Economic Development

Economic Development efforts focus on attracting and supporting businesses, creating jobs, and fostering sustainable growth. People’s Energy Cooperative plays an active role by providing infrastructure, energy solutions, and partnerships that benefit the entire community.

Support for Your Business

Economic Development Resources

Community Grant Resources

Development Site Opportunities

Rebates & Incentives

Electric Vehicle Charging

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.

Economic Development Resources

People's Energy Cooperative has established a Rural Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund to further the public purpose of economic development through joint public and private investments consistent with the mission of the Cooperative. Eligible applicants include public authorities and private ventures undertaking eligible projects which include, but are not limited to:

Commercial and industrial site development
Municipal infrastructure in support of commercial and industrial site development
Purchase of machinery and equipment or working capital
Community projects and projects that provide education and/or healthcare

Ineligible projects include, but are not limited to:

Agricultural production
Refinancing existing debt
Electric or telephone infrastructure purchase
Any illegal activity

Contact Marty Walsh at People's Energy Cooperative for more information on terms and how to apply.

In addition, several other programs serve the region's need for start-up and operational capital.

People’s Energy Cooperative works with many other regional agencies to promote the growth of Southeast Minnesota, each with their own programs and approach.

Dairyland Power Cooperative	Rochester Area Economic Development, Inc.
Community and Economic Development Associates, Inc.	Small Business Development Center - SE Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development	Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
Southern Minnesota Economic Impact Study	United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development

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.
1. Preparing to Plug In Your Fleet

Looking for more information about our electric vehicle charging programs? Visit Energize Your Drive to understand our incentive rates and electric vehicle charger rebates.

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 (507) 251-9272.

Community Grant Resources

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) 923-5806 to request an application.

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

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

Scholarship Application Available:

Economic Development

How can we help your business?

Economic Development Resources

Community Grant Resources

Rebates & Incentives

QUICK LINKS

CONTACT US

Scholarship Application Available:

How can we help your business?

Economic Development Resources

Financing

Local Government Economic Development

Regional Partners

Electric Vehicles

New Construction

Economic Development - Agriculture and Farming

Community Grant Resources

Cost Share Grant Program

Operation Round-Up Grant Program

Rebates & Incentives