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Albert Lea Business and Industry

Every community has organizations that work tirelessly behind the scenes to make it a better place to live and work, and Albert Lea is no different. Albert Lea has several organizations that strive to build upon their missions. The community has several organizations.

The Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is the promotional agency for Albert Lea and Freeborn County. The mission of the CVB is to “Develop awareness and promote tourism opportunities for both visitors and residents to enjoy the unique assets of Albert Lea and Freeborn County.” The CVB is also available to local residents for community calendar information, business meeting and convention recruitment and assistance, as well as information on area attractions, events, lodging and dining establishments.

The Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce develops and implements programs and services that enable its membership to build stronger and more successful businesses. The Chamber’s mission is to “Promote and develop a healthy and positive business climate and improve the quality of life in Freeborn County.” With a membership of more than 500, the Chamber has a strong voice in our business community.

The Albert Lea Economic Development Agency (ALEDA) can help with your economic development needs in Albert Lea-Freeborn County. ALEDA is comprised of Greater Jobs, Inc. and the Albert Lea Port Authority. ALEDA strives to expand and promote the services and resources to retain, expand, create and attract business and quality employment opportunities in Freeborn County. They are experienced in site selection and can help in locating a building or land for new construction, expansion, or relocation. They can also direct you to financing options available through local, state, regional and federal funds for industrial development. Additional information can be obtained by visiting their website, www.albertleaeconomicdevelopment.com.

In 2004, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, unveiled the JOBZ (Job Opportunity Building Zone) tax incentive program. Albert Lea-Freeborn County acted promptly to secure seven JOBZ project approvals and took the lead in the number of JOBZ projects throughout the state. Adding three additional projects in 2005, we continue to lead the state in the number of JOBZ approved projects. This program has successfully added $72.4 million in capital investment and 438 living wage jobs to the community.

Freeborn County is part of the Positively Southern Minnesota JOBZ Growth Corridor, an area strategically located near interstates 35 and 90. Southern Minnesota has always been a great place for business, providing free-flowing transportation corridors, easy access to markets, a motivated workforce and a low cost of living. Now with the added incentives of the JOBZ program, there’s positively never been a better time to locate in the south.

ALEDA is dedicated to supporting start-up companies and entrepreneurs and in 2002 opened the doors of Albert Lea’s first business incubator. The Albert Lea Business Development Center (ALBDC) offers nearly 42,000 square feet of space. The business center, which has been at 90 percent capacity since opening, builds suites to suit, and touts a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen. The center offers support services for its tenants and meets monthly with local entrepreneurs to provide guest speakers and training opportunities.

In 2004, the center added a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) consultant. Our SBDC consultant aids entrepreneurs and tenants with business assistance, including business assessment and evaluation, financial analysis and loan packaging, marketing and business plan assistance. In 2005, the center collaborated with the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce to re-activate the local SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) group. Albert Lea now boasts a larger and more active SCORE chapter consisting of seven SCORE business counselors. SCORE Counselors of America’s Small Business provide mentoring to business owners and entrepreneurs and will aid the client in writing a business plan.

SBDC and SCORE are both business resource partners of the SBA and services are available to clients at no cost. For more information, visit www.albdc.com

E-commerce & the Internet
We invite you to take a spin through our website! We have assembled a vast amount of information, depicting all aspects of our community.

Our community web portal was recently unveiled to better help the consumer find the information they are looking for, whether it be community information, city services, county services, visitor’s information, or economic development information. You can find the web portal online at www.albertlea.org.

WiFi Internet access is also available in a number of areas including the public library and city center lobby, Ramada Inn and Starbucks.