News

Emporia Suits and Alterations off to great start during prom season

May 28, 2022

Emporia Suits and Alterations off to great start during prom season
Willmar’s new suit store offers options for men to be occasion-ready, no matter the event they will be attending. WILLMAR — A new store in Willmar opened just in time to help local young men find the perfect suit or tuxedo to wear for one of the highlights of their high school years — prom. Read the full story at the West Central Tribune 

Port of Duluth celebrates historic shipment

May 27, 2022

Port of Duluth celebrates historic shipment
DULUTH — The first container cargoes bound for European markets are ticketed to leave the local port this weekend, when 200 containers loaded with bulk sacks of kidney beans depart aboard the ship Nunalik. The beans are headed for 10 locations in four different countries across the Atlantic Ocean, including Germany, Italy, France and Hungary. “This is very satisfying to have this come together,” said Deb DeLuca, executive director for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. “This is an opportunity

Kandiyohi County continues to create spending plan for American Rescue Plan funds

May 24, 2022

Kandiyohi County continues to create spending plan for American Rescue Plan funds
The Kandiyohi County Board of Commissioners held a work session on how to spend the remaining $1.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds the county has. Out of the original $8.3 million, the board dedicated 75 percent of it to expanding broadband access in the county. The Kandiyohi County Board of Commissioners meets in a work session Tuesday, May 17, to discuss how to spend the remaining $1.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds not yet designated by the county for a specific purpose. Read

Kandiyohi County, Charter Communications partner on $800,000 broadband project to serve 170 homes, businesses

May 16, 2022

Kandiyohi County, Charter Communications partner on $800,000 broadband project to serve 170 homes, businesses
A cooperative project between Kandiyohi County and Charter Communications will bring broadband to more than 170 rural, unserved homes and small businesses in the county. Charter is investing more than $563,000, and the county has committed nearly $240,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding. Read the full story from the West Central Tribune 

Housing is a hot topic for Willmar, and the job of a new mayor’s task force

May 13, 2022

Housing is a hot topic for Willmar, and the job of a new mayor’s task force
A housing task force was created at the May 2 Willmar City Council meeting. A group of 15 to 16 people is expected to work for three months, or even less, and report back to the city and other partners trying to promote the availability of more housing. Although more apartment complexes are under construction, single-family housing has been identified as a particular need. Read the full story at the West Central Tribune 

Dirt is moving along Highway 23 gaps project, a moment of celebration for supporters

May 10, 2022

Dirt is moving along Highway 23 gaps project, a moment of celebration for supporters
While construction has already begun on the north gap of the Highway 23 four-lane project, supporters gathered Friday in Roscoe to officially celebrate the start of the long-planned and wished-for project. A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the Roadside Tavern Banquet Hall, with various state, county, city and township dignitaries from along Minnesota Highway 23 in attendance. See pictures of the event and read the full article at the West Central Tribune 

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, U.S. senators visit Kandiyohi County to meet with those responding to avian flu

April 27, 2022

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, U.S. senators visit Kandiyohi County to meet with those responding to avian flu
WILLMAR — Minnesota is proud of its agricultural heritage, including being the No. 1 producer of turkeys in the nation. Unfortunately, that also means the state is being hit hard by this year’s outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Since late March, nearly 1.4 million turkeys and chickens in Minnesota have been impacted and culled at 40 different sites — most of them commercial poultry producers and six of them in Kandiyohi County alone. “We knew this was coming. We saw

Unemployment Insurance and Frontline Worker Bill Passed by Minnesota Legislature Signed into Law by Governor Tim Walz

April 27, 2022

Unemployment Insurance and Frontline Worker Bill Passed by Minnesota Legislature Signed into Law by Governor Tim Walz
St. Paul – On Friday, Governor Walz signed the Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Frontline Worker bill into law. Replenishing the UI Trust Fund at $2.73 billion will ensure UI benefits are available to workers in the future and that businesses across the state are held harmless from the effects of the pandemic. About 130,000 businesses will receive UI tax relief with the passing of this bill – with the total amount of relief provided to businesses coming totaling around $200 million for the first

Willmar City Council approves contamination cleanup grant application for Block 25 Lofts project

April 25, 2022

Willmar City Council approves contamination cleanup grant application for Block 25 Lofts project
Cleanup is needed on a downtown Willmar lot slated to be the home of an apartment complex, including petroleum, a fuel tank leak and solvents used by a former dry cleaning business. Willmar City Council approved being the fiscal agent for a Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development contamination cleanup grant for Lumber One, the developers who will be constructing Block 25 Lofts apartments. Read the complete article at West Central Tribune 

Willmar City Council gives Nexyst 360 early access to 137 acres of Industrial Park land

April 18, 2022

Willmar City Council gives Nexyst 360 early access to 137 acres of Industrial Park land
The Willmar City Council approved an early access agreement with Nexyst 360, an agricultural distribution company that wants to purchase 137 acres in the Willmar Industrial Park. The agreement would allow Nexyst 360 to begin developer activities such as surveys, environmental assessments and soil investigations prior to any land sale being completed. Nexyst 360 is interested in purchasing more than 130 acres on the western side of the Willmar Industrial Park. The Willmar City Council on Monday,
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