SEMDC is a private non-profit agency that has been in existence for 20 years, successfully providing a variety of services to counties and communities in Southeast Minnesota including: assisting businesses in start-ups, expansions and relocations;  assisting communities with their infrastructure financing; assisting with Small Cities Development Program Applications and Administration; assisting entrepreneurs in business plan creation, financial packaging, marketing and cash flow analysis;  assisting communities and developers with assisted, senior, work-force and market-rate housing throughout the area;  assisting communities with grant writing expertise; strategic planning and other economic and community development issues.

SEMDC continues a relationship as a satellite office of the Small Business Development Center, assisting lending institutions with financial packaging that includes: SBA loans, conventional bank financing and local revolving loan fund processing.  SEMDC also assists clients in marketing, business plan creation/updating and training.  These confidential, one–on-one services are at no cost to the client.

Through the Community Support Program, SEMDC currently assists 16 communities and four county organizations with their economic and community development needs.  SEMDC currently has affiliations with Houston, Fillmore, Goodhue and Winona Counties as well as the cities of Chatfield, Plainview, Eyota, Lewiston, St. Charles, Lake City,  Blooming Prairie, Rushford, LeRoy, Mabel, West Concord, Caledonia, Harmony, Preston, Grand Meadow, Rushford Village, as well as the RINTEK organization.

Our staff from left to right;

Ron Zeigler, Linda Grover, Sherry Hines, Michelle Vreize,

Cris Gastner, Joyce Iverson, Chris Heinenmen,

Georgene Hatlevig, and Steve Gronseth

Current Board Members Are;

Bill Rohe—Chairman, CEO-Security State Bank

Mike Jones, Blooming Prairie City Administrator

Art Raak,CPA

Brian Krambeer, President/CEO-Tri-County Electric

Dwayne Lee, Development Director-504 Corp.

Bill Waller, La Crescent City Administrator

Mark McGrory, Senior V.P.-Merchants Bank

Ann Thompson, Houston County Commissioner

Cheri Kramer, CAO-LCMC Mayo Health Systems

Rich Bodensteiner, V.P of Mfg.-Hearth & Home Technologies

F. Mike Tuohy, Chairman-Tuohy Furniture

Jim Hoiness, Owner - Rushford, Harmony & Preston Foods