Helps people develop skills and knowledge to improve their lives and communities. Offers a variety of programs for learners of all ages. Class offerings include adult basic education, business courses, GED prep courses, gymnastics, sports and recreational activities, writing classes, and more.

Educational Program - Programs provided by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs to help with business skills, connections, and potential growth, including workshops and training. For current programs, click here Loans and Advising - Loans with no-cost advising. Loans offered: - City of Cook Economic Recovery Fund: Loan for local business in the city of Cook who are recovering from the summer 2024 flood - Gap Financing: Loan covers the "gap" between various sources of funding and the total cost of the project. Used for commercial real estate projects, such as mortgage or major renovation and has more flexibility than traditional lenders - Healthy Food Fund: Specialized loan for local food retailers and producers that helps with replacing dated equipment, investing in technology, expanding business, purchasing inventory, hiring staff, updating building, purchasing new or existing store, and more - SBA Microloan: Start up loan for working capital, inventory, or equipment purchase - Working Capital Loan: Loan provides access to cash for various projects and investments such as marketing campaigns, purchased inventory, upgrade equipment, or expand business operation.

Business and housing development assistance: - Site selection - Financing alternatives - Tax increment financing and a local revolving loan fund available for qualifying developments - Tax abatement and jobs (tax incentives)

Provides opportunities for residents to start up, expand, and own their own businesses - Child care provider business startups or expansions can qualify for up to $3,000 - Individuals looking to start/expand businesses can qualify for up to $25,000 - Repayment terms are flexible - Women and minority-owned businesses are encouraged to apply

Commercial Facade Program: Assistance will be provided to eligible applicants for the rehab/improvement of commercial facades. Grant 50% match - maximum $5,000.00 Exterior Business Paint Program: Maximum grant is $100.00. Must purchase paint in Fairfax Commercial Rehab Program: Maximum $20,000.00 with flexible terms

Koochco is a private, non-profit gap financing agency. Koochco's loans are meant to create and maintain permanent employment through the establishment of new businesses or the expansion of existing businesses in Koochiching County. To be eligible for this program, the business must be located within Koochiching County.

The program supports early childhood educators including family child care providers, child care centers, and preschools to improve the quality of care they provide. Programs include: - Child Care Wayfinder, a one-stop navigation network for starting and growing child care programs. Navigators offer personalized support and resources. - Parent Aware recruitment to enroll childhood educators. Once enrolled, childhood educators are provided with parent-aware coaching, quality rating, and support. - Professional development and workforce advising for individuals interested in early childhood knowledge and/or attaining a college degree in the field - Professional training for childhood educators to meet licensing requirements - Regional grants available to licensed child care programs each year starting September 1 through 25th - Start-up grants on an ongoing basis depending on funding

Mayor and City Council Members: Member Contact Information Building Inspection Department - Responsible for issuing building, plumbing, mechanical and fence permits, as well as schedules and conducts inspections Economic Development - Helps with the development of new businesses and properties throughout the City (952)227-7529 - Helps retain and redevelop businesses - Helps restore blighted properties and downtown historic buildings by encouraging redevelopment activities - Storefront Redevelopment Loan helps downtown historic business owners with the upgrade of their buildings Engineering Department - Manages issues related to lot grading, overland drainage, street signage, wetland management, development reviews, utility system review, and construction inspection Fire Marshal - Conducts fire extinguisher training for area businesses, fire safety education, and fire investigations (952)448-2990 Municipal Services - Offers energy efficiency rebates to residents and businesses who pay their electric bill to the City of Chaska http://www.mmpa.org/our-Communities/Chaska.aspx. Planning Department - Maintains the City's Comprehensive Plan, which establishes overall goals and policies for community development, revitalization, maintenance and growth. The Zoning Ordinance is the principal tool used to regulate land uses and development standards. Produces many maps, development lists, reports and presentations for the public. Provides sign permits. Public Works - Provides street and alley maintenance, street cleaning, snow removal, storm sewer and flood control maintenance, Civil Defense warning system maintenance, sign maintenance, and construction inspection services. To report potholes or storm damaged trees, or for any other street maintenance concerns, call (952)448-4335 Water and Sewer - Responsible for water treatment and distribution for the city. If residents experience a sewer backup, they should contact the Sewer Department before calling their plumber. If a resident's sewer backs up only after they have run water, the problem is most likely in resident's system, and they will need to call a plumber. Call (952)448-4335 office hours are 7 am - 3:30 Monday - Friday. After hour and weekend calls will be directed to dispatch.

