Lac qui Parle EDA

After eight years of dedicated service, Pamela G. Lehmann has made the decision to leave her position as the Executive Director of the Lac qui Parle County Economic Development Authority (LqP EDA) and begin serving small companies and individuals in a new capacity by starting her own business offering contracted services for local and distant clientele.

Through partnerships with local providers and millions of dollars in federal funding, Lehmann has put Lac qui Parle County on the map for its world class broadband access.  But after working with local businesses, Pam says that access is not enough.  Businesses need training and support to optimize the use of this network.  By leaving the LqP EDA, Pam Lehmann feels she will be better able to offer the practical services needed to help local businesses grow.

Lehmann says she has seen a great need for digital enhancement for our small local businesses over the past several years and limited access to resources at the scale needed by rural entrepreneurs and businesses.  In this new venture, she plans to offer startup, project-based and ongoing contracts for those needing assistance with bookkeeping/recordkeeping, website design/maintenance, social media/digital marketing, human resources/staff training, inventory management, budgeting/finance, administrative support and other services as requested.  In addition, Pam will be available for grant writing, meeting facilitation, training, and sales/marketing opportunities.

A life-long resident of Lac qui Parle County, Pam Lehmann has embraced her leadership role with the LqP EDA and has taken the fledgling entity from its infancy to one renowned for its innovation and dedication by state, national and international groups including GOOGLE, the International FTTH Council, The International Economic Development Council, Congressman Collin Peterson, Senator Amy Klobuchar, the Bush Foundation, Minnesota Rural Partners, the Blandin Foundation plus many others in economic development and the technology industry.  She notes “I am very proud of the work we have initiated.  We have proactively focused on community and economic development aimed toward improving opportunities for businesses and residents alike.  Our ultimate goal has always been to make this county a great place to live, work and play for today and for future generations.”  Lehmann will continue in her role at the LqP EDA until the middle of February and states “I am confident the LqP EDA Board of Directors will find an excellent replacement, they will continue to support the varied economic development needs of our rural county and the work we have started will continue to enhance the economic vitality for local businesses of Lac qui Parle County for decades to come.”

As the Executive Director for the LqP EDA, Lehmann has launched several successful long-term projects that will have lasting impact on Lac qui Parle County and the region, including:  a multi-district Junior Achievement Program for the youth in our schools touching every student from Kindergarten through 6^th Grade; a mobile computer lab that brings digital learning opportunities to six communities each week with the dedicated help of Mary Quick on the LqP Computer Commuter; and most significantly the multi-million dollar ARRA stimulus project that created a unique public-private partnership that delivers fiber optic broadband service throughout Lac qui Parle County “making it one of the leading technology counties in the state” of Minnesota and putting our small rural county on the global map!

Pam Lehmann is excited to be pursuing this new business opportunity and says “I will always remember my time at the LqP EDA with great pride and I will continue to be a strong advocate for local and regional economic development efforts.”