Sherburne County economic development office highlights housing, workforce and child‑care initiatives

Sherburne County's economic development staff told commissioners on Tuesday that business outreach, workforce partnerships, and housing programs have been the office’s primary focus during the past year.

Brian (economic development director) said staff completed more than 60 individualized business visits across the county to understand needs and identify priorities. Key takeaways include ongoing workforce shortages for certain skilled trades and health occupations — notably machinists, nurses, commercial drivers (CDLs) and teachers — and an increased emphasis among employers on partnerships with high schools for on‑the‑job training and career and technical education pathways.

The county has used its revolving loan fund for business finance tied to job growth. Brian said one existing portfolio business — Peachtree Family Institute — was approved for a $100,000 revolving‑loan package to purchase a building in Elk River; the expansion is expected to create eight new jobs and generate an estimated $1 million in economic impact over time.

On housing, staff reported the recently established Sherburne County Housing Trust Fund has launched a homeowner rehabilitation loan program for existing housing stock. The first approved applicant completed a well replacement and system overhaul under the program; the project will be repaid through special assessments over a 10‑year period.

Child care was a recurring theme. Brian demonstrated an interactive county childcare-availability map that lets parents search for specific openings (for infants, toddlers, etc.). The map indexes roughly 140 providers and displays only providers that report current availability; users can click contact details to call providers directly. Staff said implementation required no outside funding and that neighboring counties have expressed interest in using the model.

The presentation also described regional coordination through Region 7W, outreach on major transportation projects (including a Zimmerman area County Road 4 project and MnDOT’s 169 corridor work), and the county’s marketing and entrepreneur support efforts — including online cohorts, the Initiative Foundation Enterprise Academy, and an online business lab run with the Rural Ideas Network.

Commissioners praised results-oriented outcomes, urged staff to push state implementation details on anticipated paid‑leave rules to local businesses, and asked staff to coordinate distribution of the childcare map through chambers of commerce. No formal action was required for the update.