The Outlet is published to highlight Great River Energy's economic development activities.
Entrepreneur support is Minnesota-made
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the realities of entrepreneurship across the United States. Nowhere is that more evident than in Minnesota. For more than four decades, the state had consistently experienced a decrease in job growth from new businesses. However, Minnesota’s entrepreneurial climate underwent a drastic change with the onset of the pandemic. Today, more new businesses are taking shape in Minnesota, surviving and achieving success at rates higher than much of the country. 
Guest feature:
Community-centered entrepreneurship drives economic growth
Entrepreneurs in rural communities, where many of Great River Energy's member-owner cooperatives are located, face significant hardship as many in those areas face limited access to resources and services compared to more urban areas. Business incubators are often an excellent method to overcome barriers, which is why Great River Energy assists members with resources to fund these projects.
Event spotlight:
Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference
Great River Energy was a proud sponsor of the fourth annual Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference, which brought together entrepreneurs, business leaders, economic development professionals, decision makers and community champions from around the state to share best practices for supporting entrepreneurs as a local economic development strategy.
USDA seeks applications to spur job growth and economic development in rural areas
The USDA published an updated Federal Register Notice for the Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Program, soliciting applications and providing updated guidance for cooperatives seeking financing on behalf of eligible projects. The program offers grants and pass-through loans while also allowing co-ops to establish revolving loan funds that can have a lasting impact on helping to grow the communities they serve.
Meet your economic development services team
Tom Lambrecht
Tom administers and implements economic development strategies.
You can reach him at
763-445-6105 and tlambrecht@grenergy.com 
Erin Sparks
Erin, based in Maple Grove, focuses on economic development in central and southern Minnesota. You can reach her at 763-445-6113 and esparks@grenergy.com 
Jeff Borling
Jeff, based in Duluth, focuses on economic development in northern Minnesota. You can reach him at 218-355-8088 and jborling@grenergy.com 
Upcoming events
• Oct. 11 to Oct. 13: 2022 Blandin Broadband Conference at Grand Casino Mille Lacs

• Thursday, Oct. 13:

• Wednesday, Oct. 26: North Reimagined at CoHaus Collective Workspace
Our member-owner cooperatives
Great River Energy and our member-owner cooperatives take pride in providing our service territory with competitively priced, reliable energy. We are also committed to helping customers start and grow their businesses by helping them plan and manage their energy needs.