U.S. Department of Agriculture

BENCO Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving 19,000 members in south central Minnesota. In addition to energy efficiency, youth education programs, and economic development, the Cooperative has long been in many fields, they are dedicated to preserving and developing this long-standing tradition for their members.

Basin Electric’s core business is generating and transmitting wholesale bulk electric power to customers, primarily to Their member rural electric systems, which are located in nine states: Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Their largest subsidiary, the for-profit Dakota Gasification Company, owns and operates the Great Plains Synfuels Plant near Beulah, ND, which gasifies lignite coal and captures some of the carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) and sends them to depleted Canadian oil fields for geologic sequestration.

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College promotes educational opportunities for the residents of Cloquet, Minnesota. Students are able to earn associate’s degrees and vocational certificates that can benefit their future. Fond du Lac offers great associate degree options for students wishing to receive vocationally relevant instruction as well as for those who are more academically minded. Students can transfer to four-year universities after earning their associate’s degree or go straight into the workforce. Associate’s degrees are offered in several fields, including Business, Child Development, E-Crime, Geospatial Technologies, Law Enforcement, Nursing, Nutrition, and much more. Certificates allow students to learn vocational skills more quickly. Certificate programs include: Clean Energy Technology, Computer Forensics, Finance, Home Health Aide, Child Development, and a few more. Though Fond du Lac is a community college, students still desire an active student life. Students can get involved in several student organizations and honors clubs, as well as participate in student government and try out for the school newspaper. Support services at Fond du Lac promote academic and professional success. Students are exposed to academic tutoring, extensive career services, and financial aid advising. Fond du Lac puts its students first by promoting hard work, a supportive academic community, and listening to the vocational needs of the community.