VHEDC

What VHEDC does

VHEDC (Vadnais Heights Economic Development Corporation) is a private 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization founded in 1984 and headquartered at 800 East County Road E in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota. Its mission is to enhance economic growth and development in the City of Vadnais Heights and surrounding northeast metro area through the attraction, retention, and expansion of businesses. The organization is investor-funded and independent of any governmental entity, operating with a lean staff led by Executive Director Liz Moscatelli and supported by a cross-industry board of directors and eight standing committees.

VHEDC delivers a portfolio of programs rather than a traditional product: HR Connections (a professional development series for HR leaders), the Northeast Metro Young Professionals cohort, the GenZ Connection manufacturing internship program (state-recognized in 2018), Partners for Good (a nonprofit networking collaborative), Rising Star and Business Leader Awards, business site selection services, workforce resource coordination, exporting/STEP assistance, BizRecycling sustainability support, and signature networking events including the Annual Dinner and Golf Tournament. It also acts as a conduit between local businesses and state/county economic development resources, including MN DEED and Ramsey County Workforce Solutions.

The business model is membership- and event-driven. Revenue is generated through tiered investor membership dues starting at $450 annually for the Individual level and scaling up to a Partner tier, supplemented by event registration fees, multi-tier event sponsorships (e.g., Birdie $1,500 / Par $500 / Hole $300 for the Golf Tournament; Health & Wellness Fair booth fees), and the $100 Partners for Good annual organizational fee. Core economic development services (site selection, business retention/expansion support, resource connections) are provided free of charge. The organization serves a diversified base of roughly 80-100 investor members spanning banking, manufacturing, education, retail, automotive, professional services, and nonprofits across the northeast metro Minnesota region.

Name

VHEDC

Legal name

Vadnais Heights Economic Development Corporation

Website

https://vhedc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VHEDC is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit founded in 1984 that drives economic development across Vadnais Heights and northeast metro Minnesota. It supports roughly 80-100 investor businesses through site selection, workforce programs (GenZ Connection, NMYP, HR Connections), and signature networking events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

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. Investor Membership Dues: VHEDC generates revenue through tiered investor membership fees based on company size. Membership levels range from Individual (up to 5 employees or nonprofit) at $450 annually to Partner level. Investors receive benefits including monthly BizNews newsletter, website directory listing, event discounts, and recognition.
2. Event Fees and Sponsorships: Revenue is generated from event registration fees including Annual Dinner ($85-$625), Golf Tournament ($50-$900), HR Connections sessions, and sponsorship opportunities at various tiers (Birdie $1,500, Par $500, Hole $300).
3. Partners for Good Program Fees: The Partners for Good nonprofit collaborative charges a $100 annual organizational fee for participation in networking and professional development events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

VHEDC is a private 501(c)(4) nonprofit economic development corporation that delivers free business support services, workforce development programs, and investor-funded networking to enhance economic growth in Vadnais Heights and the northeast metro area. Its core offerings include business site selection and expansion assistance, workforce pipeline programs (GenZ Connection, HR Connections, Northeast Metro Young Professionals), nonprofit networking (Partners for Good), business recognition awards, sustainability services (BizRecycling), and access to state/county economic development incentives.

Product overview

VHEDC is a private 501(c)(4) nonprofit economic development organization (established 1984) that offers a portfolio of business support programs rather than a traditional software product. The core offerings include: HR Connections for HR professional development; Northeast Metro Young Professionals (NMYP) and GenZ Connection for workforce development; Partners for Good for nonprofit networking; Rising Star and Business Leader Awards for business recognition; BizRecycling for sustainability; and DEED Programs/Exporting Assistance for business growth support. These programs operate independently but share the common goal of enhancing economic vitality in the Vadnais Heights and northeast metro area through business attraction, retention, and workforce development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HR Connections Professional development resource group for HR practitioners and business leaders offering networking, peer learning, and workforce trend discussions in the Northeast Metro area, with an annual pass ($150) or single session ($25 member / $30 non-member) pricing.
• Northeast Metro Young Professionals (NMYP) Year-long cohort program for emerging leaders aged 21-35 focused on personal growth, career advancement, civic engagement, and community service; includes monthly sessions, leadership coaching, business tours, and networking. Pricing is $500 for VHEDC investors and $750 for non-investors for the 2026 cohort.
• GenZ Connection Program Manufacturing career skills program providing high school students with paid internships, hands-on experience at local manufacturing businesses, and career pathway exploration; recognized with a 2018 state-level Student Manufacturing Program Award.
• Partners for Good Networking and professional development group for nonprofit leaders in the northeast metro area, including Lunch and Learn sessions, Coffee Talks, and access to HR Connections events and community mixers.
• Rising Star and Business Leader Awards Annual awards program recognizing exceptional business leaders and emerging professionals in the Vadnais Heights and northeast metro community, including the Rising Star Award for early-career professionals and Business Leadership Award for sustained business performance.
• Business Site Selection Services Free site selection services, property tours, and introductions to help businesses find suitable industrial or office space in the Vadnais Heights and northeast metro area.
• Workforce Resources Comprehensive workforce development resources connecting area businesses with talent, including job boards, internship coordination, manufacturing tours for students, and partnerships with educational institutions.
• DEED Programs Conduit for Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development resources including business financing programs (Minnesota Investment Fund, Job Creation Fund), workforce assistance, and exporting support.
• Exporting Assistance Export support services including STEP Program grants for small businesses, trade assistance helpline, and connections to federal exporting resources and international market development.
• BizRecycling Free recycling program for businesses and apartment complexes in Ramsey and Washington counties providing grants for waste reduction, recycling equipment, and sustainability consulting.
• The Next Big Thing! Six-session career transition and development cohort program for mid-career professionals exploring their next chapter through structured curriculum, career assessments, and peer learning.
• VHEDC Events Annual and recurring community events including the VHEDC Annual Dinner ($85-$625), Keith Warner Memorial Golf Tournament ($50-$900), Health & Wellness Resource Fair (booth pricing $349 investor / $399 non-investor), Women in Leadership, and Business Appreciation Events with sponsorship tiers (Birdie $1,500, Par $500, Hole $300).

