The Low~Down!
Featured City:
Center City
Center City is located on Highway 8 surrounded by the Chisago Chain of Lakes. 
Interesting facts:
Center City is the Chisago County seat and has a business park named after it, County Seat Business Park, which is a build ready park. Center City is also home to the well-known Hazelden-Betty Ford Foundation corporate headquarters. There are many unique places to explore, dine and shop. 
Visit the City of Center City's website to learn more!
Chisago County Industrial Labor and Capacity Assessment was presented virtually on March 9th.
Chisago County HRA-EDA engaged Cushman & Wakefield to develop an assessment of the County’s labor force focused on supporting the County’s drive to expand manufacturing, warehousing and supply chain businesses. The report identifies primary industries, top occupations, assesses and compares the volume and job growth, and looks at commuting patterns of workers in the County. 

If you are interested in watching the presentation, it can be found on our website's homepage under the "Training & Events" tab.
*The final assessments will be viewable here as well.
Edgewood Manufacturing
Harris, MN 

Machine shop to provide custom manufacturing support and enable future product development.

In December of 2021 -- MyTana, a St. Paul-based drain cleaning and inspection equipment manufacturer, acquired Edgewood Manufacturing, a machine shop specializing in custom CNC milling and turning work. Edgewood will provide in-house capabilities for machined parts production and product prototyping for MyTana, which places a priority on American-made, factory direct sales.

Currently Edgewood Manufacturing is based in Harris, MN and creates and assembles parts for a range of applications, including sewer cleaning and inspection. It has served the region for over thirty years under the leadership of President and CEO Gary Ramberg. MyTana opened in 1957, and its acquisition of Edgewood represents a union of Twin Cities industry.

The partnership will enable more efficient product development cycles, allowing MyTana to maintain price
levels and inventory to better support plumbers and drain cleaners across the United States.

“This move is a big step towards meeting all of our loyal customers' needs,” says Brent Hill, general manager at MyTana. “Edgewood will provide the tools we need to continue creating reliable products for the plumbing and drain cleaning industries. And it furthers our efforts to provide American-made products, developed right here in Minnesota.”

Going forward, MyTana will continue investing in new equipment to improve product design. Edgewood’s
manufacturing capabilities will also contribute to future product research and development and help MyTana expand into jetter nozzle machining and design. (Brent Hill, MyTana)
Small Business Development Center Open House!
Join us and discover various business resources available to you.

The HRA-EDA is holding an open house in celebration of SBDC Day. The event will be held March 23rd beginning at 10am. We will have food and beverages along with some great door-prizes. A variety of agencies with resources for business start-up and growth will be available to visit along with a few short training opportunities throughout the day.

Event Information:
Cost: Free
Date: March 23, 2022
Time: 10am - 3pm
Location: 38871 7th Ave, North Branch, MN 55056
Brief Trainings:
11am - Marketing: Meet the SBDC's new marketing professional and work with her at no-cost!
12pm - Transition Planning: All businesses should be armed with a plan for the future's unpredictability.
1pm - Workforce Development: Tips and tricks on hiring and retaining employees for your business.

For more information on this event, please contact us at info@chisagocounty.org or 651-674-5664

What is SBDC?
The Chisago County HRA-EDA is a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) satellite office working with Central Lakes College. We provide free and confidential consulting services to businesses and those thinking of going into business in Chisago County. 
To learn more about the program, click the photo.
Upcoming Events!
The story of rural America since 1970 is rich and diverse, with positive trends occurring under the radar. Learn how positive changes around migration, community involvement, economic development, and regional living have diversified this landscape that require us to rewrite the narrative of rural community change. Join us for an evening of listening, learning, and community involvement with guest speaker Ben Winchester from the University of Minnesota Extension Program.

Click the photo to register today!
Hosted by the Chisago Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.
Click on the photo above to read more about the March Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club Meeting that will be held in a hybrid format.

These meetings are free for anyone interested. You will be able to visit and learn from others who began with an idea.
Fill your coffee cup, get in your car and take a short drive to East Central Minnesota. Come learn about the economy, labor force, and financial and technical assistance available in the region and hear the local business attraction success stories.

Your next deal could be waiting for you in East Central Minnesota!

Continuing Education has been applied for and 3.0 credit hours are pending approval from the Minnesota Department of Commerce.

Click the photo to read more and register!
EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA NAMED (1 of 21) SMART21 COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR

The East Central region of Minnesota has been named one of the Smart21 Communities of 2022 by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), a global movement that seeks to build prosperous and inclusive futures for communities. This prestigious honor recognizes the advances made by the region in recent years. The East Central region includes Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Pine Counties. Application was completed and submitted by GPS 45::93 a regional economic development partnership.

For more information visit the ICF website.
Chisago County working with Minnesota Housing to provide affordable first-time homebuyer loans.
 
Chisago County is partnering with Minnesota Housing to provide affordable mortgages to first-time homebuyers through the Start Up loan program.  

Start Up offers fixed interest rates and down payment and closing cost loans up to $17,000 for eligible first-time homebuyers. Buyers can purchase homes in Chisago County that cost up to $352,300. 

“Community partnerships between Minnesota Housing and Chisago County and local lenders help over 2,000 households a year purchase their first homes,” said Minnesota Housing Commissioner Jennifer Leimaile Ho. “These affordable loans make homeownership more accessible for more Minnesotans.” 

Minnesota Housing is a state agency that provides access to safe and affordable housing and builds stronger communities across the state. Minnesota Housing offers purchase, refinance, and home improvement loans, as well as financing for affordable rental housing throughout the state.  
 
Chisago County HRA-EDA's Executive Director Nancy Hoffman says “This program has been highly used in the county and it is a very valuable program for Chisago County home buyers. We are so pleased to partner with Minnesota Housing to continue the program.” 

First-time buyers can get started by contacting participating lenders in the Chisago County area. Visit www.mnhousing.gov to find approved lenders and more information. 

Issue: Mar 15, 2022