Supporters
2010 Annual Report
We thank our friends who invest in the Cass County economy each year. You have provided organizational support through memberships, grants or contractual fees. Each investment that has been made is appreciated and will be used prudently to strengthen our local economy. The following represents the fiscal support that you have provided over the past two years. $50,000 or above $50,000 or above Cass County Cass County $30,000 to $49,999 $30,000 to $49,999 Business Small Small Business Development Development CenterCenter
$1,000 to $2,499 Arvig Communications Systems Barclay Township Birch Lake Township City of Backus City of East Gull Lake City of Lake Shore City of Longville City of Pillager City of Remer Crow Wing Power & Light Co. Fairview Township Hunt Utilities Group, LLC Leech Lake Township Minnesota Business Finance Corporation Pine River Township Shingobee Township St. Joseph’s Medical Center Sylvan Township TDS Telecom Woodrow Township
“I see the positive results that have occurred from the EDC board and would like to be part of that." —Skip Duchesneau, Jr., EDC Treasurer
(218) 947-7522
$10,000 to $29,999 City of Pine River The Saint Paul Foundation USDA Rural Development $7,500 to $9,999 Blandin Foundation City of Cass Lake City of Walker DB East Energy First National Bank of Walker
$500 to $999 AgStar Financial Services Anderson Brothers Construction Bear Pause Theater Beltrami Electric Cooperative, Inc. Bremer Bank CavCom, Inc. Close-Converse, Inc. Crow Wing Power Community Trust Deerfield Township Hanneken Insurance Services, Inc. Hengel Ready Mix & Construction Hiram Township Kuepers, Inc. Lake Country Power Mann Lake, Ltd. Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union Northern Engineering & Consulting Pequot Tool & Mfg., Inc. Pine River Chamber of Commerce Pine River HRA Ponto Lake Township Rardin Construction, Inc. Schrupp Excavating Spitzack Builders, Inc. Stille Havn Hus, Inc. Teal’s Management Group, Inc. Turtle Lake Township Walden Township Weizenegger Engel Insurance Wilson Township
$5,000 to $7,499 City of Hackensack Initiative Foundation Minnesota Power Woodland Bank
“To improve the business environment of Cass County by encouraging a strong, diverse and sustainable economy and to build better relationships between business, government agencies and local communities.”
$2,500 to $4,999 Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Pine River State Bank Sawyer Timber Western National Bank
$250 to $499 Bank Forward Brainerd Daily Dispatch Chase Hotel Consolidated Telephone Cuyuna Regional Medical Center D.W.Jones, Inc. Eveland’s, Inc. Lakes State Bank Lakewood Health System Leech Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Leech Lake Lumber Leer Title Services Longville Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Next Innovations, Ltd. NOR-SON, Inc. Northern National Bank Ozark, Tony Pine River-Backus Schools Rasinski Excavating, Inc. Riverside Assisted Living Scearcy & Associates, P.A. ShoreQuest, LLC Tertin, Jim Top Priority Insulation Trussworthy Components Universal Templates, Inc. Young Excavating, Inc.
PO Box 142, Backus, MN 56435
Mission
$100 to $249 Antolak, Jack Best, Rebecca Bill Hansen Realty Blind Lake Township Bruckbauer, Bob & Jeanette City of Chickamaw Beach Cribb, Dave Demgen, Jim & Carol Essentia Health Gaalswyk, Neil & Kathy Grimley, John & Thelma Hansen, Laura Holk, Dave Johnson, Steve & Terry Kangas, Bob & Betty Leverson, Gail & Jerry Lohr, Jim & Kathryn Lovro, Carol McKeown, Chris Meier, Dan Orton, Tim Remer Township Rose, Marie Warren, John Weins, John & Sandy Wetzel, Michael & Kathy
Letter from President
Goals
Welcome to Walker, the Chase Hotel and the Cass County Economic Development Corporations annual meeting!
1. Help businesses create jobs 2. Encourage private sector capital investment 3. Improve unemployment rate
You are the heart of our organization. We value your memberships and they keep our revenue stream alive so we can continue to create jobs in Cass County. Early 2008, we set a goal to create 100 jobs in 5 years, to date we have created 135 jobs involving 30 separate businesses. These businesses have delivered just north of $6.5 million in investment in Cass County. We continue to serve a very diversified clientele within the county and our goal is always consistent, we want to create jobs. This continues to be possible with your financial gifts, with our staff’s hard work and the board’s solid guidance.
