Aaron Backman

Experience

1. Executive Director

   Kandiyohi County Economic Development

   Feb 2016 — Present · Willmar, MN

   Led the effort to land a new state-of-the-art sq. ft. distribution center for FedEx Ground in Willmar, MN. RDC National, the Madison, WI developer for this $30 million facility, began work on the nearly 30 acre site in the Willmar Industrial Park on 11.19.21. FedEx occupied the building in October 2022.The EDC has helped facilitate multiple projects with housing developers. Currently there are 146 multi-family housing units under construction in the City of Willmar, inc. 74 multi-family units UC by Herzog Property based in Alexandria, MN; and 72 units UC by Kuepers Construction, Inc. based in Brainerd, MN. The first major project in Willmar\'s Renaissance Zone that the EDC helped facilitate was Block 25 Lofts, a four-level 58-unit $11 million multi-family complex for Downtown Willmar. The City approved a TIF District for the project and Lumber One, the Avon, MN based developer, began construction in May 2022. Block 25 was completed in July 2023 and was full by the following month. Worked closely with Commonwealth Development, a Fond du Lac, WI developer, on a new construction multi-family, affordable housing project in Willmar. This $9.3 million, 4-story facility offers 47 units, inc. five units for people with disabilities. In the Fall 2017 project was approved for a 9% federal tax credit from Minnesota Housing. Residents began moving in in September of 2019. The EDC has been active with the Highway 23 Coalition, seeking state funding to finish the four-lane gaps between Willmar and St. Cloud During the 2018 MN Legislative Session in St. Paul we were able to garner $105 million in Corridors of Commerce funding to complete both 4-lane gaps. On 11.10.21 MnDOT held a successful bid opening for the North Gap; construction commenced in Spring 2022.

Education

• University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

  M.A.

• Augustana College

  B.A.