Economic Development Week is a time to celebrate the people and programs that power local economies. Here in Southeastern Minnesota, that means focusing on small businesses, rural innovation, and embracing emerging technologies. At IgniteMN, we believe the future of economic development in small towns lies at the intersection of entrepreneurship and technology.
Small Businesses Create the Future
Small businesses are more than just job creators, they’re anchors of community, resilience, and opportunity. And supporting them isn’t just good economics, it’s essential to the future of Minnesota. According to recent data, over 75% of net new jobs in rural areas are created by businesses with fewer than 10 employees. These are the makers, bakers, coders, and creators who are quietly fueling local economies, and they deserve tailored support, access to innovation tools, and a connected community to thrive.
At IgniteMN, we serve as a regional hub for innovation, connecting entrepreneurs, educators, and business leaders across Southeastern Minnesota with the tools, training, and talent they need to grow.
As the Center on Rural Innovation notes in a recent article, “Tech-based economic development (TBED) helps communities build resilience by growing and retaining local talent, diversifying economies, and creating pathways to high-quality jobs.”
Whether it’s helping a solo founder in Red Wing prototype a product using AI or supporting a food startup in Winona as they expand into new markets, our goal is simple:
Make rural entrepreneurship more possible, profitable, and future-ready.
Artificial Intelligence, automation, and digital infrastructure are no longer “big city” trends. They are becoming essential tools for small-town entrepreneurs to compete on a global scale.
But technology alone won’t transform a rural economy, it takes an entire support system. Through mentorship programs, pitch competitions like the Ignite Cup, access to coworking and maker spaces, and partnerships with local schools and colleges, IgniteMN is building that support system one entrepreneur at a time.
Innovation Knows No Borders
Rural doesn’t mean behind. It means resourceful, rooted, and ready. As we celebrate Economic Development Week, let’s recommit to building innovation ecosystems that don’t leave anyone out and recognize the power that small businesses have to transform communities when given the tools to grow.
Today, we invite you to be part of the movement driving rural innovation forward. You can support the work IgniteMN does by donating, volunteering your time and expertise, or simply just showing up. Attend an event, mentor a founder, or share the story of a local entrepreneur. Every action helps build a stronger, more resilient economy in Southeastern Minnesota, powered by the creativity and determination of our region’s small businesses.
