News

Jennie-O Turkey Store closing both Willmar plants due to COVID-19

April 26, 2020

Jennie-O Turkey Store closing both Willmar plants due to COVID-19
WILLMAR — Jennie-O Turkey Store has decided to temporarily close both of its Willmar production facilities, located on Willmar Avenue and Benson Avenue, to undergo facility-wide cleaning and to slow the spread of the COVID-19 disease. The announcement came Friday afternoon in a news release from the company. Operations will wind down through the weekend, the release said. There is no timeline yet for reopening of the facilities. The company confirmed earlier this week that employees had come

Kandiyohi County day cares to receive help from EDC

April 26, 2020

Kandiyohi County day cares to receive help from EDC
WILLMAR — Home-based child care providers are another segment of the overall economy suffering during the coronavirus shutdown. “They have not been closed by the governor, but they are facing some challenging times. They are operating at about 50 percent capacity right now,” said Aaron Backman, executive director of the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission. To assist these crucial businesses, who could be providing care for the children of essential

Willmar Wye construction to restart next week

April 20, 2020

Willmar Wye construction to restart next week
WILLMAR—As warmer weather returns, the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Hoffmann Group, contractor for the project, are getting ready to restart work on the Willmar Wye railroad bypass project on the west side of Willmar. According to a project update from MnDOT, crews will begin construction next week on the new U.S. Highway 12 bridge, which will go over the rail line to be constructed by BNSF Railway. Also next week, grading will be prepared for sidewalk and median concrete at the

Jennie-O hopes preventive actions will protect workers and plant from COVID-19

April 16, 2020

Jennie-O hopes preventive actions will protect workers and plant from COVID-19
WILLMAR — Officials at Jennie-O Turkey Store in Willmar say they are optimistic extra efforts they are implementing to protect employees from the coronavirus could prevent the type of outbreak that has temporarily shut down a large pork processing facility in South Dakota. Starting next week, employees at the Jennie-O processing plants will have their temperatures taken when reporting to work. Fever is one of the most common symptoms of the COVID-19 respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus. That

EDC wants to be there for business community during pandemic

April 13, 2020

EDC wants to be there for business community during pandemic
WILLMAR — Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down a vast majority of the economy at all levels, the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission saw business retention as one of its top goals. That has taken on an even greater significance with so many business owners finding themselves in uncharted territory. “Business retention and business assistance has to be our top priority; trying to do whatever we can do for our local businesses,” said EDC Joint

Willmar’s Head Start to have a new home

April 8, 2020

Willmar’s Head Start to have a new home
WILLMAR—Living up to both of their names, United Community Action Partnership and Kandiyohi Power Cooperative are working together to create a larger and much needed space for the Head Start program operated by United Community Action Partnership. Kandiyohi Power Cooperative, with Marcus Construction, is renovating the cooperative’s building located on Highway 71 Northeast overlooking Willmar Lake, into the new home for Head Start in Willmar. “We really needed to find this space,”

Construction Underway at third Willmar Kwik Trip Site

April 2, 2020

Construction Underway at third Willmar Kwik Trip Site
WILLMAR—Construction has begun on Willmar’s third Kwik Trip store, this one located in downtown. The building permit with the city of Willmar says the project is worth $2 million. Aaron Backman, executive director of the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commissioner, said in an email to the West Central Tribune that construction is estimated to be completed by September. Kwik Trip had always planned on building three stores in Willmar, but delayed building the downtown

Survey shows high-speed broadband still a priority in Kandiyohi County

March 23, 2020

Survey shows high-speed broadband still a priority in Kandiyohi County
WILLMAR—Nearly half of respondents to a broadband survey taken in Dovre, Mamre and St. Johns townships in Kandiyohi County said they would be willing to spend on average $61.47 a month for high-speed broadband service. “There is a demand for high-speed broadband and people are willing to pay,” said Connie Schmoll, business development manager with the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission. The survey, completed by the EDC and Compass Consultants, was sent

Farm Service Elevator predicts new feed system could improve turkey growth at reduced cost

March 7, 2020

Farm Service Elevator predicts new feed system could improve turkey growth at reduced cost
WILLMAR–A new system for blending and loading poultry feed that was implemented late last year at the Farm Service Elevator in Willmar has already reduced time and increased nutrition options. Research is now underway to determine if the projected growth and rate of gain for commercial turkey flocks is realized. If it is, it could be a game-changer for the Willmar Poultry Company–which raises commercial turkeys and owns and operates the Farm Service Elevator–and other poultry farms which purchase

Interest grows in Willmar Renaissance Zone

February 27, 2020

Interest grows in Willmar Renaissance Zone
WILLMAR—Even though the Willmar Renaissance Zone is still in the planning and vetting process, word has already begun to spread amongst interested parties and developers. “We’ve had a lot of great feedback and a lot of great interest in the zone,” Willmar Planning and Community Development Director Dave Ramstad recently told members of the Willmar Planning Commission. The proposed zone would provide a host of economic development incentives to draw developers to the area and perhaps
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