By Joshua Schuetz
In August, CEDA’s 2024 Regional Development Tour brought together local leaders and regional representatives to explore communities across southern Minnesota, highlighting their achievements and showcasing local businesses. The tour offered participants a firsthand look at the innovations driving growth in the region.
This year, the spotlight was on Lake Crystal, Le Sueur, and Mapleton, with a packed schedule covering key areas like education, child care, and agricultural production. Jack Wheeler, a CEDA team member who led the tour, emphasized the value of engaging with these communities.
“We started with a tour of the Maple River School District’s new facility, which includes unique amenities like direct playground access for each preschool classroom,” Wheeler explained. “We also did a cheese tasting at Agropur and enjoyed lunch from Infusion Baking Company, based in Lake Crystal.”
Local leaders played a key role in the event, with Lake Crystal Mayor Todd Wiens, Mapleton Mayor Jeff Annis, and Le Sueur City Administrator Joe Roby in attendance. They shared insights into their cities’ projects, achievements, and ongoing challenges, fostering dialogue with other attendees.
Wheeler highlighted how the event facilitated networking and the exchange of ideas, noting that local officials could share strategies for tackling challenges within their own communities.
“One great example of information sharing came from Bricelyn’s city clerk, who asked about aquatic amenities in the communities on the tour since they’re working on similar projects,” he said.
Le Sueur’s City Administrator Joe Roby also sparked interest among participants by discussing the arrival of a new cannabis business in his community. “This was a major point of interest for other city officials in attendance, as they’re facing similar questions about these businesses right now,” Wheeler added.
Representatives from regional economic development groups, including the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation and the Region Nine Development Commission, also participated in the tour. Lake Crystal, Le Sueur, and Mapleton each had a video created by CEDA on their behalf. According to Wheeler, feedback from attendees and communities was overwhelmingly positive.
“People appreciated the hands-on approach these cities took,” he said. “While organizing the tour involves a lot of moving parts, we’re proud of this year’s success and look forward to building on it next year.”