The City of Preston Economic Development Authority (EDA) is committed to the growth and expansion of businesses, jobs and community development in the City of Preston. The EDA can assist with, Loans/Grants, Business Development, and Site Selection. The following is a list with links to business and community tools. For more information, contact Gabby Kinneberg, EDA Director at: gkinneberg@prestonmn.org, or 507-765-2153
EDA Board Members:
- Dwight Luhmann – Board Chair
- Jon Ebner – Vice Chair
- Jon DeVries – Member
- Kristy Richards – Member
- Erik Topness – Member
- Robert Maust – Member/City Council Representative
- Dean Aug – Member/City Council Representative
EDA Economic Development Projects
- Preston Livability Website – www.prestonmnchamber.com/livability This is a partnership project with the Preston Area Chamber of Commerce that showcases community assets. The tab offers those wishing to live or recreate in Preston the opportunity to gather information to make decisions or further inquire about why to live or recreate in Preston. This was partially funded through a SMIF grant.
- Preston Commercial Inventory Website – a newly created web page where people can list/view commercial space that is either for lease or for sale. View it here.
- Minnesota Small Business Development Center Partnership – The City of Preston has a partnership with the SBDC office in Rochester which provides quality assistance and services to business and entrepreneurs. The SBDC offers at no cost, confidential consulting to help businesses in SE MN identify, understand and overcome the challenges of starting a business, running a successful business, and developing exist strategies. For assistance contact mark.thein@rctc.edu or phone 507-459-2736.
- Preston Job and Career Fair – A community job fair held in 2019 in person and online for the public. For students and introduction to the job fair and a career fair. Each served a purpose to introduce students to jobs, experience job recruitment, and career exploration. Additionally, panelist and area experts provided students with both education and guidance while they began to think about how to incorporate their passion into their first career choices.
- Preston Veterans Home 54 resident skilled nursing care facility for Veterans. Currently under construction and set to be open mid-2023. Click here for more information or watch the progress LIVE here.
- National Trout Center the National Trout Center was an economic development venture that was started in 2010. The center closed in 2021. To learn more about trout fishing and the driftless area go here.
- Preston Walking Tour the Preston Historical Society walking tour is a self-guided walking or driving tour of the heritage of Preston. This project was a partnership between Preston EDA, Preston Historical Society and Preston Tourism. View the walking tour here.
- Preston’s NW Industrial Park Please contact the EDA for site selection as there are limited sites available. Industrial Park plat
- Spare Change Round Up Program Preston Public Utility Customers can round up their utility bill in an effort to raise funds for non-profit groups in the community. Click Here to Download the Guidelines and Application
- Small Cities Development Grant sunset December of 2018. This program assisted with the rehab of 8 block around the Fillmore County Courthouse square in downtown Preston. It put $933,000 into projects. 70% of that was grants and 30% was low interest loans. Improved rental units and commercial buildings.
- Local Small Cities Development Grant is an opportunity for businesses to take advantage of forgivable loans that help rehabilitate buildings and apartments in the downtown business district. Click Here for Guidelines
- Preston Housing Committee was formed in 2018. Meets quarterly.
- Preston Housing Needs Study was updated in 2018. Click here to view.
- Fillmore County Housing Needs Study Click here to view.
- Preston Workforce Taskforce was created in 2018. Goals of a CNA program with Fillmore Central, job fair and expand child care.
Preston Demographics
Preston, MN has a population of 1,322 with a daytime population of 1728. Median age of 36.9 and a median household income of $49,750.
The median property value in Preston, MN is $185,507, and the home ownership rate is 71.8%. Most people in Preston, MN commute by driving alone, and the average commute time is 24.2 minutes. The average car ownership in Preston, MN is 2 cars per household. City Lines provides transportation to and from Rochester to work at Mayo Clinic, this is a very popular mode of transportation.
The largest universities near Preston, MN are Winona State University, with 2,134 graduates, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, with 1,788 graduates. Technical colleges include Rochester Community and Technical College, Riverland Community College in Austin, MN and in Winona, MN, Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical
Preston is one hour from La Crosse, WI, one hour from Winona, MN, one hour from Austin, MN, forty minutes from Rochester, MN and forty minutes from Decorah, IA.
Southeast MN Economic Development Study
The Southeastern Minnesota League of Municipalities (SEMLM) in October of 2018, released a study with an updated economic forecast for southeast Minnesota, and options for several major policy shifts to accommodate population and employment growth over the next 25 years. Among the policy options and recommendations are zoning changes to support greater housing production, expanded transportation networks, a regional tourism strategy, immigrant support resources, and programs to increase access to childcare – all designed to grow the region’s economic development potential.
The study – the first of its kind in the region – forecasts long-range population, employment, and economic activity in the entire Southeastern Minnesota region, on a county-by-county basis. The region, composed of Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Winona counties, encompasses 77 municipalities, with more than 368,000 residents and 190,000 employees. Here is a Link to the study
Commercial Inventory
Click here for updated Commercial Inventory or email Gabby Kinneberg at gkinneberg@prestonmn.org or call 507-765-2153
State Veteran Home – Preston
Donations are still being accepted. To donate please contact Preston City Hall at 507-765-2153. The Veteran Home is currently under construction and is slated to open mid-2023.
Follow the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Future Home information by clicking here.
You can follow the Preston Veteran Home Support page by clicking here.
Find more information on the Preston’s Veteran Friendly Community Campaign click here.
Preston Housing Incentives & Information
The Preston Economic Development Authority facilitates Housing Incentives to promote new construction and the rehabilitation of existing properties. If you would like to build new or rehab your current home, contact Gabby Kinneberg at 507-765-2153 for more details. The incentive may include energy savings, free utilities, Preston Bucks, golf club memberships, Preston pool passes and permit fee reductions.
- 2022 Housing Incentives COMING SOON!
- Download the 2018 Preston Housing Needs Update
- Visit the Livability Tab on our website for more housing tools and information
Preston Commercial Incentive/Improvement Revolving Loan Funds
The Preston Economic Development Authority operates several Revolving Loan Funds for business startups, expansions, and multi-housing and apartment repairs. The incentive is offered through very low interest rates and attractive financing terms.
- Click Here for Preston Revolving Loan Fund for Business Development
Local Small Cities Development Program Funds
- Opportunity for businesses to take advantage of forgivable loans that help rehabilitate buildings and apartments in the downtown business district. Click Here for Guidelines
- Funds are revolving from the Small Cities Development Grant that was completed in 2018.
PACE: Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program in the state of Minnesota.
This program was created by the state legislature as a funding mechanism for renewable energy and energy efficiency upgrades for businesses and non-profits. Fillmore County passed a joint powers agreement with the St. Paul Port Authority making this program available to Preston businesses. The process generally starts with an energy use assessment. These can be any of the energy efficiency options available through Preston Public Utilities, or some other no-cost options available throughout the state. Here are a couple of links to learn more about the program, and read about some examples of its use in the region: https://www.minnpace.com/
Preston Business Expansion/Job Creation Revolving Loan Fund
The Preston EDA also operates a Job Creation loan fund. This fund is used to provide discounted financing for projects that include the creation of jobs and may be offered for those business ventures which appear to need extra financial incentive to make them feasible.
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- State of MN job creation fund
- Value Added Grant Program from the MN Department of Agriculture
- State Equity Loans – Contact the Preston EDA for availability. 507-765-2153
Contact the EDA Director for various other loan programs, SMIF, CEDA, USDA
Spare Change Round Up Program Preston Public Utility Customers can round up their utility bill in an effort to raise funds for non-profit groups in the community. Click Here to Download the Guidelines and Application