Crow Wing Power has a long history of growing alongside the members it serves.
In June 1937, Crow Wing Power Rural Electric Cooperative was formed. By January 1938, electricity flowed to 140 members for the first time. In those early years, the cooperative operated out of a small headquarters on Maple Street in Brainerd.
As membership grew, so did the need for space. By 1949, the cooperative was serving nearly 9,000 members. New offices were added, along with warehouse space and garages for trucks and equipment. The building even featured display rooms showcasing modern electric kitchens, a sign of the exciting changes electricity was bringing to rural homes.
By the late 1970s, it became clear that the Maple Street facility could no longer support the cooperative’s growing operations. In 1978 and 1979, Crow Wing Power moved to its current Baxter campus after purchasing a former recreational dealership originally built in 1968. The building was remodeled to house offices, operations, and warehouse space for crews and equipment.
Since then, the campus has continued to evolve. In 1995, garage areas inside the main building were converted into office space. In 2002 and 2003, an addition created a new lobby and reception area, relocated executive and board offices, and upgraded building systems. Departments shifted locations to make the best use of the space available.
While these updates helped the cooperative adapt, the facility was not originally designed to support the size and operations of a modern electric utility. Today, trucks, trailers, materials, and equipment are spread across multiple buildings, and some storage areas were never intended for that purpose.
Safety is another growing concern. The main campus sits along the busy Highway 371 corridor, where traffic speeds and volume have steadily increased. Entering and exiting the property with bucket trucks, digger trucks, and trailers carrying poles has become more difficult. These vehicles make multiple trips each day and even more during outage responses.
In the fall of 2024, the board approved plans for a cold storage building to help protect trucks and equipment from the elements. However, after CEO Tim Thompson joined the cooperative in early 2025, leadership and the board agreed to pause construction and take a broader look at the cooperative’s overall facility needs.
That conversation led to a comprehensive facility planning study with Cooperative Building Solutions. The study evaluated the current campus, future growth, safety considerations, and potential options for the cooperative moving forward.
One option under exploration is Crow Wing Power’s Highway 371 south property, land the cooperative purchased in 1997 with long term infrastructure needs in mind.
A building committee made up of employees from several departments and board leadership has been reviewing information, visiting facilities, and meeting with contractors and architectural firms. Recommendations will continue to be reviewed by the board as part of the planning process.
It is important for members to know that no final decision has been made. Projects of this size move through several phases, with opportunities along the way to pause, adjust, or reconsider options.
Crow Wing Power’s board and leadership team are carefully evaluating what is best for the cooperative as a whole. The goal is simple: to serve a growing membership safely, reliably, and responsibly while being good stewards of member dollars.
As discussions continue, members will be informed through each step and each decision along the way.