News & Events

Monday, September 21, 2020

Menahga is a waterfront community in Wadena County, accessed by U.S. Route 71 and Minnesota State Highway 87. In the heart of Menahga sits the beautiful Spirit Lake, complete with a fishing pier and sugar sand beach. During the summer months free concerts are held by the lake. There is also a campground, complete with bathrooms, showers, electric and water campsites, horseshoe pit, playground, volleyball court, and pavilions. Click here for more information. The Blueberry River flows just north of the city and provides additional recreational opportunities. The statue of St. Urho, the legendary patron saint of Finland, is located alon...

Verndale is a Great Place to Grow in Wadena County

Monday, September 14, 2020

Verndale is a great place to grow! Historically, the Verndale was called "the most beautiful town site along the Northern Pacific Railroad between Brainerd and Fargo," the townsite of Verndale was situated one mile east of the Wing River, on the edge of a beautiful prairie.The city is still known for its location in beautiful West Central Minnesota. It is located in Wadena County, and U.S. Route 10 serves as a main route in the community. Verndale’s business community is primarily comprised of locally owned small businesses such as Aldrich Tractor, Bullseye Bar & Grill, C & M Contractors, Forcier Constructio...

Sebeka: Small enough to know you… Large enough to serve you

Monday, September 07, 2020

The city of Sebeka is located in Wadena County Minnesota along US Hwy 71, C.S.A.H 12, and the Red Eye River. With a slogan of “Small enough to know you… Large enough to serve you!” Sebeka is proud of the past and looking forward to the future. The Sebeka Economic Development Authority (SEDA) helps to achieve the forward-looking goals of the community. SEDA was established in August of 1996 to coordinate and administer the economic development and redevelopment plans and programs for the City of Sebeka and is available to provide support for businesses interested in growing in the area...

Staples is Home to Growing Businesses & Family-friendly Recreation

Monday, August 31, 2020

Conveniently located off Highway 10, between Little Falls and Wadena, Staples is about 150 miles northwest of Minneapolis-St. Paul, about 150 miles southwest of Duluth-Superior and 110 miles east of the Fargo-Moorhead area. Staples is well served by transportation services including busy highways, BNSF Railroad and the Staples Airport. Our airport, adjacent to an expanding industrial park, has a 3,300 ft hard surfaced runway lit with instrument approach. The Staples Airport provides a self-service fuel pump, private hanger space, and 22 city-owned hangers available for lease. The Staples Economic Development Authority offers support to new and existing businesses - some o...

Wadena Offers Support and Infrastructure for Growing Businesses

Monday, August 24, 2020

Wadena is a growing community in the rich agricultural region of central Minnesota. Located at the intersections of US Highways 71 and 10 - along with Minnesota Highway 29 – Wadena is situated in a nice, central location within a few hours drive of such population centers as Fargo - Moorhead (90 miles), St. Cloud (90 miles), Duluth – Superior (170 miles), and the Twin Cities (150 miles). A new airport, with a paved 4,005-foot runway, and a BNSF rail line round out a strong base of transportation infrastructure. The Wadena Development Authority (WDA), a department of the City of Wadena...

View Commercial Real Estate and Available Sites in Wadena County

Monday, August 17, 2020

Search through available sites and commercial real estate for sale or lease in Wadena County using our free online Real Estate tool. Our tool allows site selectors and business owners to search through our list of available sites in the area. It gives site selectors detailed information on available sites making it easier for them to find the right site for their business needs. This system gives in-depth information on sites including the address, acreage information, and lease or sale price. Users can also utilize the advanced search options and view a map of available sites. Click here to search availabl...

Wadena County Supports Growing and Expanding Businesses

Monday, August 10, 2020

The West Central Economic Development Alliance is committed to making Wadena County the best place to do business and supports the growth and expansion of the existing businesses in our communities. There are several resources available for growing businesses such as location and expansion assistance. If you’re relocating from another area or looking to expand locally, be sure to check out what is available to you. Tax credit and other benefits are also available through programs like the Greater Minnesota Job Expansion Program and the Greater Minnesota Internship Tax Credit Program. Need help with employee training? Training grants and incentives are availabl...

Become an Ally and Further Economic Development in Wadena County

Monday, August 03, 2020

The West Central Economic Development Alliance focuses on economic development in Wadena County and surrounding communities. Our vision is to make our communities the best place to do business. Our work is funded by the generous support of community partners. Consider becoming an ally today! The Economic Alliance is funded through the generosity and commitment to economic development of our sponsors, or Allies. Our Allies vary from small to large businesses, cooperatives, and local units of government. If you are interested in helping to further economic development in our community, please contact us at wceda@wcta.net or (218) 837-595. Find more information and ou...

Ways to Finance Your Business in Wadena County

Monday, July 27, 2020

Are you interested in starting, relocating, or expanding your business in Wadena County or our surrounding communities? Need help financing your dream? Our communities proudly support new and existing businesses through local banks and lending options. View our list of local lenders here. Are you a community, government organization or non-profit? There are funding options, including grants, available to assist you as well. They include funds for redevelopment and infrastructure projects. View our list of programs here. If your community would like assistance applying for any of these programs, please contact Katie Heppner at wceda@wcta.net or 218-837-5950.

Opportunity Zone Incentives in Wadena MN

Monday, July 20, 2020

Are you interested in starting, relocating, or expanding your business in Wadena County or our surrounding communities? Our Opportunity Zone incentives make it more financially attractive to do so. Opportunity Zones are a new community development program established by Congress in the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 to encourage long-term investments in low-income and urban communities. Opportunity Funds are a new class of private sector investment vehicles authorized to aggregate and deploy private investment into Opportunity Zones. Opportunity Funds allow U.S. investors holding unrealized gains in stocks and mutual funds to pool their resources in projects located in Opportunity Zones...

Community Incentives: Tax Increment Financing

Monday, July 13, 2020

Are you interested in starting, relocating, or expanding your business in Wadena County or our surrounding communities? If so, our Tax Increment Financing incentive provides an additional financial resource to make the process more advantageous. What is Tax increment financing (TIF)? TIF is a method of financing real estate development costs to promote development, redevelopment, and housing in areas where it would not otherwise occur. TIF projects include constructing buildings or other private improvements such as streets, sidewalks, sewer and water, and similar improvements. TIF finances development by "capturing" the incremental property taxes generated by the increased value of new development...

Business Plan Questions? We Can Help!

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.

News & Events

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

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

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

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

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

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

1st in Quality of Life (Forbes, 2017)