When Lt. Governor Tina Smith congratulated Grede Holdings LLC’s $17.5 million expansion in St. Cloud, she hat-tipped Minnesota Business First Stop.

Minnesota Business First Stop coordinates leadership and resources to develop, site or expand technology, renewable energy or clean technology businesses. Businesses are quickly connected to a network of assistance ensuring efficient delivery of state resources. Since the launch in 2012, Minnesota Business First Stop has worked to solve nine regulatory requests and 13 other requests for assistance.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), one of nine Minnesota Business First Stop partner agencies, assisted Grede in obtaining air permits.

The company is also working with St. Cloud State University to submit a grant application to DEED’s Minnesota Job Skills Partnership to train their employees. If the grant is approved, the two- to three-year training project would include three tracks: Leadership, basic foundry and technical training. All employees -- more than 330 people and when the expansion is completed, 30 new hires -- would receive training at the worksite or in the classroom.

Business First Stop partner agencies also include Department of Agriculture (DOA), Department of Commerce (DOC), Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB), Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI), Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Department of Revenue (DOR).

Minnesota Business First Stop is just one of DEED’s many business and community development programs. To help keep track, DEED has prepared a Resource Guide to Business and Community Development. The guide includes business financing, tax credits and benefits, community financing -- and everything you need to sell Minnesota as the place to build, expand or relocate a business.

For more information about the Resource Guide, email economic.development@state.mn.us.