WILLMAR — The Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission, along with other local and regional partners, continues to look for new ways to help businesses weather the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.
“We are using the resources we have to try to address some of the emergency funding,” said Aaron Backman, EDC executive director.
A new grant program, this one geared toward new immigrant businesses in Kandiyohi County, was approved by the EDC Joint Operations Board
WILLMAR—In a bold response to combating COVID-19, Bethesda will begin on-site and on-demand weekly testing of all employees, residents and tenants throughout the organization’s skilled nursing and congregate housing facilities in Willmar and Olivia.
The goal is to start testing all employees Friday.
Starting next week, tests will be available for all tenants and residents.
In all, Bethesda could test 1,000 individuals every week. They will cover any out-of-pocket costs associated with the testing.
“At
Work to move to company’s Minnesota plant
Farm equipment maker Buhler Industries plans to gather its U.S. manufacturing work into one plant in Minnesota this summer and halt operations at nearby Fargo, N.D.
The Winnipeg company, whose product lines include Versatile tractors and sprayers and Farm King application, tillage and hay equipment, said Monday it’s “optimizing” its U.S. production to boost efficiency and cut overhead costs at its factory at Willmar, Minn., about 140 km west of
WILLMAR—After nearly 30 years of running its own multi-sort recycling program, Kandiyohi County is moving to a single-sort system, which will be run and operated by West Central Sanitation.
“I am very, very pleased with this proposal and the ability to have curbside pickup for everybody in the county,” said Kandiyohi County Commissioner Roger Imdieke.
The County Board unanimously approved the proposal at Tuesday’s meeting. While moving to a single-sort system had been a topic
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
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—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
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
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—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,”
