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Kandiyohi County to go to single-sort recycling

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. […]

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, […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

Jennie-O donates 8,800 N95 masks to Carris Health

WILLMAR — Jennie-O Turkey Store has donated 8,800 N95 masks to Carris Health to help address the shortage of masks for front-line health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release from Carris Health. “We are honored to be able to provide a substantial number of respirator masks to our friends at […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

COVID-19 Business Assistance Loan Program

 The Kandiyohi County & City of Willmar Economic Development Commission (EDC) is pleased to announce a new finance program to provide emergency assistance loans.  The COVID-19 Business Assistance Loan (COBAL) Program is for businesses located in Kandiyohi County that have been forced to close or significantly reduce their operations due to the executive orders issued […]

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 […]

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 […]

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