Business Center Spurs Innovation in NW MN

Media Contact:
Cam Fanfulik
Northwest Regional Development Commission (NWRDC) &
Northwest Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) Steering Committee Member
218-745-9112; cfanfulik@nwrdc.org

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KENNEDY, MN – What is a “business incubator” and how could it benefit your work and community? Join Northwest Clean Energy Resource Team (NW CERT) Thursday, June 23rd at 10 a.m. for a “Meet ‘n Greet” tour of the Kennedy GO GREEN Business Incubator & Renewable Energy Training Center facility, led by Mayor Todd Truedson, to find out!

We’ll learn about Kennedy’s innovative business model, its contemporary training, and educational opportunities. The general public is invited to learn how their business, organization, municipality, school, or community can benefit from Kennedy’s knowledge.

The Center promotes small business development, providing a site for business start-ups with shared access of resources in order to keep business operating costs low. Renewable energy plays a factor in this as savings are passed on to businesses who occupy the building. For those who may be interested, space is currently available for lease.

The tour will visit the Center’s installations, including geothermal heat pumps (GHPs), a 33kw wind turbine, a 5kW PV solar electric system, a solar water-heating system, compact fluorescent lighting and window film.

Attendees will get a behind-the-scenes look and speak one-on-one with the innovators behind this project to have their questions answered. This meeting is free and open to the public.

RSVP: Reserve your space now! Register online for this free event: http://bit.ly/ihG66v

THE BASICS:

• Who: Business owners, entrepreneurs, educators, and community leaders and members in NW MN
• What: Free tour of Kennedy GO Green Business Incubator & Renewable Energy Training Center, led by Mayor Todd Truedson
• When: Thursday, June 23, 2011 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Where: Kennedy GO GREEN Business Incubator & Renewable Energy Training Center, 306 W. 3rd Street, Kennedy, MN 56733
• How: This event is free and open to the public. Register online: http://bit.ly/ihG66v
• Why: To learn how Kennedy’s innovative business model & knowledge could improve your business, organization, municipality, school, or community!

This event is part of NW Clean Energy Resource Team (NW CERT)‘s “Meet ‘n Greet” series of site visits/tours around the Northwest Region. Join NW CERT to learn about energy efficiency and renewable energy efforts underway around the region. Check out the May 2011 Meet ‘n Greet in Bemidji: http://bit.ly/ilcGGv

ABOUT CERTs: The Clean Energy Resource Teams connect Minnesotans and their communities with resources to identify and implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The Clean Energy Resource Teams are diverse—individuals; small business owners; farmers; members of community groups; local utility representatives; educators; local, state and federal government staff and elected leaders—and all share a common interest: They want strong communities, local jobs, and secure, clean, reliable energy.

CERTs is a partnership of the University of Minnesota’s Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, Eureka Recycling, Southwest Regional Development Commission, The Minnesota Project, and Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources. Learn more at www.mncerts.org.