Business Development
Advance Thief River provides confidential, personalized assistance to entrepreneurs, existing businesses, and companies considering an investment in Thief River Falls and Pennington County. We connect you with property, financing, workforce resources, technical assistance, and the partners needed to move your project forward.
2024-2026 Advance Thief River Impact
112
Businesses Served
239
Jobs Created / Retained
$2,734,000
Private Capital Invested
$244,850
External Funding Secured
Find the Support You Need
Whether you are developing an idea, expanding an existing operation, or searching for a new location, Advance Thief River can help you identify opportunities and take the next step.
Start or Grow a Business
Receive no-cost, confidential guidance with business planning, startup, expansion, marketing, operations, succession planning, and other business needs.
Find Business Financing
Explore local, regional, state, and federal financing programs for business startup, expansion, equipment, real estate, and working capital.
Find a Site or Building
Search available commercial and industrial properties in the Thief River Falls area, including buildings and build-ready lots in Gilbert Industrial Park.
Relocate or Expand Here
Learn about Pennington County’s location, infrastructure, workforce, available property, and collaborative approach to business development.
Access Workforce Resources
Connect with workforce partners and programs that can help your business recruit, train, and retain employees.
Connect Through TREK
Learn from local entrepreneurs and connect with business owners, community leaders, and aspiring entrepreneurs through Two Rivers Entrepreneur Kinnection.
A Strong Place to Do Business
Pennington County is a regional center for manufacturing, technology, health care, education, retail, professional services, and entrepreneurship. Businesses benefit from strong infrastructure, a skilled and committed workforce, competitive development opportunities, and local partners prepared to work collaboratively.
Proven Business Community
Pennington County is home to global employers, growing regional companies, and locally owned businesses serving customers throughout the region and beyond.
Strategic Location and Infrastructure
Businesses have access to reliable utilities, highway and air transportation, telecommunications infrastructure, and regional markets across Northwest Minnesota and eastern North Dakota.
Workforce and Training Support
Advance Thief River works with employers and regional workforce partners to identify recruitment, training, and employee-retention resources.
Responsive Local Partners
We coordinate with government agencies, lenders, workforce organizations, educational institutions, and other partners to help businesses navigate opportunities and solve problems.
Gilbert Industrial Park
Gilbert Industrial Park offers build-ready lots, equipped with all necessary infrastructure your industrial business needs. Excellent highway access and only four miles from Thief River Falls Regional Airport, third busiest cargo airport in Minnesota, and offering affordable passenger flights to Minneapolis daily.
Lots prices at $24,900 per acre.
Small Business Support and Financing
Small Business Support at Every Stage
Small businesses are essential to the economic vitality of Thief River Falls and Pennington County. Advance Thief River provides no-cost, confidential assistance to entrepreneurs and business owners facing opportunities, challenges, or important decisions.
Services may include help with business planning, financial projections, financing preparation, marketing, operational challenges, expansion, succession planning, and connections to specialized resources.
Financing Business Investment
The right financing package often combines conventional lending with local, regional, state, or federal resources. Advance Thief River helps businesses explore programs that may support real estate, equipment, construction, expansion, working capital, job creation, and employee training.
Program eligibility and available funding vary by project. Contact us early so we can learn about your plans, identify promising options, and coordinate with the appropriate partners.
“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.”
Contact Advance Thief River
Contact Michelle Landsverk, Executive Director of Advance Thief River with specific questions or to set up a meeting to discuss your needs.
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
(c) 2026 Advance Thief River. All rights reserved.