The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

November 20, 2010

Regional economic alliance judged a success

The Free Press

MANKATO — On its first anniversary, an economic alliance between area communities is being touted as a success.

Greater Mankato Growth, eight cities and two counties are participating in the Regional Economic Services Agreement, which aims to work together to attract and retain businesses in the area.

Everyone involved has agreed to continue the alliance.

Participants with GMG include Amboy, Eagle Lake, Lake Crystal, Le Sueur, Madison Lake, Mankato, Mapleton and St. Peter and Blue Earth and Nicollet counties.  

“We are thrilled that these communities and counties have found this agreement valuable in helping them not only promote the individual strengths of their own community, but the collective assets of the region as well,” GMG president & CEO Jonathan Zierdt said in a statement.

First year successes cited include:

-- 36 visits to companies throughout the region, through the GrowMinnesota! Business Retention & Expansion program; of those visited, 15 either completed, announced, or are planning an expansion. The program works by bringing state and local officials to a business to talk about helping the business stay successful.

“At the end of the day, what none of us wants is to wake up and learn there’s been some problem with a business,” Zierdt said.

-- 97 entrepreneurs served through the Greater Mankato Business Accelerator, a program that connects new and emerging businesses with the resources they need. The accelerator doesn’t turn away clients simply because they don’t live in the area, Zierdt said.

-- Of 38 active new business development prospects, 20 were initiated during the past year, 15 of which then needed additional assistance exploring possible locations to the region. This resulted in five visits to further explore locating in the marketplace.

Zierdt said the one-stop shopping is “very efficient for site selectors and business developers.”

-- New, easy to remember web address “greatermankatobusiness.com” introduced to be used in proposals, ads and promotional materials.    

St. Peter Community Development Director Russ Wille said the agreement has allowed his city to respond to more requests from businesses looking to expand or relocate in this region.

“We’ve had those (requests) fall into our laps at times,” he said, but the GMG agreement brought six such inquiries to St. Peter’s door last year. The city can then offer specific sites or subsidies to the interested business.

To use a baseball analogy suggested by Zierdt, St. Peter has gotten to swing at more pitches.

Wille agreed: “We’ve been up to bat more this year.”

He acknowledges the city doesn’t have a great batting average — no businesses came to St. Peter as a result of the deal — but it’s the opportunities that count. The St. Peter City Council recently approved spending $17,444 to be a part of the agreement in 2011.

 

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