- Business development including assistance with business plan writing and technical assistance - Business loans to eligible businesses - Business plan classes held three times a year

Provides aspiring small business owners with the tools, resources, and guidance needed to succeed. Services include: - Business Technical Assistance: Comprehensive support in business planning, operations, and scaling - Culturally Relevant Entrepreneurship Training: Tailored programs that address unique challenges and opportunities for diverse communities - Micro Lending: Provides access to small loans designed to kickstart and grow businesses - Workshops and Resources: Interactive sessions and materials to enhance business acumen and connect entrepreneurs to vital resources

Mayor and City Council Members: Member contact information Economic Development - Helps with the development of new businesses and properties throughout the City - Helps retain and redevelop businesses - Provides residential, commercial/nonprofit, and rental property owners access to financing and rehabilitation services. Visit website for more information. Election - Ballot information, election information, serving as an election judge, voter registration, and voting absentee/voting early Engineering Department - Bolton and Menk - City Engineer Finance Department - Coordination and planning of all city financial information including annual budget and tax levy - Process accounts receivable, accounts payable, insurance, and utility billing Fire Department - Address: 501 Varner Street North License and Permit - Animal, beekeeping, burning, chicken, food truck, etc. - Special event permit information and applications available on website ? Planning and Zoning Department - Maintains digital records of planning/property files and the City's Comprehensive Plan, which establishes overall goals and policies for community development, revitalization, maintenance, and growth. The Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance is the principal tool used to regulate land uses and development standards. Produces many maps, development lists, reports, and presentations for the public. - Responsible for implementing the City's housing goals, advancing infrastructure projects, building permits, protecting environmental quality, and fostering partnerships to improve access to community services. Public Works - Includes maintenance of all public parks, properties, and facilities, city streets, sanitary sewer services, stormwater, water treatment, and distribution - Recycling and garbage information: Buckingham Companies; visit website for recycling information - Medication disposal: Drop-off box in the lobby of the Jordan Police Department for residents to dispose of prescription and over-the-counter medicines anonymously.

The program provides financial backing for rural businesses. Provides loans with the following requirements: - Applications from lenders for businesses - For rural areas or in communities of under 50,000 population only - Funds can help finance businesses, expand business, repair, modernize, develop land, purchase equipment, machinery, supplies, inventory, refinance under certain conditions, or prevent businesses from closing - Lender furnishes funding

- Develops an ongoing marketing program to attract commercial and industrial development - Initiative Foundation Program: A number of financial loan programs are available from the Initiative Foundation to assist businesses with gap financing - Minnesota Community Capital Program: Businesses located within the service territory of East Central Energy can borrow up to 1.5 million with the support of East Central Energy and Great River Energy - Minnesota Job Skills Partnership: Competitive application program to assist with customized worker training; training is provided at the business site by qualified trainers from a state college - Minnesota Investment Fund: Loan funds are available from the Department of Employment and Economic Development through the City of North Branch.; amount based upon the number of jobs created or retained and wages paid - North Branch Revolving Loan Fund: Provides a low-interest, short-term gap loan to assist in financing of projects of special interest to the City - Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans: Commercial banks can assist in applying for funds from the SBA for 504 and or 7A programs Workforce Development Assistance - Small Business Development Center: One-on-one counseling and assistance with business planning, financial projects, marketing, etc. - Works to attract new industries that bring an enhanced tax base, jobs and new capital into the community

