Crookston's EDA is vital in helping business and housing development. The EDA works in the following areas to make sure Empower Crookston creates entrepreneurial opportunities:

• community and housing incentives

• building and site selection

• financing alternatives

• training opportunities

• business start-up, retention, expansion, and relocation

Taylor Wyum, Community Development Director

twyum@crookston.mn.us – (218) 280-6368

As a part of the University of Minnesota Extension, the Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships bring together community and University knowledge and resources to drive sustainability.

RSDP assists with local projects throughout Greater Minnesota with five regions. The five RSDP boards are comprised of community members and University faculty. The partnership operates  through four focus areas:

• Clean Energy

• Community Resilience

• Natural Resources

• Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems

They support local projects through five regional boards made up of community members and University faculty and staff. They also support multi-region food systems work across Greater Minnesota and provide energy programming through the Clean Energy Resource Teams.

Shannon Stassen, Executive Director of NW RSDP – sstassen@umn.edu – (218) 280-1347

Crystal Rayamajhi, Outreach Specialist, NW RSDP - craya@umn.edu

Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs), is a public-private partnership of four organizations in Minnesota, one of which is RSDP.

CERTs' mission is to connect individuals and communities in Minnesota to the resources they need to identify and implement community-based clean energy projects.

Anna Peterson, NW CERTs Regional Coordinator – annap@umn.edu – (218) 280-8994

Based in Saint Paul, Fresh Energy is an organization that works with clean energy and equal access to its benefits. They are committed to creating communities where everyone can thrive by becoming connected with wind power, solar power, and innovative energy storage.

Fresh Energy has a team of scientists, economists, policy analysts, and educators to find solutions through clean energy.

John Vaughn, Managing Director of Community Development and Finance – vaughn@fresh-energy.org – (612) 408-7418

Headquartered in Fergus Falls, Otter Tail Power Company provides energy services to Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. In addition to supplying energy powered by coal, OTP provides electricity generated through wind power, combustion turbines, solar power, and hydroelectric plants.

Aaron Sigette – asigette@otpco.com – (218) 739-8409