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EDC focus on child care helps alleviate the child care crisis

In December of 2022, the number of additional child care slots needed in Kandiyohi County was 935. The Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar EDC launched the Child Care Economic Development Program, which is estimated to have created 263 additional child care slots.   By Jennifer Kotila WILLMAR — With Kandiyohi County facing a child care crisis, lacking 935 […]

Housing shortage continues to be a problem in Kandiyohi County

Real estate sign outside a home for sale

Two new turkey businesses to open in newly created hatchery in Willmar, Minnesota

Headstart Hatching and Next Nest Hatching will begin operations in a state-of-the-art hatchery facility. New hatching technology will help to increase production rates and help with animal welfare. WILLMAR — After a year of construction, Headstart Hatching and Next Nest Hatching, two companies created through Life-Science Innovations , will open a new hatchery called Nest One this winter. The building, located […]

2023 Year in Review: A look back on the top stories from the City of Willmar

Throughout 2023, the Willmar City Council debated the location of the proposed city hall and community center, housing remains a top priority and businesses continue to invest in the city’s industrial park. ————————————————————————– WILLMAR — Plenty of debate took place throughout the past year, not least of all concerning the future of Willmar’s city hall […]

Expansion of Elevate entrepreneurship course in Kandiyohi County supported by $200,000 grant

The Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission received a grant for more than $200,000 from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. —————————————————————- WILLMAR — The Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission received a grant of more than $200,000 to put toward expansion of the Elevate Community Business […]

Swedburg resigns from development role with Kandiyohi County/Willmar EDC
41 Grantees Announced to Support Small Business Success across Minnesota

St. Paul – Today, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced that 41 organizations across Minnesota will receive Small Business Assistance Partnership funding to help small businesses grow and thrive. DEED will award more than $12.5 million to nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, community development financial institutions and community development corporations. These […]

A Message from the Executive Director

Written by Executive Director, Aaron Backman 2023 was a memorable year in many ways.  A new housing study covering all of Kandiyohi County was completed by Viewpoint Consulting in January.  It identified a need for 2,555 additional housing units, including 1,580 units in Willmar, to be constructed between now and the year 2030. Several housing […]

A Sisterhood of Support

Walking into the backyard of child care provider Michelle Weiler is like walking into a children’s fairy tale. It is the magic of Alice in Wonderland, the secret hidden place of the Secret Garden and full of children having as much fun as if they were in Peter Pan’s Never Never Land. But this isn’t […]

New Year, New Look

In November, the Joint Powers Board voted unanimously to adopt a new public facing name for what has been known as the EDC, while the legal name remains the same. The Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission (EDC) was founded in 2003 as a joint powers authority between the City of Willmar […]

Coalition of Greater MN Cities holds fall conference in Willmar

WILLMAR—City officials and business leaders from Greater Minnesota communities gathered November 16-17 at Willmar Conference Center for its annual fall conference. The conference kicked off with welcome remarks from St. Joseph Mayor and CGMC President Rick Schultz, Willmar Mayor Doug Reese, and CGMC Executive Director Bradley Peterson, followed by a lunch presentation from Department of […]

Willmar Municipal Utilities investing in generation and transmission

WILLMAR—The Willmar Municipal Utilities Commission on Nov. 13 approved continuing a $760,000 agreement with DGR Engineering to create additional generation capacity in Willmar with the installation of four more diesel generators and also took action to invest in additional transmission projects. The separate actions were each recommended by the Municipal Utilities’ planning committee. Generation According to the minutes from […]

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