Economic development Archives - Great River Energy
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Economic development

Putting down roots in the communities they serve

Community, Cooperatives, Economic development, Member-owner cooperatives /

Member-owners reinvest in their service territory by building new headquarters, operational facilities Great River Energy’s member-owner cooperatives have served their memberships with reliable, affordable electricity for nearly 90 years, and many are committing even further to these communities for decades to come as they construct modern operational facilities. While much of the reasoning behind the […]

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Powering progress in rural Minnesota

Economic development, Member-owner cooperatives /

Great River Energy’s E3 Commercial Financing Program brings value to communities Through its Energy Efficiency and Electrification (E3) Commercial Financing Program, Great River Energy provides a stable, affordable financing tool to help member-owner cooperatives and their communities invest in high-efficiency equipment and innovative electrification projects. The result? Long-term energy savings, economic resilience and measurable carbon

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Cabin country is co-op country

Beneficial electrification, Community, Cooperatives, Economic development, Member-owner cooperatives /

Electric cooperatives support local tourism by powering many of Minnesota’s lake resorts Minnesota’s iconic lake resorts are the heartbeat of many rural communities. They generate economic activity, preserve traditions and offer visitors an unforgettable escape into nature. With 11,842 lakes and 755 resorts and lodges across the state, these businesses, which are often family owned,

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East Central Energy’s financing program sees busy year

Community, Cooperatives, Economic development, Member-owner cooperatives /

The board of directors for Great River Energy member-owner cooperative East Central Energy (ECE) approved four new Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) loans in 2024, providing $730,000 in financing to support a variety of economic development and business expansion projects in east central Minnesota. From food processing to fire trucks, this RLF — supported by the

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Investing where they serve

Cooperatives, Economic development, Member-owner cooperatives /

New headquarters demonstrate cooperative focus on economic development Many Great River Energy member-owner cooperatives have recognized the need to update their headquarters buildings, service centers and other facilities in recent years to better serve their members and ensure the safety of their staff. The unique ways they have approached these projects have created significant economic

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Senior living projects address greater housing demand

Community, Cooperatives, Economic development, Member-owner cooperatives /

Access to housing is a challenging theme in communities throughout the United States. Housing shortages exist for nearly all demographics and age brackets. The situation for individuals and couples seeking places to retire or needing health services is no different. Creating a greater supply of senior living offers hope for those entering the silver years

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New fire engine ready to serve Jamestown area

Community, Company news, Cooperatives, Economic development, Safety /

The Jamestown Rural Fire Department’s newest truck has arrived and is ready to keep the community safe, thanks in part to a $25,000 donation from Great River Energy. The department covers a wide area surrounding Jamestown, North Dakota, including Great River Energy’s combined heat and power plant Spiritwood Station and the homes of many employees

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Stearns Electric secures $1.5M USDA loan to support the state’s first whey-based distillery

Community, Cooperatives, Economic development, Member-owner cooperatives /

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a $1.5 million loan to Stearns Electric Association through the Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Program (REDLG) to support the owners of Redhead Creamery in their efforts to establish an innovative on-farm distillery that uses the leftover whey from their cheesemaking process to produce premium distilled

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Unique loan program supports advanced manufacturing

Community, Cooperatives, Economic development, Member-owner cooperatives /

The Energy Efficient Equipment (E3) Loan Program administered by Great River Energy is seeing an uptick in activity as businesses work to overcome challenges related to workforce shortages, inflationary interest rates, and increased shipping and material costs. One recent example is Midstate Plastics Corporation, a thermoforming and injection molded plastics manufacturer based in the northern

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Stearns Electric supports manufacturing facility expansion

Cooperatives, Economic development, Member-owner cooperatives /

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a $1.5 million loan to Stearns Electric Association, one of Great River Energy’s 27 member-owner cooperatives, to support the expansion of the Berkon Outdoors manufacturing facility. Berkon Industries, LLC was established in 2001 as an all-cedar dock manufacturing company owned and operated by entrepreneur Eric Berscheid. Berkon

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