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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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

Kandiyohi and Meeker counties join together to bring broadband to residents

WILLMAR—Over the past year, Kandiyohi County has been concentrating on bringing high-speed broadband to all corners of the county. The County Board has even pledged to use up to 75% of its American Rescue Plan Act coronavirus relief money to fund various broadband projects. At the Feb. 15 County Board meeting, the commissioners approved a […]

Workforce summit held in Willmar to help businesses recruit and retain

WILLMAR—The world and its workforce have changed dramatically over the past several years and employers need to change right along with them. That was the overall message at the Workforce Solutions Summit held Thursday in Willmar. Sponsored and produced by a partnership of several regional economic development and community organizations, the summit brought dozens from […]

FedEx behind massive logistics facility being constructed in Willmar Industrial Park

WILLMAR—The end user for the massive logistics facility being constructed in the Willmar Industrial Park has finally been identified publicly. “It’s official; it is FedEx,” said Aaron Backman, executive director of the Kandiyohi County and city of Willmar Economic Development Commission. The project is estimated to be worth more than $30 million, and includes the […]

Kandiyohi County Commissioners and state legislators agree on importance of broadband

WILLMAR—At their annual visit to the Kandiyohi County Board of Commissioners, District 17 Senator Andrew Lang, R-Olivia, and District 17B Representative Dave Baker, R-Willmar, were on hand to not only give an update on what is happening in St. Paul, but to also take in the concerns and priorities of the board. “We’re here today to […]

Kandiyohi County continues to wage war against aquatic invasive species

WILLMAR— Despite a shortage of trained inspectors, Kandiyohi County was able to stop 230 violations of the state’s aquatic invasive species rules at boat launches of several county lakes this year. Any one of those violations, if the boats had reached the water, could have led to increased spread of aquatic invasive species, which are known to have a […]

Ridgewater offering no-cost nursing classes to address shortage

As a means of alleviating nursing home staffing shortages, Ridgewater College announced this week that it will be offering nursing assistant classes—at no cost—to participating students. These classes will be offered on both the Willmar and Hutchinson campuses starting Jan. 3 with the 32 students already enrolled, scheduled to complete their courses by Jan. 31. […]

Kandiyohi County gives money for broadband

WILLMAR—Twenty-three homes along 30th Avenue Northwest in Dovre Township of Kandiyohi County might soon have access to high-speed broadband. A proposed Charter project would bring speeds up to 100 megabits download and 20 megabits upload to the area, which is currently considered unserved by the state. “It is kind of isolated,” said Kandiyohi County Administrator […]

A new class of future Kandiyohi County business leaders graduates from Elevate Business Academy

WILLMAR—Their business dreams include a barbecue restaurant, a fashion line, a shoe store, a family entertainment destination and the continued success of a community coffee house. The seven men and women—Candace Aaker, Nick Aaker, Mohammed Abdi, Daniel Carranza, Fatouma Hachim, Hans Hibma and Victoria Hibma—who participated in the second class of the Elevate Business Academy […]

Downtown Willmar streetscape project to be redesigned to meet grant fund parameters

WILLMAR—The streetscape project being proposed for the intersection of Litchfield Avenue and Fourth Street Southwest in downtown Willmar has hit a rather large snag. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, which administers the Small Cities grant program from which most of the funding is coming, has raised serious concerns about the plan and […]

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