Business & Workforce Development
Resources for Business Development
Otter Tail County recognizes the importance of a strong economy that provides opportunities for residents to live, work, and play throughout the county. Business development and retention is a unique and multi-faceted component of the county’s community development efforts, which are performed by the Community Development Agency (CDA).
Find resources for your unique business situation, stage, and needs. Click here for a summary of resources.
Subscribe to the business development newsletter with information about the business resources and economic development efforts.
Financial Resources
Start-Up Businesses
The following organizations offer grants and loans for start-up businesses.
- West Central Initiative – Small Enterprise Loan Fund
- Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation – Small Dollar Loan Fund
- Launch Minnesota – Innovation Grants
- Small Business Administration – 7(a) Loan Program
- USDA Rural Development – Rural Business Development Grant
Building & Property Improvements
The following organizations offer grants and loans to make building and property improvements for businesses.
- Otter Tail County
- Community Growth Partnership Grants for commercial rehabilitation projects within limits of participating cities
- Septic System Loan Program to replace non-compliant subsurface sewage treatment systems (SSTS)
- Community-specific programs – Check with the city that your business is in to learn about available grant and loan programs
- Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation – Community Builder Loans
- MinnPACE – Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for new or existing buildings
- USDA Rural Development – Rural Energy for America Program
Growth & Expansion
The following organizations offer grants and loans for businesses that are growing and expanding.
- Otter Tail County – Tax Abatement
- West Central Initiative
- Small Enterprise Loan Fund
- Business & Industry Loan Fund
- Access to Capital Loans
- City of Fergus Falls – Intermediary Relending Program revolving fund (available throughout Otter Tail County)
- Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation
- Small Dollar Loan Fund
- Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
- Small Business Administration – 504 Loan Program
- USDA Rural Development – Rural Business Development Grant
- Great River Energy
- Business Expansion Loan Program
- Energy Efficiency & Electrification Fund
- Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Program (USDA funds pass through the rural electric cooperative to the ultimate business recipient)
Industry-Specific Funding Opportunities
The following organizations offer grants and loans for industry-specific projects.
- Housing Development
- Otter Tail County – Housing Finance Programs
- Agriculture and Food
- West Central Initiative – Good Food Loan Fund
- Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation – Healthy Food Business Loans
- USDA Rural Development – Value Added Producer Grants
- Child Care
- West Central Initiative – Child Care Loans
- Child Care Aware
- First Children’s Finance
Advising & Coaching
One-on-One Consulting
The following organizations offer one-on-one consulting and coaching for new and existing business owners.
Workshops & Webinars
The following organizations offer live and on-demand workshops and webinar for all business owners to learn about a wide variety of topics.
Networking & Relationship Building
The following organizations offer events and cohorts for business owners and entrepreneurs to network and build relationships.
Succession & Transition Planning
The following organizations offer advising and education resources for businesses planning to sell or transition owners.
Emerging Opportunities & Specialized Support
AI Tools for Small Businesses
The West Central Minnesota SBDC offers a free AI Resource Lab to help small businesses explore how artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and others can boost productivity, streamline operations, and enhance marketing.
They have resources for everyone, beginners to experts, that will help you pick the right AI tool, use tools for the first time, learn to get the results you want from AI tools, and integrate AI to improve your efficiency.
Federal Contracting Assistance
Businesses in Otter Tail County can unlock new revenue by selling their products and services to federal government agencies. The Small Business Administration (SBA) and other partners provide several programs to help businesses win federal contracts.
- Contracting Assistance Programs
- HUBZone Program: All of Otter Tail County is designated as a HUBZone. Businesses can become certified under this program to be eligible to compete for set-aside contracts.
- APEX Accelerator: APEX Accelerator provides counseling and procurement technical assistance to businesses interested in selling their products and services to the government.
Workforce & Training
More information about County workforce initiatives and training resources is available on the Workforce Development page.
Available Properties
Data & Demographics
- Otter Tail County Demographics (MN State Demographic Center)
- County Profile (MN DEED)
- Labor Market Data (MN DEED)
- Employment & Wage Data (MN DEED)
- Unemployment Insurance Data (MN DEED)
- Employment Market Interactive Map (Census)
- Census Quick Facts
- Cost of Living Tool (MN DEED)
- County Financial Data Search and Comparison