Partnering for Growth with Minnesota Marketing Partnership

The mission of the Fairmont Economic Development Authority (FEDA) is to support the successful growth and pride of Fairmont area businesses and citizens, and part of carrying out this mission is to not only retain existing businesses in the area but also to attract new ones.  FEDA’s membership in the Minnesota Marketing Partnership is one way they do this. 

This public-private partnership is facilitated through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and is a way for communities to promote themselves, Minnesota and the business economy at local, regional and national conferences and events. 

Linsey Preuss, Economic Development Coordinator of the Fairmont Economic Development Authority finds the membership invaluable. 

“Our involvement with the Minnesota Marketing Partnership has allowed us to establish relationships with site selectors and consultants who represent businesses in the industries we are looking to attract,” says Preuss. “Through these relationships, we become aware of what businesses are looking for, such as easy access to the interstate, visibility, shovel-ready land, workforce development strategies, etc.  This allows Fairmont to be considered for projects, and participating in these events also enables us to strategize on how to strengthen our business attraction efforts.”

Fairmont wants to attract businesses in a variety of industries with a focus on those in value-added agriculture, advanced manufacturing and distribution. As such, Preuss has represented Fairmont at two targeted events so far this year and plans to attend one more in December. 

First, she attended an Indoor Ag Conference in Las Vegas in May. Here, she established new contacts and built relationships in the flourishing indoor and advanced agriculture industry.

She also went on a Familiarization Tour in Dallas, Texas with other state, regional and local representatives from Minnesota, and met with targeted businesses and site selectors. The goal of this visit was to expand awareness about establishing, expanding or relocating to Minnesota, a goal that was met. 

Finally, Preuss will head back to Texas - this time to Houston - in December for a Consultants Forum and meet with consultants and site selectors representing a wide variety of industries.  

“We need to be proactive and spend time recruiting businesses to Fairmont and these events are an efficient and effective way to do that. We walk away with several new relationships with people representing clients, including those who are specifically looking for a site for their next expansion or relocation project,” says Preuss. 

Preuss now has another benefit that she can discuss at these meetings: a new, 40-acre industrial park that the city is building, thanks to a grant from DEED. 

“Because there will be immediate access to fiber, electricity, sewer and water, a company could come in and save a lot of time and expenses as the site will have all the needed infrastructure readily available for a business to connect to,” she says. It has a targeted fall 2020 completion date.

For more information on establishing, expanding or relocating your business to Fairmont, please contact the Fairmont Economic Development Authority. 

"The Fairmont Economic Development Authority (FEDA) coordinates and administers economic development initiatives for the City of Fairmont, MN. It serves as a comprehensive and premier resource for businesses seeking to startup, grow and locate in the area. FEDA’s priorities include business retention and expansion, financing, workforce development, recruitment, site development, housing and business startup. FEDA prides itself as a growing resource for Fairmont, MN news."