CEDA

What CEDA does

CEDA (Community and Economic Development Associates), founded in 1986, is a Minnesota-based private nonprofit that delivers community and economic development services to small cities, counties, and small businesses across Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Its core offerings include Community Support Programs (in-house economic development staffing and grant administration), Small Business Assistance (business planning, financial packaging, marketing), Grant Writing & Management, Planning & Development (comprehensive, strategic, and housing planning), Workforce Development, Rural Innovation, and Agricultural Resources. The organization also administers two revolving loan programs—the Microenterprise Fund (up to $60,000) and the Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program ($5,000–$60,000)—and runs third-party programs such as the Small Cities Development Program administration for Red Wing HRA.

CEDA operates a community-led go-to-market model, with no public pricing or subscription structure; revenue is generated from professional service fees, community and government contracts, and program administration, supplemented by interest from revolving loan funds. Distribution is direct and regional, delivered through embedded regional staff, recurring regional events, an annual meeting, monthly newsletters, and active social media channels. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, led by CEO/President Ron Zeigler and Executive Vice President Hillary Tweed (promoted May 2026), and is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026. The customer base is highly fragmented across small municipalities and small businesses, with named engagements spanning Red Wing, Benson, Parkers Prairie, Cannon Falls, and Floodwood.

Name

CEDA

Legal name

Community and Economic Development Associates

Website

https://cedausa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CEDA is a Minnesota-based nonprofit founded in 1986 that provides community and economic development services—including grant writing, planning, and small business support—to small cities, counties, and businesses across Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chatfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Non-profit Service Delivery: CEDA operates as a non-profit agency providing community and economic development services. Revenue appears to come from service fees for grant writing, planning, and administration services, as well as potentially from loan programs and government/community contracts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CEDA is a nonprofit community and economic development organization that works with cities, counties, organizations, and small businesses in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. It provides in-house economic development staffing, grant writing and administration, strategic and comprehensive planning, small business assistance (business plan creation, financial packaging, marketing), workforce and agricultural development support, and administers revolving loan funds (up to $60,000) for gap financing, including programs targeted at emerging entrepreneurs and rural property rehabilitation.

Product overview

CEDA (Community Economic Development Associates) is a non-profit economic and community development organization, not a software technology company. It offers a unified suite of advisory and support services rather than a platform-plus-modules software architecture. The core offerings include Community Support Programs (economic development staffing and grant administration), Small Business Assistance (business planning and financial packaging), Grant Writing & Management, Rural Innovation initiatives, Planning & Development services, Workforce Development, and Agricultural Resources. Additionally, CEDA administers two distinct loan programs: the Microenterprise Fund (MEF) providing up to $60,000 for contracted communities, and the Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program (ELP) providing $5,000-$60,000 for qualifying Minnesota entrepreneurs. CEDA serves counties and cities in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Support Program Provides communities and counties with economic and community development assistance, including in-house economic development staffing and special project or grant administration support across Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
• Small Business Assistance Support services for starting or expanding existing businesses, including business plan creation, financial packaging, marketing, and cash flow analysis for small businesses in contracted communities.
• Grant Writing & Management Professional grant writing services including research, writing, and reporting for communities and organizations seeking funding from public and private sources.
• Planning & Development Strategic, comprehensive, and housing development planning services for communities, including comprehensive plan updates and strategic planning.
• Workforce Development Services aimed at developing and strengthening the local workforce to support community economic growth.
• Agricultural Resources Resources and support services for agricultural communities and farm-related economic development initiatives.
• Rural Innovation Programs and initiatives designed to foster innovation and economic growth in rural communities.
• Microenterprise Fund (MEF) Revolving loan fund providing up to $60,000 in gap financing for for-profit businesses in CEDA-contracted cities or counties, with negotiable interest rates tailored to make projects feasible.
• Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program (ELP) Loan program supporting Minnesota-based, for-profit businesses owned by minorities, low-income individuals, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities, funding microenterprises and innovative industries with loans from $5,000 to $60,000.
• Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) Administration Administration of the Small Cities Development Program, providing rental and commercial property rehabilitation support through low-interest and forgivable financing for eligible properties.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Red Wing Housing & Redevelopment Authority (RWHRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEDA administers the Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) on behalf of RWHRA for property owners in Red Wing, MN. This program provides low-interest and forgivable financing for rental and commercial property rehabilitation.
• 7 Rivers AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner7 Rivers Alliance received $250,000 from Wisconsin EDC for small business development grants. The program provides micro-grants up to $10,000 to rural Western Wisconsin small businesses.
• HR PartnerminorOthersHR Partner provides HR software solutions. CEDA partners with HR Partner for operational support services.
• SMG Web DesignminorOthersProvides website design and hosting services for CEDA's web presence.
• NICC Cresco CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the 'Be Your Own Boss Camp' - a week-long entrepreneurial program for students entering 5th or 6th grade, held annually at the NICC Cresco Center.
• Howard County Business and TourismminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the Be Your Own Boss Camp entrepreneurial program for youth.
• Cresco Area Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the Be Your Own Boss Camp entrepreneurial program for youth.
• Minnesota Employment and Economic Development (DEED)minorOthersProvides COVID-19 Emergency Business Assistance Programs and business resources.
• Small Business Association (SBA)minorOthersFederal resource partner for small business support and development.
• Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF)minorOthersRegional foundation providing resources and support for businesses in Southern Minnesota.
• Southeast Minnesota SCOREminorOthersSCORE chapter providing mentorship and business resources in Southeast Minnesota.
• USDA Rural Development MNminorOthersFederal agency providing resources for rural agricultural and economic development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Fahe: Regional CDFI serving Appalachian communities with housing, small business lending, and community development—analogous rural-focused economic development model operating in a different US geography.

Direct peers

• Initiative Foundation: Regional community foundation serving central Minnesota with economic development, housing, and small business support services—closely mirrors CEDA's mission and multi-county service model in the same geography.
• Northland Foundation: Regional foundation serving northeast Minnesota and tribal communities with economic development grants, business assistance, and community planning—analogous role to CEDA in a different region of the state.
• West Central Initiative: Regional foundation serving west central Minnesota with grant programs, small business lending, and community development services—directly comparable to CEDA's geographic and service scope.
• Northwest Minnesota Foundation: Regional foundation serving northwest Minnesota with community and economic development grants, small business lending, and workforce programs—directly comparable role and service mix to CEDA.
• Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF): Regional foundation serving southern Minnesota with small business lending, community grants, and economic development programs—CEDA explicitly partners with SMIF, confirming direct operational overlap.
• Southwest Minnesota Foundation: Foundation serving southwest Minnesota with community development grants, business assistance, and housing programs—provides the same regional EDO functions as CEDA in a neighboring geography.

Broad incumbents

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National CDFI providing small business lending, housing development, and community development services across rural and urban America—larger-scope incumbent operating in CEDA's category at greater scale.
• NeighborWorks America: National network supporting housing and community development organizations nationwide—operates broadly across the same domain as CEDA's SCDP and housing planning work, but at national scale.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit providing capital, grants, and advisory services for affordable housing and community development—directly comparable mission with much broader geographic footprint than CEDA.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CEDA