Otter Tail County honors small businesses driving $3.28 billion economy

Small businesses are doing far more than filling downtown storefronts in Otter Tail County. They anchor a $3.28 billion local economy, support about 30% of the county’s 31,000 workers, and give residents the restaurants, shops, repair services and offices that keep daily life moving from Fergus Falls and Perham to New York Mills, Battle Lake and the unincorporated towns in between.

The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners declared May 3-9, 2026, as National Small Business Week, tying the observance directly to the county’s business base of more than 1,800 establishments. Commissioner Sean Sullivan said the county was proud to honor the hard work and dedication of small businesses, pointing to their ability to adapt and support families with essential jobs, products and services as a key reason the county remains vibrant.

The local declaration fits the broader economic picture. The U.S. Small Business Administration says National Small Business Week has been recognized for more than 60 years, and the 2026 observance runs May 3-9 with a virtual summit scheduled for May 5-6. Nationally, small businesses make up 99% of U.S. businesses, create two out of every three new jobs and employ about half of the workforce, a scale that mirrors what county leaders see in a rural economy where independent owners do much of the heavy lifting.

Minnesota’s own labor data sharpens that point. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development says rural regions in Greater Minnesota rely more heavily on small businesses than the metro, with 23% to 30% of total employment tied to small firms, compared with 15% in the metro area. In Otter Tail County, that dependence is amplified by geography and demographics: the county’s population is about 60,475, its median age is 46.2, older than Minnesota’s 38.8, and agriculture still shapes the landscape.

The county’s agricultural footprint is substantial, with 545,784 acres of cropland and a farm sales mix that leans more heavily toward crops, which account for 61% of sales, than livestock, poultry and products at 39%. That mix helps explain why officials see small-town businesses as more than conveniences. They are part of the same economic chain that moves farm income, wages, taxes and spending through local communities.

Otter Tail County’s Community Development Agency says business development and retention are central to its work, with a business development strategy, a business development newsletter and no-cost advising through the Minnesota Small Business Development Center among the tools available. County leaders’ practical advice was equally direct: shop downtown, eat at local restaurants, share business resources with owners who may need them and leave positive reviews for favorite establishments.