News

Governor Walz Announces $53 Million to Expand Broadband to 8,900 Minnesota Homes and Businesses

March 5, 2024

Governor Walz Announces $53 Million to Expand Broadband to 8,900 Minnesota Homes and Businesses
[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz today announced over $50 million in grants to expand broadband access to an estimated 8,900 homes and businesses throughout Minnesota. “We’re investing in broadband infrastructure statewide to help thousands of Minnesotans connect to jobs, education, healthcare, and their communities,” said Governor Walz. “Helping more Minnesotans get online at high speeds is one of the ways we’re making Minnesota the best state for families,

Willmar City Council to consider approval of sale of park land for senior housing

February 17, 2024

Willmar City Council to consider approval of sale of park land for senior housing
WILLMAR — The Willmar City Council on Tuesday, Feb. 20, will consider the approval of a purchase agreement with Cura for the sale of park land for a senior housing development. The meeting takes place at 6:30 p.m. in the board room at Kandiyohi County Health and Human Services. The Council will also consider the introduction of an ordinance authorizing the land sale and set a public hearing for the ordinance to take place at its Monday, March 18 Council meeting. The proposed location of the

Marotzke hired by Kandiyohi County Economic Development

February 12, 2024

Marotzke hired by Kandiyohi County Economic Development
Michelle Marotzke, current economic development professional at the Mid-Minnesota Development Commission, has been hired as the Kandiyohi County Economic Development business development manager. WILLMAR — A new business development manager has been hired by Kandiyohi County Economic Development. Michelle Marotzke, economic development professional with Mid-Minnesota Development Commission, will start her new position in March. The Joint Operations Board and the Joint Powers Board of Kandiyohi

EDC focus on child care helps alleviate the child care crisis

February 7, 2024

EDC focus on child care helps alleviate the child care crisis
In December of 2022, the number of additional child care slots needed in Kandiyohi County was 935. The Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar EDC launched the Child Care Economic Development Program, which is estimated to have created 263 additional child care slots.   By Jennifer Kotila WILLMAR — With Kandiyohi County facing a child care crisis, lacking 935 child care slots, the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission in 2023 focused its efforts on alleviating

Housing shortage continues to be a problem in Kandiyohi County

February 2, 2024

Housing shortage continues to be a problem in Kandiyohi County
Aaron Backman, executive director of the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar EDC, received a housing report Jan. 11 and shared some of his thoughts about it at a meeting that day. A December 2023 housing report showed the city of Willmar had only 23 single-family homes for sale — in a city of 21,000 people. Lack of housing can hinder the recruitment of the workforce needed to fill job openings, according to Aaron Backman, executive director of the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic

Two new turkey businesses to open in newly created hatchery in Willmar, Minnesota

January 8, 2024

Two new turkey businesses to open in newly created hatchery in Willmar, Minnesota
Headstart Hatching and Next Nest Hatching will begin operations in a state-of-the-art hatchery facility. New hatching technology will help to increase production rates and help with animal welfare. WILLMAR — After a year of construction, Headstart Hatching and Next Nest Hatching , two companies created through Life-Science Innovations , will open a new hatchery called Nest One this winter. The building, located just outside of Willmar, is state-of-the-art with current technology and techniques

Expansion of Elevate entrepreneurship course in Kandiyohi County supported by $200,000 grant

January 3, 2024

Expansion of Elevate entrepreneurship course in Kandiyohi County supported by $200,000 grant
The Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission received a grant for more than $200,000 from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. —————————————————————- WILLMAR — The Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission received a grant of more than $200,000 to put toward expansion of the Elevate Community

41 Grantees Announced to Support Small Business Success across Minnesota

January 3, 2024

St. Paul – Today, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced that 41 organizations across Minnesota will receive Small Business Assistance Partnership funding to help small businesses grow and thrive. DEED will award more than $12.5 million to nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, community development financial institutions and community development corporations. These projects are projected to serve almost 36,000 Minnesota small businesses

A Message from the Executive Director

January 3, 2024

Written by Executive Director, Aaron Backman 2023 was a memorable year in many ways.  A new housing study covering all of Kandiyohi County was completed by Viewpoint Consulting in January.  It identified a need for 2,555 additional housing units, including 1,580 units in Willmar, to be constructed between now and the year 2030. Several housing projects that the EDC was significantly involved with were completed or commenced with this year.  Edgeview, the Unique Opportunities multi-family project

A Sisterhood of Support

January 2, 2024

A Sisterhood of Support
Walking into the backyard of child care provider Michelle Weiler is like walking into a children’s fairy tale. It is the magic of Alice in Wonderland, the secret hidden place of the Secret Garden and full of children having as much fun as if they were in Peter Pan’s Never Never Land. But this isn’t a story of how they care for the children they watch; it is the story of how they care for each other. Sue Yoakum and Michelle Weiler have been running their child care businesses and helping
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