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Oak Park Heights is facing a challenge that most economic development teams dream about: businesses keep moving there. Demand is high for expansion into this community along the St. Croix River, while commercial space is increasingly limited.“We don’t have a lot of vacancies, and more businesses want to come to...
The City of Bayport is a community of 3,000 tucked along the St. Croix River in Washington County, Minnesota. It’s a 30-minute drive to the heart of Minneapolis, with easy access to quiet Wisconsin communities just across the river. However, Bayport plays an important role in East Metro MSP. It...
The Washington County Community Development Agency (CDA) is committed to helping small business owners across East Metro MSP. There are several grants, incentives, resources, and other programs available to help companies grow. Whether you are an entrepreneur launching your first business or a seasoned community leader expanding your operations, there...
The award-winning Career Connections program is growing in Washington County, with teacher participation nearly doubling last year and new businesses reaching out to invite educators to their facilities. In 2025, 55 teachers participated in this three-day externship, meeting with various employers and learning about the region's workforce needs. “We...
The City of Stillwater, Minnesota, recently added Jason Zimmerman as its new Community Development Director. Zimmerman grew up on the west side of the Twin Cities and is excited to embrace life in Stillwater while shaping its future.“I work with a very enthusiastic and team-oriented group of people in City...
EXCITE 2025 was recently recognized by the Economic Development Association of Minnesota (EDAM) for connecting educators with local businesses across a variety of industries. EXCITE 2025 received an Innovation Award at EDAM’s annual winter conference, celebrating a program that develops creative solutions to economic development challenges.“I continue to be impressed...
