help businesses promote safe work environments

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Health experts around the world will tell you that one of the most important aspects of workplace safety during a pandemic is careful and effective health screening of employees. That's why in Executive Order 20-40, the Governor requires all non-critical businesses coming back into workplace environments to engage in proper health screenings each day. Now, thanks to a unique collaboration between Target Corp, Minnesota IT Services, and the Minnesota Safety Council – Minnesota businesses have a digital tool that can make those screenings even more effective. Read full article.

DEED Awards more the $1.3 Million in MJSP Grants

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

St. Paul – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) awarded nine workforce development grants totaling nearly $1.3 million under the Minnesota Jobs Skills Partnership (MJSP) to assist businesses and educational institutions in training workers to keep high-quality jobs in the state. These grants were awarded in early March 2020, prior to impact from the COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota. “The MJSP is a vital tool in helping Minnesotans train for high-skill, high-paying jobs, particularly as Minnesota’s economy will begin to recover from the impacts of COVID-19 over the coming months,” said Commissioner of DEED, Steve Grove. “Training workers to mee...

Milestones and Incentives in the Site Selection Process

Monday, April 13, 2020

The Biggest Misperception About the Incentive Process I think a lot of companies that aren't familiar with the incentive process come to us and have the misconception that they simply make some commitments, they sign a lease, shake the hand of the mayor, and receive a check. It's actually a much more complex process than that. It requires working with the municipalities for multiple years in order to show that you've met the commitments to receive the incentives that have been awarded based on the company's performance. Read full article.

Sourcewell Using 3D Printers to Help Healthcare Workers

Thursday, April 09, 2020

Sourcewell’s Tech Mobile Program is using its 3D printers to create masks and face shields for Tri-County Health Care’s Wadena facility. Once the masks are tested and approved, they will be sent to healthcare workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis. Read full article.

Task Force Announced to Protect Minnesotans From Scams, Crimes Related to COVID-19

Monday, April 06, 2020

On Monday, federal and state authorities announced a task force to protect Minnesotans from scams and other crimes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minnesota COVID-19 Action Team will be led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Minnesota, the state Attorney General’s Office, and the Minnesota County Attorneys Association. The team urges people to report hate crimes, scams, or price gouging related to the virus. Read full article.

Getting by: How businesses in one Greater Minnesota town are dealing with ‘social distancing’ disruptions

Thursday, April 02, 2020

At The Tavern on Main, a downtown café and bar in Litchfield, Minnesota, Bethany and Michael Lee had to lay off 13 workers as they try to salvage their business during the disruptive “social distancing” brought on by the COVID-19 crisis. The Lees had to shutter their dining area, which doubles as a popular bar in the evening. But they have been selling enough takeout orders to generate about a quarter of their usual business – enough, they hope, to get them by until things return to normal. Read full article.

Shifting business to battle the coronavirus

Monday, March 30, 2020

Ben VandenWymelenberg graduated in 2012 with a bachelor of science in architecture—but not before hitting on something big. While procrastinating on his senior year project, VandenWymelenberg struck gold with an idea and rushed to the workshop to produce his first wooden phone case. A few months later he launched WOODCHUCK USA, producing sustainably sourced, handcrafted wood products. Read full article.

What workers need to know about unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 emergency

Monday, March 30, 2020

Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order March 16 to tweak Minnesota’s unemployment insurance program in an effort to help people struggling with the closure of schools and businesses because of the novel coronavirus. The order was the latest in a string of measures taken by the governor to ramp up the state’s response to COVID-19 and push people to avoid crowds and take other health precautions. On March 13, Walz declared a peacetime emergency and warned against large gatherings. By March 16 he had closed schools and ordered closures of restaurants, gyms, theaters, museums and more. Read full article.

How A Navy Officer Turned A Big Idea Into A $118M Business

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Page, a senior and midshipman first class, was developing a thesis project that was helping him graduate from the academy so he could fulfill his dream of becoming a SEAL or naval aviator. But then a senior professor walked into the lab. He wanted to hear about Page’s project. Over the next few hours, Page explained a new kind of water treatment technology, an idea he had since high school. When the student finished his presentation, the teacher flipped his notebook over and looked at him. Read full article.

News & Events

2nd Best State Overall (U.S. News & World Report, 2018)

Happiest State in the U.S. (MagnifyMoney, 2018)

1st in Quality of Life (Forbes, 2017)

Best-Run State in America (24/7 Wall Street/USA Today, 2017)

1st in 5-Year Business Survival Rate (Bureau of Labor Analysis, 2012-2017)

1st Best State for Women (WalletHub, 2017; Institute for Women’s Policy Research, 2015)

Happiest – and Least Stressed – State in the Country (WalletHub, 2017)