As the only 14 county regional economic development entity in central Minnesota, the foundation leads important initiatives in bio-business development, technology financing and workforce development.  These activities position the foundation as the organization that identifies emerging issues, link regional, state and national partners, and facilitates action.

This effort has brought together the diverse areas of the central region to share success stories and best practices in order to leverage assets and to create a regional framework for collaborative economic development.  This has sparked several initiatives including the Enterprise Network Systems Analysis (ENSA) projects.

This initiative builds on earlier industry cluster studies and identifies strategic industries and targeted efforts for business expansion, recruitment and start-up in four geographic sub-regions. 

East Central partners include Pine Technical College, Northern Technology Initiative and East Central Regional Development Commission for example.

North Central partners include Region Five Development Commission, Brainerd Lakes Area Development Corporation, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Shared Prosperity Alliance and Minnesota Power. 

Stearns-Benton partners include Benton County EDA, St Cloud Area Economic Development Partnership, Stearns Benton Workforce Center, Venture Allies, Partners For Strategic Growth and DEED.  

Sherburne-Wright partners include Wright County EDA, City of Elk River EDA, City of Big Lake EDA, City of Becker EDA and DEED. 

The Innovation Financing Network was piloted as part of the statewide Regional Economic Development (RED) collaborative.  A cadre of experts is available to support high tech business development, four case study projects were completed with several financing deals in process, and a number of tools and resources were identified to address barriers to financing technology-related business efforts. IFNTM seminars were conducted on “The Art and Science of Valuation” and on “Building An Innovative Management Team”.

St. Cloud area economic initiative in central Minnesota that developed a Community Assessment compiling key indicators on employment, human services and the economic base then identified six business sectors for targeted development based on community input, growth opportunities and strategic advantages.

The foundation has been a lead partner and co-sponsor of three economic development summits with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.  Work groups resulting from these summits are focusing on skilled construction trades, tourism and arts/crafts; and telecommunications.  The foundation has also been asked to participate in the alliance to promote this concept with the White Earth Tribal Council, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and Red Lake Band of Ojibwe called the Northern Tribes Economic Development Initiative.

Assistance was provided to establish the St. Cloud Technical College’s Discovery Academy pre-engineering program entitled “Project Lead The Way” in Little Falls, Sauk Rapids and Sartell.  The Brainerd area is also pursuing these programs in the high school setting.  The schools of Royalton, Pierz and Little Falls are also working to establish a health careers track.  Additional custom training projects have been completed with manufacturing firms throughout the region.