Brookings Economic Development Corporation

Workforce events to be held in Brookings July 25

BROOKINGS – Brookings Economic Development Corporation is hosting the Brookings Area Workforce Conference on Thursday, July 25, at the Swiftel Center. The conference seeks to address issues facing the region’s employers and help them find solutions for continued growth and success. “One of our workforce priorities is sharing best practices and ideas to assist our…

Workforce demand is strong

Brookings’ workforce demand is strong, with more than 1,200 job openings reported recently in the Brookings area and more than 700 additional positions planned in the next three years. That’s according to the Brookings Economic Development Corporation’s recent survey of area employers to better understand Brookings’ current and future workforce needs. The survey results will…

Brookings City Council agrees to commit $2M for grant application for 20th St. S. interchange

BROOKINGS – The Brookings City Council voted 6-0 Tuesday to commit the funding required for the Brookings Economic Development Corporation’s application for a Federal BUILD Grant, to help fund the development of an interchange to cross Interstate 29 at 20th Street South. An amendment laid out a condition that the interchange’s future maintenance be funded…

BEDC seeks community input for retail study

Brookings County residents and workers asked to complete survey by May 6 Today’s rapidly evolving retail environment presents significant challenges to communities like Brookings who have historically struggled to recruit national retailers. By taking a look at historical, current and projected trends, local economic development professionals are hoping to identify solutions to best position Brookings…

Welcome Social for Brookings Newcomers

BROOKINGS – The Brookings newcomer program, Beyond Connections, will host a Welcome Social for new residents and community members from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, April 25, at The Pheasant Restaurant & Lounge. The goal of the event is for new residents to network with others in the community. “Whether you moved here three months ago or…

Brookings 2019 Idea Competition Winners Announced

Brookings Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) announced the winners of the annual Idea Competition on Wednesday, Feb. 27 at a public reception held at the Research Park at SDSU. This year marked the twelfth year of the contest, which encourages Brookings area residents and SDSU students to think about starting new businesses or expanding product lines…

Focused Planning, Impactful Results…Economic Development in Brookings

By: Kristi Larsen, BEDC Marketing Director Brookings is recognized throughout the region for its progressive and collaborative approach to growth and development. What role does economic development play in this community building initiative? Economic development is a process that seeks to improve the economic well-being of a region through business development, job creation and wealth…

Entrepreneurs: ACTION LEADS TO IMPACT

By: Jennifer Quail, BEDC Director of Entrepreneur Support Entrepreneurs come in all sizes and shapes, from all walks of life and across all markets and industry sectors. One “title” for such a varied and diverse group seems a bit misrepresented or under appreciated. So, what is the common thread that binds this group together? Is…

YEP! New entrepreneur program for kids starts this fall

By: Jennifer Quail, BEDC Director of Entrepreneur Support YEP, you can do it! We all know how impactful positive words and encouragement can be. I’d like to think we all have at least one story or memory of someone giving us encouragement, sharing kind words or simply a smile that made a difference. Positivity and…

Tools to Assist Employers

By: Stacy Aesoph, BEDC Director of Workforce Development When we meet with regional employers and HR professionals, we are looking to find out what challenges they are experiencing, what is working well and what their hiring needs are. From there, we determine how Brookings Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) can help, what tools we can provide,…