Mayor and City Council Members Member Contact Information ?Administration: - Deputy City Clerk - Building Official - Office Specialist Airport: - Address: 7575 U.S. Highway 169 - Phone: (507)526-7264 - Airport Managers Blue Earth Light and Water: - Operations Manager - Office Manager - Line Superintendent - Water Superintendent - Customer Service - Rebates - Provides electricity and water services and rebate/conservation program Brush Site: - Located in the southwest corner of 21st and Ramsey Streets (one block south of the four-way stop on Ramsey Street/385th Avenue) - Hours of Operation: 10 am - 1 pm Tuesday; 4 pm - 7 pm Thursday; 10 am - 4 pm Saturday - Brush and leaf collection site City Attorney: - Address: 117 West 5th Street - Phone: (507)526-2177 - Toll Free: (800)426-6967 - Fax: (507)526-4477 - City Attorney - Assistant City Attorney City Engineer: - Professional Engineer - Address: 219 North Main Street Fairmont, MN 56031 - Phone: (507)238-4738 - Fax: (507)238-7432 Economic Development Authority: - City Administrator - Community Development Office Specialist - Business Assistance: Administers five programs to assist new and expanding businesses. - The Revolving Loan Fund is a source of gap financing for working capital, equipment, inventory and building construction, and renovation. - The Utility Revolving Loan Fund is a source of financing for new construction or improvement of electric, water, or sanitary sewer lines. - The purpose of the Forgivable Loan/Grant Program is to provide for the promotion and continuation of existing lifestyle businesses within the City of Blue Earth. - The Building Façade Improvement Grant is a program that assists businesses in making improvements that improve the appearance of the exterior of their building. - Job Opportunity Building Zones (JOBZ) is a state - designed and locally - administered program. Fitness Center: - Address: 320 Oak Road, Faribault County Fairgrounds - Intake Phone: (507)526-3376 - Director - Activities, Classes and Programs: Tennis lessons, racquetball, walleyball, ralleyball (elementary tennis), basketball, weight room (with cardio equipment, free weights and TV), personal training, indoor walking, no impact aerobic classes (pilates and exercise ball), body bar classes, kickboxing classes, step aerobics, senior weight room classes, SilverSneakers Fitness Program, and sand volleyball Parks: - Faribault County Fairgrounds are located on North Main Street and have a playground, ball fields, walking/biking trail, I-90 Kartin Speedway, and stables - Leland Park and Beyer Field border each other on County Road 16 (Leland Parkway) has a municipal ice rink, sledding hill, and picnic shelter - Putnam Park located at the south end of Main Street has a municipal pool, trail, tennis courts, playground, and disc golf course - Steinberg Nature Park located 1/4 mile east of Blue Earth on County Road 16 has a trail - Third Ward Park located on the east side of Blue Earth has a playground Public Works: - Public Works Director - Oversees construction and reconstruction of streets, patching, seal-coating, sweeping, and snowplowing Swimming Pool: - Address: 111 West 14th Street - Office Phone: (507)526-3376 - Pool Phone: (507)526-2715 - Pool Manager - Leisure pool featuring a zero depth area with play features, plunge pool with a 50 foot slide, four lane lap pool with a recreational diving board, and lifeguards on staff. - Activities, Programs, and Lessons: Deck aerobics and toning, pilates, water aerobics, lifeguard training, family swim, and open swim - Wastewater Management: Operates and activated sludge wastewater treatment facility - Provides building permits, charitable gambling permits, liquor licenses, open burning permits, pet licenses, and sign permits

Works to promote economic development for the city: - Business assistance to new and existing businesses - Business planning and financial packages - Operates a revolving loan fund to help with business start-ups and expansions - Operates market rental housing

- Business development including assistance with business plan writing and technical assistance - Business loans to eligible businesses - Business plan classes held three times a year

Services include: - Job creation through loans and grants - Loans to businesses and entrepreneurs in the region - Support community organizations, schools, hospitals, city and county government through grants - Establish endowment funds to support Northwest Minnesota communities in the future - Support new businesses and expanded existing businesses - Train community leaders - A center for local philanthropy where committed citizens can make a difference for their communities and neighbors by financially responding to changing human and economic needs - Nonprofit management and organizational effectiveness training - Early Childhood initiative - Youth leadership training

Program provides grants to assist child care providers with financial crises that would prevent them from continuing child care services or starting up child care services. Grants to child care providers to help increase the quality of their program, upgrade equipment, receive training, and improve the environment of the program. Applications accepted once a year in September.

Mayor and City Council Members: - Member contact information City Departments: - Administration/Media Contact/City Clerk: Election and voting information including voter registration - Business Development and Finance: Offers a Revolving Fund Loan Program where business owners can apply for up to $75,000. Funds may be used for land, building, or renovation costs along with equipment and machinery purchases for qualified borrowers - Planning and Zoning Department: Oversees planning and development in the city and reviews applications and petitions to ensure compliance with zoning and land use regulations. Responsible for processing new construction and minor building permit applications and overseeing the licensing of rental dwellings. Building code questions should be directed to the building inspector (952)442-7520. - Public Services: Maintains and repairs city streets and alleys, storm sewers, public property, and city equipment, and coordinates the maintenance/replacement of street lights. Duties include street and alley repair, seal coating, street sweeping, snow and ice control, and traffic sign maintenance. Intake Phone: (952)442-2615; Address: 310 10th East Street; E-mail: [email protected]; Hours: 7 am - 3:30 pm Monday - Friday - Public Utilities Department: Consists of water and sanitary sewer utilities. Operates and maintains public water supply system including the water treatment facility, hydrants, city wells and water storage facilities, and installation and maintenance of water meters; and wastewater collection system including lift stations - Utility Billing: Water and sewer billing department. Intake Phone: (952)442-3107; E-mail: [email protected] - Receptacle for citizens to dispose of unwanted medications. Citizens should remove their name and personal information from the medication container, but leave the name of the medication on the container. Medications should be left in their original container.

