Development Corporation of Austin

11/03/2025

✨Don't forget to apply for the PROMISE Act Grant! Through a partnership with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation will award $1.3 million in competitive grants to businesses in southern Minnesota to invest in existing operations or planned growth.

Grant awards will range from $10,000 to $50,000 and can be used for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, equipment, and other similar expenses that occur in the regular course of business.

✨Applications close Nov. 17!
For the application and guidelines visit smifoundation.org/promise. Contact Melissa Langer ([email protected]) or Brian Conzemius ([email protected]) with questions.

01/14/2025

Check out what's going on with DCA in our most recent quarterly newsletter!

Development Corporation of Austin Mission: Work closely with public and private sector partners to aggressively market the area to attract new businesses and industries, as well as support existing

01/14/2025

Austin and Mower County Comprehensive Planning is underway. Attend the Open House Wednesday, January 15, to learn more about the project, what we’ve heard from the community so far, and provide your ideas and comments. Details attached.

09/18/2024

Know a small business that would help from non-traditional financing and technical assistance? Here's an opportunity to learn more.

October 3, 11:30 am - 1 pm, Austin Town Center, 329 N. Main St.
Free - lunch served - RSVP required at [email protected].

09/06/2024

Questions about starting up?

Get them answered at our FREE 'How To Start A Business' Workshop on September 19th!
📍This workshop is ideal for anyone looking to start their own business, regardless of industry. No prior business experience is required.
🎫Reserve your seat here: https://mailchi.mp/285b45b0fce7/gu52vba6ds

09/04/2024

🔍 Confused about the new BOI reporting requirement?

Development Corporation of Austin, Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota and Launch are hosting FREE BOI FinCen Training Sessions on Tuesday, September 10th, 2024.
These sessions are designed to provide clear guidance on the BOI reporting process, answer your questions, and ensure your business is ready.
Sessions:
9:00 AM - English & French
11:00 AM - English & (Karen/Karenni/Burmese)
2:00 PM - English & Spanish
Location:
DCA Conference Room, 329 Main St N, Austin, MN 55912
Registration: https://mailchi.mp/93323e34f9d4/boi-fincen-training

08/16/2024

August 22, at 5 pm Riverland Community College and University of Minnesota College of Food, Ag, and Natural Resource Sciences (CFAN) will present information on the "FAARM" project in Mower County. The meeting is open to the public.

08/13/2024

🚨 Attention Small Business Owners! 🚨

New Federal Reporting Requirement Alert: Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI)

Starting January 1, 2024, a new federal law requires most small businesses in the United States to report information about their beneficial owners—the individuals who ultimately own or control the company.
This is not optional, and the deadline for compliance is December 31, 2024.

To help you understand and comply with this new requirement, Development Corporation of Austin, Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota and Launch are hosting FREE BOI FinCen Training Sessions on Tuesday, September 10th, 2024.
These sessions are designed to provide clear guidance on the BOI reporting process, answer your questions, and ensure your business is ready.

Sessions:
9:00 AM - English & French
11:00 AM - English & (Karen/Karenni/Burmese)
2:00 PM - English & Spanish

Location:
DCA Conference Room, 329 Main St N, Austin, MN 55912

Registration:
▪Registration is appreciated but not required. Walk-ins are welcome!
https://mailchi.mp/93323e34f9d4/boi-fincen-training

Why Attend?
▪Understand the new federal law and its implications for your business.
▪Get your questions answered by experts.
▪Learn how to file—it’s simple, secure, and free of charge.
▪Avoid penalties by ensuring your business is compliant before the deadline.
▪Multilingual sessions to accommodate various language needs.

Additional Perks:
▪Door prizes will be given out at each session (must register at the door to be eligible).
▪Snacks and drinks provided for all attendees.

Don’t wait until it’s too late! Compliance with the BOI law is essential to avoid penalties and keep your business in good standing. Join us on September 10th to get all the information you need.

Mark your calendars, share with your network, and see you there!

03/01/2024

📅 Mark your calendar for Thursday, March 7, 2024, and join us for a transformative afternoon from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the YMCA Training Room in Austin. This workshop is not just an event; it's an investment in your business's legacy, offered to you completely free of charge.

Event is FREE and registration is required: https://mailchi.mp/austindca/workshop-business-succession-transition-bst

Business Succession Transition is a plan for what happens to your business when you're ready to step back from running it. This could be due to retirement, deciding to pursue other interests, or even unforeseen circumstances that might prevent you from being involved in the day-to-day operations.

Here's why Business Succession Transition important:
▪️Continuity: You don't want your business to falter when you're not at the helm. A succession plan ensures that your business continues to thrive, maintaining its value and legacy.

▪️Preparation for the Future: It's about preparing your business for the future by identifying who will take over, whether it's a family member, a trusted employee, or someone from outside the business. This planning helps avoid confusion and conflict later on.

▪️Financial Stability: For many business owners, their business is a significant part of their retirement plan. By planning the transition carefully, you can ensure financial stability for yourself and your successors.

▪️Legal and Financial Aspects: There are legal and financial implications involved in handing over a business, including taxes and ownership documents. A good BST plan addresses these aspects, making the transition smooth and compliant with laws.

▪️Communicating with Stakeholders: It's also about letting everyone who's involved with the business—like employees, customers, and suppliers—know about the future changes in a way that keeps them informed and engaged.

Register for our FREE BST Workshop on Thursday, March 7th: https://mailchi.mp/austindca/workshop-business-succession-transition-bst

Development Corporation of Austin E1 Entrepreneurs First SE MN Southeast Minnesota Small Business Development Center - SBDC Austin Area Chamber of Commerce

02/18/2024

Are you a business owner contemplating your next move as your career advances or as you approach retirement? Or perhaps you're a new entrepreneur looking to build a robust foundation for long-term success?

Join us for our Business Succession Transition (BST) Workshop on 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟕𝐭𝐡!

𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://mailchi.mp/austindca/workshop-business-succession-transition-bst

This workshop is designed to guide business owners through the essential steps of planning an effective and smooth business transition or succession.
▪Understand the basics of succession planning and why it's crucial for your business
▪Develop a clear roadmap for successful transition
▪Identify potential successors, whether internal or external
▪Navigate legal and financial aspects of business succession
▪Communicate your plan effectively to stakeholders

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍: 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟑:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌 - 𝟓:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌
𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄: 𝐘𝐌𝐂𝐀 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐦 - 𝟓𝟎𝟏 𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐯𝐞 𝐍𝐄, 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧

Launch - Coworking Space - Austin, MN Austin Area Chamber of Commerce

05/23/2023

An urban planner imagining new ways to think about and visualize land use, urban design and economics, Joe Minicozzi, AICP of Urban3 discussed the reality of market dynamics created by tax and land use policies and the short and long-term impacts on community resources. He was joined by John Garry, President, and CEO of the Development Corporation of Austin who outlined the economic development strategies driving growth and opportunity in Austin, Minnesota.

Impact Austin MN // City of Austin, Minnesota // Mower County Government // Discover Austin, Minnesota // Velocity Group

05/23/2023

In this session, we were joined by Brad Lonberger and Ivan Gonzalez from Place Strategies as they highlighted models of collaborative public policy between cities and counties, as well as outlined the purpose and positive impact of aligned comprehensive land use planning, with specific focus on downtown master plans.

They were joined by Trish Harren, County Administrator for Mower County Government and Craig Clark, City Administrator for City of Austin, Minnesota who highlighted current collaborations and future joint projects.

Impact Austin MN // Discover Austin, Minnesota // Velocity Group