On July 21, 2016, CEDA partnered with Journey to Growth (J2G) on an innovative pilot project entitled the Regional Development Tour. This event toured and emphasized the assets of four southeastern MN communities: Stewartville,Blooming Prairie, Dodge Center, and Byron.
Attendees were provided relevant information about development opportunities, incentives, and interesting facts about each community. In addition, a post-event reception was hosted at the Ground Round in Rochester, MN which allowed for continued networking.
According to Rochester developer Joe Weis of Weis Builders, “This was the most creative approach to getting information out on southeastern Minnesota communities [he has] seen. It was a very unique and worthwhile event.”
The feedback on the Tour has been overwhelmingly positive, and CEDA leadership shared that the organization will be hosting another event in June of 2017 in four different CEDA communities.
“As an organization, CEDA knows that our communities have a lot to offer. The enthusiastic feedback we have gotten about the tour shows us that this concept is a way to share that message on a broader scale,” said CEDA Senior Vice President Cris Gastner.
Thank you to Regional Development Tour sponsors:
Title Sponsors: Rochester City Lines and Rochester International Airport
Supporting Sponsors: People’s Energy Cooperative and Widseth Smith Nolting