Results (2004 to present)
Together, we have achieved these results for Cass County: • Assisted 67 new businesses in completing their projects • Created or retained 499 jobs at those businesses • Produced $57.8 million in capital investment at these businesses • Secured $3.6 million in grants
“We want to create jobs." —Jim Tertin, EDC President
Thank you and enjoy the evening. Jim Tertin, President
“I serve on the board to support growth in Cass County.” —Jay Cline, EDC Board Member
www.co.cass.mn.us/edc
Cass County Economic Development Corporation
About Our Organization The Cass County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is a community non-profit corporation providing free and confidential assistance to businesses wanting to locate, or expand in Cass County, Minnesota. Our consulting services help clients identify, understand, and overcome the challenges of running a successful business. Technical assistance is provided to help small businesses access funding options and opportunities, identify financing sources, evaluate eligibility, and prepare “It’s very rewarding a successful business plan. As a professional economic development organization, we have built relationships with many funding organizations to get business projects done. 80% of businesses using our services are still in businessfive years later!
to be an active member of the Cass County
Project Highlights
Budget Overview FY 09-10 Revenue
(% of budget)
Misc. Fees 7% Interest 3% Grant Admin. 7% Business Counseling 7%
Grants 36%
RLF Operations Investment Contributions 5% 12% 7% Fees 1%
Expense
(% of budget)
EDC Board.”
—Terry Freeman, EDC Board Member
Payroll 75%
Our board of directors is comprised of volunteers who are passionate about improving the local economy and donate their time and talents to do so. They represent a wide variety of industries and diverse geographic regions. Collectively their talents shape the policies and direction of the organization and we are thankful for their donation.
President 2 Years on the Board
Dave Holk
Vice President 2 Years on the Board
Riverside Assisted Living, Inc.
Memberships 34%
Cass County Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors
Jim Tertin
Over the past two years, a variety of projects have been completed to create jobs, expand the tax base and improve the economy in Cass County. Here are a sample of projects you have supported.
Howard Prushek Skip Duchesneau, Jr Secretary 6 Years on the Board
Treasurer 3 Years on the Board
“Working with the EDC was a great experience. They made the planning and searching for financing a lot more manageable.” — Riverside Assisted Living, Inc.
Congratulations to Paula Rocheleau of Riverside Assisted Living in Pillager. Her twenty unit assisted living facility is located on the north side of Highway #210. Daily meals and assistance with living activities are offered which will result in the hiring of 25 employees. Financing for this project was through Unity Bank, NCEDA, MBFC, and Initiative Foundation and a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) plan with the city of Pillager. The EDC coordinated the TIF plan with the city and the financing between the partners.
Pine River Small Cities Development Program Activity continues under the Pine River SCDP. This $399,600 Grant is provides funding opportunities for rehabilitation of owner occupied and commercial buildings in the city of Pine River. We will have completed 21 units the end of 2011. Commercial business owner “The Small Cities Grant Program John Wetrosky of Wireless Woods was a huge success & JJ’s Trading Post utilized the and could not have been program to replace inefficient accomplished without EDC windows and furnaces and for assistance and guidance.” a new facade and air conditioning. Wetrosky says the SCDP is a — Jim Sabas, “...outstanding program!” Pine River Mayor
Leech Lake Brewing Company
Jay Cline
4 Years on the Board
Terry Freeman
5 Years on the Board
Bill Palmer
1 Year on the Board
A group of founding members, Dave Johnson, John Weins, John Wetrosky and John Grimley, continue to offer advice.
Neil Smith
3 Years on the Board
Cy Struss
8 Years on the Board
Ex-officio members from Cass County include Bob Kangas and Bob Yochum. Jeff Peterson is an alternate member.
A brewery producing handcrafted beer has located in Walker’s Industrial Park. The EDC assisted business owner Greg Smith, encouraging his idea from a hobby to a business by providing financial counseling, site selection and pricing. Smith was referred to the EDC as a result of an internet search. Project costs total $250,000 with financing from Bank Forward. Initially Smith plans to employ two people.
”The EDC has been an invaluable resource, first helping us with our business plan.” — Leech Lake Brewing Company
