Northwest Minnesota's Economic Powerhouse
Ignite your business potential in Pennington County—the driving force behind Northwest Minnesota’s thriving economy. Here, you’ll find a prime location, a highly skilled workforce, cutting-edge infrastructure, and a welcoming, business-friendly environment. As the county with the highest economic output in Northwest Minnesota (including all 12 counties in Economic Development Regions 1 and 2), Pennington County isn’t just a place on the map—it’s the cornerstone of success for businesses ready to start, expand, or relocate.
55 Plus Housing
Latest News
Building the Future: Cole Dazell Shares a Story of Resilience and Innovation at TREK
At June’s TREK program, Thief River Falls native and Neon Forge founder Cole Dazell shared his inspiring journey of overcoming a life-changing spinal injury to build a successful digital marketing and web design business. Attendees learned valuable insights on branding, website strategy, accessibility, and the importance of adapting to today’s digital economy. Cole’s story of resilience, innovation, and entrepreneurship offered practical lessons for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs alike.
Key Initiatives
Join Us Thief River
Resident recruitment, welcoming events, and community navigator services.
Thrive in Thief River
Supporting the development of diverse, attainable housing options for older adults.
Childcare
The purpose of the Advance TRF Childcare Collaborative is to retain and increase high quality childcare capacity.
ATR Job Hub
The Job Hub is a place to connect employers and prospective employees, search area job listings and access job services.
GIP
Gilbert Industrial Park features build-ready lots, conveniently located along County Highway 16, only four miles from the airport.
Small Business Services
TREK, business navigation , training, coaching, and more for small businesses, funded in part by MN DEED.
Housing
If you are considering a move to the Thief River Falls area, you have many options for housing, as well as access to several resources. Check out the “Buy” page to learn more about home ownership and related resources. Visit the “Rent” page to learn more about rent opportunities and resources.
Looking for an apartment or townhome? Whether you are looking for a market-rate apartment or income-qualified apartment, the Thief River Area has may options for you!
Looking for a turn-key two bedroom home and a garage? A fixer-upper? Whatever you are looking for, you can likely find it here, in the Thief River area.
“The tremendous work ethic, innovation and commitment of the people here in northwestern Minnesota is unsurpassed. Those values have always been a clear differentiator in driving Digi-Key’s growth and success within our industry.”
“Thief River Falls is a community steeped in tradition. It’s traditional here to welcome new residents, to greet passers-by on the street, to proudly display our “Prowler Pride”, and to fiercely support our local businesses. TRF is the place to live, grow, and thrive!”
Advance Thief River
Mailing Address
PO Box 773
Thief River Falls, MN 56701
Office
By Appointment Only
Spark Hub
(Inside Garden Valley Building)
1412 3rd Street West
Thief River Falls, MN 56701
Contact Us
Drop us a message to let us know what you need and we'll get back to you as soon as we can!
(c) 2025 Advance Thief River. All rights reserved.