Quantifiable outcome

• GenZ program doubled in size from 4 to 8 businesses hosting interns
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers32 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• City of Vadnais HeightscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVHEDC works closely with the City of Vadnais Heights on economic development initiatives. A city council member serves as board liaison annually. The Executive Director meets regularly with city staff and attends council meetings. VHEDC conducts development activity and assists with city approvals for new and expanding businesses.
• Ramsey CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVHEDC serves suburban Ramsey County and works closely with the Ramsey County Commissioner and Department of Community and Economic Development. The county provides infrastructure support including roads, parks, libraries, and amenities such as the Vadnais Sports Center. VHEDC is an Inclusive Employer Champion partnering with Ramsey County Workforce Solutions.
• White Bear Lake Area Schools (ISD 624)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner providing future workforce for local businesses. The school district's Manufacturing Pathway program and Career Pathways Navigator work with VHEDC on workforce initiatives including the GenZ Connection internship program.
• Century CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentury College is Minnesota's largest two-year community and technical college, providing essential training and skills for the local community. VHEDC also works with NE Metro District 916 housed at Century College, which enrolls students from 14 northeast metro school districts for career and technical education.
• WBL Area Chamber of CommercesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe White Bear Area Chamber of Commerce partners with VHEDC on professional education opportunities and conducts GrowMN Visits in Vadnais Heights. Joint efforts support local business community development.
• Ramsey County Workforce SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVHEDC partners with Ramsey County Workforce Solutions to provide programs including Job Connect, Inclusive Workplaces Cohort, Workforce Training Dashboard, School District Career Pathways, Youth Skills Training, and Fair Opportunities Employment. Together they developed the Inclusive Employer Toolkit.
• Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (MN DEED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVHEDC serves as a conduit for DEED resources and programs including Minnesota Investment Fund, Job Creation Fund, Minnesota Job Skills Partnership, and exporting assistance programs like STEP.
• Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry (MN DLI)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with to address youth employment regulations enabling the GenZ Connection program to operate under revised Minnesota Child Labor Laws allowing students to work on machines 20% of the time.
• RealTime TalentsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor market data provider used by VHEDC to inform workforce development initiatives and business planning.
• HIREDsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce agency partner in the original GenZ Connection program development, collaborating on youth manufacturing internship placement.
• White Bear Lake Area Educational FoundationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation foundation partner in the GenZ Connection program, supporting youth manufacturing career pathways.
• Comcast CorporationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsoring partner for the award-winning GenZ Connection: Skills and Careers in Manufacturing program, providing financial support for youth workforce development.
• University of MinnesotasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided technical assistance for the Business Retention & Expansion Survey Project conducted in partnership with the City of Vadnais Heights.
• BizRecyclingsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree public program helping businesses and apartment complexes in Ramsey and Washington counties meet sustainability goals through waste reduction and recycling support and funding.
• Bassford RemeleminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEmployment law firm providing expert speaker Daniel Olson for HR Connections Employment Law Updates events.
• Alliant Insurance ServicesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInsurance services firm providing expert speaker Dan Bjornlie for HR Connections Benefits sessions.
• Blue EthosminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraining provider delivering De-Escalation in the Workplace program for HR Connections events.
• Greater MSPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development organization supporting Minnesota exporting initiatives.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Edina Chamber of Commerce: A suburban Twin Cities chamber serving Edina businesses. Highly similar to VHEDC in serving a defined suburban submarket with tiered membership, networking events, advocacy, and business development programs targeting a comparable employer profile.
• Twin Cities Metro CDC: A community development corporation in the Twin Cities metro that partners with VHEDC (the Twin Cities Metro CDC Loan Officer serves as VHEDC Board Vice President). Both organizations focus on community economic development, small business support, and capital access for the regional market.
• White Bear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce: A local chamber serving White Bear Lake and surrounding communities. VHEDC has a formal partnership with this Chamber for GrowMN visits and professional education opportunities. Both organizations serve overlapping business communities in the northeast metro with similar networking, advocacy, and business support missions.
• Brooklyn Park Economic Development Authority: An Economic Development Authority serving Brooklyn Park, a comparable suburban community in the Twin Cities metro. Similar to VHEDC in serving a defined suburban submarket with business attraction, retention, workforce development, and incentive programs.
• LISC Twin Cities: Local Initiatives Support Corporation's Twin Cities office, a community development financial institution focused on equitable economic opportunity. Shares VHEDC's community economic development mission and an overlapping partner network in the Twin Cities region.

Broad incumbents

• Greater MSP: A regional economic development partnership for the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro. VHEDC partners with Greater MSP for Minnesota exporting initiatives. Greater MSP operates at a much broader regional scale but shares the mission of business attraction, retention, and economic growth promotion across the Twin Cities.
• Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce: A major Twin Cities chamber serving Saint Paul and surrounding east metro communities. Highly comparable to VHEDC in member services and mission, though operating at a larger geographic scale with a broader employer base.
• Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce: The primary chamber of commerce serving the Minneapolis market. While larger and focused on the urban core, it shares VHEDC's core mission of business advocacy, networking, professional development, and economic development across the Twin Cities region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vhedc
• Facebookfacebook.com/vadnais-heights-economic-development-corporation-594317364029324
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vadnais-heights-economic-development-corporation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 VHEDC