DEED in the News

No place like home: Looking to expand, electronic parts giant DigiKey scouts the Midwest — but stays put in Minnesota MinnPost - 4/8/19 A few years ago, when executives at DigiKey Electronics began to plan an expansion project, they looked at several possible locations in the Midwest. That wasn’t surprising, considering the Thief River Falls electronic parts distributor expected that it would need to hire another 1,000 workers but was, at the same time, located in one of the more lightly populated regions of Minnesota – one with a tight labor market to boot.

Wadena among 3 Greater Minnesota cities awarded infrastructure grants
Brainerd Dispatch - 4/9/19

Summit Hosted to Resolve Shortages of Health Care Workers in Northeastern Minnesota WDIO ABC - 4/10/19 Shortages in the healthcare industry are a concern in northeastern Minnesota. Workforce centers in the area are working on finding a solution to this with the help of those in the industry. DEED, North East Minnesota Office of Job Training, and the City of Duluth Workforce Development, have been hosting the Northeast Regional Healthcare Workforce Summits since last year, where Healthcare employers brainstorm on ways to revive the industry.

Recent Press Releases

Three Greater Minnesota Cities Awarded Infrastructure Grants

DEED announced $1.69 million in infrastructure grants for projects in Greater Minnesota. The funding awarded from DEED’s Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure Grant Program (BDPI) was approved for the cities of North Branch, Spring Valley, and Wadena. The three projects were all funded during the first quarter of 2019 and are expected to create more than 2,800 full-time jobs.

PFA Awards $8.3 million for projects in four Greater Minnesota cities

The Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (PFA) today announced $8.39 million in loan and grant funding for water infrastructure projects in Albert Lea, Pine River, East Itasca and Tonka Bay. “This funding will support projects that give the residents of Albert Lea, Pine River, East Itasca and Tonka Bay the ability to improve their water resources,” said Governor Tim Walz. “The PFA is vital in making sure every Minnesotan gets access to the water resources they need.”

DEED Awards $2 Million in Redevelopment Grants and Loans

DEED awarded $2 million in grants and loans to assist in the demolition and redevelopment of five sites in Minnesota. DEED awarded four redevelopment grants for the cities of Mankato, Minneapolis, Woodbury and Edina. Fergus Falls Port Authority was also awarded a Demolition Loan from the agency.