development

Willmar’s April 2025 building permits total $2,557,659 in value

WILLMAR — The city of Willmar issued 64 total building, mechanical and plumbing permits in the month of April. These permits held a total valuation of $2,557,659, according to the monthly report posted on the city website. Among the issued permits were two commercial alteration permits for the CentraCare — Willmar Lakeland Clinic at 502 Second St. S.W. The permits, […]

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It is starting to look a lot like Kohl’s

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WILLMAR — While an official grand opening date has yet to be announced to the public, the Kohl’s at Willmar’s Kandi Mall is starting to take shape. Weston Banker, senior coordinator for Kohl’s corporate public relations, said in an email to the West Central Tribune that the store will open this fall. Located on the

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Women Brainstorm Business Ideas on White Board

2019 EDC Strategic Planning Session

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The 2019 Strategic Planning Session for the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission (EDC) took place this past March. EDC Marketing and Public Relations Committee Vice Chair, Melissa Knott, shares her experience with us as a first-time attendee: “On March 14th, I had the pleasure of attending the 2019 Strategic Planning Session for the

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Domino's Legacy Store Willmar Minnesota Honoring Bill Graves

Honoring the legacy of Bill Graves: Centerpiece wall of unique Domino’s store in Willmar tells his story

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WILLMAR — Before his death in a plane crash on Feb. 4, 2015, William “Bill” Graves had recently celebrated the opening of his 100th Domino’s franchise. It was an amazing accomplishment from someone who first started as a Domino’s driver before opening his very first franchise in 1985. That first store was located in Apple

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Diversity in Willmar, MN- Photo Credit: Star Tribune

Highlighting Diversity in Kandiyohi County

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Willmar is a diverse community with a large Latino and Somali/East African population that is increasingly represented in the business world. Members of these communities own and operate approximately 12% of businesses in Willmar, as evidenced by a recent Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Survey of diverse businesses undertaken by the EDC. Last fall, the

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Kandiyohi County Featured in Business In Focus Magazine

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“A dynamic county with much to offer existing and prospective businesses” is the summary used by contributing writer Gina Stephens to describe the Willmar area in a six-page article featured in the September 2017 publication of Business in Focus magazine. Providing a comprehensive view of North American business, the magazine offers monthly online and print

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EDC Hosts Highway 23 Transportation Rally

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In May of 2017 a group of over 30 interested people, including business and government leaders, met in New London to discuss the need to finish the four-lane gaps on Highway 23, formalize the Highway 23 Coalition and elect officers. Since that time, the Coalition has incorporated, established a budget and the full membership elected

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Photo Credit: Shelby Lindrud, West Central Tribune

Little Crow Country Club Continues to Transform

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The GrandStay Hotel & Event Center Project at Little Crow Country Club is officially underway! Plans for the 51-room hotel, 300-seat event center, 75-seat restaurant and new Little Crow Country Club clubhouse finalized in early 2017; however, it took longer than initially envisioned to complete the $2.35 million equity drive for the project. Once

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15th Street Affordable Flats Approved by MN Housing Finance Agency

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MHFA Approves $15.8 million in Affordable Housing for Willmar On October 19, 2017, the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency announced it approved funding for two multi-family affordable housing projects in Willmar—15th Street Flats and Hanson Apartments. The former is a $9.3 million project that involves new construction of a building with 47 rental units on the

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Willmar Site Certified Shovel Ready

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Willmar Industrial Park is 31st site to receive designation in Minnesota ST. PAUL—An industrial park located on the west side of Willmar has been certified for the Shovel Ready Program by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The 181-acre site in the Willmar Industrial Park is the 31st site designated in Minnesota

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Angel investor group to focus on agriculture development in Kandiyohi County

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WILLMAR—An angel investment group that will have up to $3 million in funds to focus on agricultural development in Kandiyohi County could have enough investors to launch a project yet this year. In the works for two years, the newly named West Central Angel Fund 1 has 13 initial investors who have worked with a

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