 The Brainerd Lakes Area has always been known as a tourism magnet, but times are changing as the local economy is showing significant commercial growth. Three years ago, the Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corporation launched the Tech Ready initiative to market this area as an excellent place for tech companies to do business. Taylor Archer has more on their greatest success story. A census, founded in Brainerd in 1975, is the largest independent retirement and college-saving services provider in the country. A census essentially works with financial organizations, employers and financial advisors to provide future growth in consumer savings. And we do that through retirement programs for 401ks, IRAs, health savings accounts, as well as we do it with 529 plans as part of our college savings division. And we essentially are helping roughly 7 million Americans save for the future. The Tech Ready initiative has helped the company grow into 1600 employees, a third of who work in Brainerd to help serve its customer base. And that includes 8,000 financial organizations and 40,000 employers. Our area really wanted to focus on how we can diversify our economy and create economic opportunities for the future. And more than 20 tech-related companies benefit from this Tech Ready initiative. Oftentimes, people come through our area and they don't recognize some of the wonderful companies we have, such as a census, with over 500 employees operating and finding success in our area. The Brainerd Lakes area economic development hopes to impact more companies like a census with this initiative. In Brainerd, Taylor Archer, Lakeland News. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.