How can we help your business?

We are powering communities and locally-owned businesses with more than just electricity.  The Cooperative's economic development objectives are to increase beneficial electric sales, create job opportunities, and enhance the quality of life in the communities we serve.

Watch this brief video to learn more about the impact of our economic development efforts in southeast Minnesota.

Economic Development Resources

We work with all our community led Economic Development Authorities, and encourage businesses to check with local agencies for local aid.

We believe that Electric Vehicles provide an important element of future growth in many business sectors, and are excited to aid companies looking at this option.

  • PEC EVs
  • The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association has several reports on the emerging technologies of electric vehicles for commercial application. Please contact staff to receive a copy.

People’s Energy Cooperative recognizes the economic growth of the region depends on being able to house a growing workforce, and we are working to help make those homes and all new construction as affordable and efficient as possible.

In addition to People’s Energy Cooperative’s Revolving Loan Fund, several other programs serve the regions need for start-up and operational capital.

Calling all MN-based farmers, agricultural entrepreneurs, and food businesses! You are invited to apply to join the Harvest Entrepreneur Network (HEN), a free technical assistance program led by Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA). Through HEN, CEDA’s professional staff will provide free, one-on-one coaching to help with everything from crafting business plans to writing grants to deploying strategies for marketing. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but spots are limited so apply today.

The HEN program also recently launched a number of free online resources, including recorded webinars on marketing, grant writing, and legal issues, as well as a new HEN Toolkit that covers many of the common issues agricultural entrepreneurs face. To access these resources and apply for free business coaching and assistance, visit Agricultural (cedausa.com). This program is made possible in part by funding from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

CEDA is a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization dedicated to innovative community development practices and business growth in small towns. To learn more about HEN or CEDA, please contact Courtney Bergey Swanson at courtney.bergey@cedausa.com or 507-251-9272.  

Finding a Site

The Cooperative maintains a list of available sites and can provide assistance in finding a site suitable to your business needs.  Featured commercial and industrial development sites include:

Oronoco Crossings
6+ acres in Oronoco, MN

Tebay's Industrial Park 
17+ acres in Stewartville, MN

Elgin Business Park
7.5 acres in Elgin, MN

 176 acres near Eyota, MN

Dover Industrial Park
15 acres in Dover, MN

Enterprise Drive Development Park
9 acres in Chatfield, MN

Schumann Business Park
35+ acres in Stewartville, MN

County Road 10 Development Area
60 acres in Chatfield, MN

Bucknell Industrial Park 
4+ acres in Stewartville, MN

 

 

Rebates & Incentives

All members are eligible for prescriptive rebates, which is to replace or upgrade common equipment.  Custom rebates are determined on a case-by-case basis for qualifying energy efficient agriculture, commercial, and industrial equipment or energy savings measures. 

Businesses that utilize large amounts of electricity may be eligible for incentive rates and should contact economic development staff if they wish to discuss further.

For information about our rebate program, click below.

Rebate Program

Community Grant Resources

Cost Share Grant Program 

Thanks to matching grant funds from Dairyland Power Cooperative, communities within the PEC service territory are eligible for grant dollars that support economic development marketing activities and training events. Eligible projects include marketing activities such as advertising, marketing collateral, signage, and media as well as sponsorship of training events such as workshops, forums, and conferences.  Contact Marty Walsh at (507) 367-7050 or by clicking below to email a request for an application.

Contact Us

Operation Round-Up Grant Program

The Cooperative administers a grant program called Operation Round Up®, which supports economic development projects in addition to a variety of charitable, educational, community, and youth-related programs and events. Eligible activities include:

  • Programs and projects designed to promote greater economic stability by helping to expand and diversify local economies, with emphasis on business retention and expansion, new business development, and tourism.
  • Programs and projects that encourage cooperation among regional and community economic development organizations.
  • Community leadership programs designed to improve problem solving skills and empower people to become self-reliant in identifying solutions to local economic and social problems.

For more information about Operation Round Up, click below.

Learn More

Contact Information

To request a loan application, explore available properties, or learn more about our economic development programs, please contact Marty Walsh at (507) 367-7050 or by email at mwalsh@peoplesenergy.coop.