- Direct counseling and assistance on regulatory, tax, business structure, and other issues. - Publications on topics of interest to small businesses - Minnesota Reservist and Veteran Business Loan Program: One time, interest-free, loans of $5,000 to $20,000 to qualifying Minnesota small businesses which suffer substantial economic injury as a result of an essential employee being called to military service for 180 days or more; or to qualifying veterans who have served 181 or more consecutive days who wish to start a business. Application form is available on the website.

Provides opportunities for residents to start up, expand, and own their own businesses - Child care provider business startups or expansions can qualify for up to $3,000 - Individuals looking to start/expand businesses can qualify for up to $25,000 - Repayment terms are flexible - Women and minority-owned businesses are encouraged to apply

Mayor ?City Council Members City Attorney - Provides legal services, advice, and representation to the City - (218)730-5490 Construction Services and Inspection (Building Department) - Code enforcement, sign permits, and zoning regulations - Commercial and residential building permits: Include plan review of new construction, remodeling, and renovations - Inspection for building, electrical, gas piping, mechanical HVAC, and plumbing - Issuing of permits for construction, decks, electrical, fences, moving building, plumbing, etc. - (218)730-5240 Domestic Partnership Registration - (218)730-5500 Election and Voter Services - Ballot information, election information, serving as an election judge, voter registration, and voting absentee/voting early Finance Department - Coordinates and plans of all city financial information including annual budget and tax levy - Processes accounts receivable, accounts payable, and utility billing License and Permits - Animal, business, charitable gambling, hospitality, liquor, special event permit, etc. Parks and Recreation - Offers recreation amenities and a diverse trail network including programs for all ages, building and park rentals, and Duluth Public Golf - Senior Programs includes lunch time meals and participate in fun activities such as exercise programs, bingo, card games or crafts. Each Senior Center has its own monthly programming schedule with Activity Clubs. Evergreen Senior Center, Morgan Park Community Recreation Center, and Portman Community Recreation Center. - (218)730-4300; [email protected] Planning and Development - Community Development: Provides funding to low and moderate income people to addressing basic needs, providing affordable housing, and increasing economic self-sufficiency - Loan and Incentive Programs: Offers rehabilitation loan and incentives programs for homeowners, rental property owners, and developers ????- Business Development: Promotes economic vitality, job retention and growth, industrial development and redevelopment of existing ??properties through public-private partnerships - Land Use Zoning: Provides permits Public Works - Includes maintenance of all public parks, properties, and facilities, sanitary sewer services, street repairs and street lights, snow removal, storm drainage system, and water treatment and distribution. - Natural gas 24/7 emergency hotline (218)730-4100. For emergencies related to sewer, streets, or water, call (218)730-4000 - (218)730-5105 ?

Works to support business in Granite Falls. Manages the city's Revolving Loan Fund and other financial incentives. Helps businesses write plans and connects them with other organizations that can help. Develops strategies to improve the business climate EDA board.

Educational Program - Programs provided by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs to help with business skills, connections, and potential growth, including workshops and training. For current programs, click here Loans and Advising - Loans with no-cost advising. Loans offered: - City of Cook Economic Recovery Fund: Loan for local business in the city of Cook who are recovering from the summer 2024 flood - Gap Financing: Loan covers the "gap" between various sources of funding and the total cost of the project. Used for commercial real estate projects, such as mortgage or major renovation and has more flexibility than traditional lenders - Healthy Food Fund: Specialized loan for local food retailers and producers that helps with replacing dated equipment, investing in technology, expanding business, purchasing inventory, hiring staff, updating building, purchasing new or existing store, and more - SBA Microloan: Start up loan for working capital, inventory, or equipment purchase - Working Capital Loan: Loan provides access to cash for various projects and investments such as marketing campaigns, purchased inventory, upgrade equipment, or expand business operation.

Provides gap financing programs to assist businesses and start-ups