The Low~Down!
Featured City:
North Branch

North Branch has excellent transportation routes with I 35 and CR 30 running North & South and State Highway 95 running East & West. There is a 200+ acre shovel ready business park that abuts a railway and the north half of the City is in a Federally Designated Opportunity Zone. The housing in the North Branch area has been booming with new construction the last few years.
North Branch has a great, innovative, dedicated team to commercial/industrial deals that eliminate surprises and keep projects on track!
To view other available site, please visit our website.
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Child Care Challenges in Chisago County

Recently, the Chisago County HRA-EDA contracted with the East Central Regional Development Commission (ECRDC) and First Children's Finance to complete a child care study to determine to what extent this is a concern in Chisago County. The ECRDC created an online survey to collect data within the county and First Children's Finance analyzed the survey data. This study revealed the child care shortage has severely impacted parents and employers
in Chisago County:
  • Of the employer respondents, 36% stated the lack of child care impacted
their ability to attract employees and
  • 20% stated it has impacted their ability to retain employees.
  • Approximately 40% of parents surveyed claimed to have declined employment or withdrew
from the workforce due to child care issues.
The Chisago County HRA-EDA in partnership with First Children's Finance is forming a committee that will help resolve or lessen the stress for child care in the county. This group will create a strategic plan to come up with possible solutions.
If you would like a copy of the report or would like to be involved, please contact us.
info@chisagocounty.org - 651.674.5664
*This project is made possible by a grant from the Initiative Foundation
Come Celebrate With Us:
Mural Ribbon Cutting!

Everyone has been patiently awaiting the completion of the HRA-EDA's mural on the office building at 38871 7th Ave, North Branch. Well the time has come to celebrate its completion and hear a few words from the artist on the inspirations for this mural. The ribbon cutting will be held on August 30th beginning at 11am and refreshments will be served.

Everyone is welcome! See you there!
*This activity is made possible by the voters of MN through a grant from East Central Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
Since the start up in 1984 as Private Industry Council 5, CMJTS has been passionate about providing quality training and job placement services to its customers in central Minnesota. Throughout a 11-county region, jobseekers—adults, youth, entry-level, career-changers, low-income, and dislocated workers—count on them for professional career guidance based on individual circumstances, economic self-sufficiency needs, and local labor market demands. Businesses count on them as well for qualified workers to fill their jobs.

To learn more or take advantage of their services please visit their website.

Rebecca Perrotti | Business Services Coordinator
Central Minnesota Jobs & Training Services, Inc.
903 E. Forest Avenue | Mora, MN 55051
p:  612.247.9319 | e:  rperrotti@cmjts.org

The Chisago County HRA-EDA is a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) satellite office. We provide free and confidential consulting services to businesses and those thinking of going into business. 

Click here for more information on the no-cost program and if you are interested in receiving consulting services, sign up here.
Business Retention and
Expansion Efforts

Did you know that about 80 percent of new jobs and capital investment comes
from companies that already exist in the community?

The Chisago County HRA-EDA has been partnering with the cities to visit with local businesses and collect important data. The main goals of business retention are to provide assistance with issues that could force a company to fail or close, and to prevent companies from relocating to a new community.
The main goal of business expansion is to help businesses grow! A successful BRE program also provides data and intelligence to strategically attract new companies to a community and foster the creation of new businesses.

If you are a local business owner and you would like to share some information or concerns
with us, please call and schedule a visit.
651.674.5664
Issue: August 15, 2022