WILLMAR — Nexyst, in the next 60 days, plans to close on a $1.1 million purchase agreement for at least 137 acres in the Willmar Industrial Park to accommodate a $40 million project — constructing an agricultural distribution complex — according to Aaron Backman, executive director of the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission.
“This is kind of an exciting development,” he said as he shared a site plan with Planning Commission members on Nov. 16.
The project
WILLMAR — The old Pizza Hut building is being torn down to make way for a new drive-thru restaurant — Slim Chickens — set to open about mid-2023.
Slim Chickens, which will be located at 1605 First St. S. in Willmar, will have seating for up to 70 people, but 60 to 65% of its business is typically drive-thru, according to owner Steve Letnes.
The Willmar Planning Commission approved site plans for the new restaurant at its Oct. 5 meeting.
Read the full article by the West Central Tribune.
WILLMAR — “Big ideas” for how to solve Willmar’s single-family housing issue were shared with the Willmar City Council during the Oct. 24 meeting.
Paul Borene, the chair of the Willmar Mayor’s Housing Task Force, said the task force effort was long overdue.
“This should have been done, maybe, years ago; years and years ago,” he said.
The bottom line of the 10-page report is that the city of Willmar, along with support from Kandiyohi County, should create a public-private program
NEW LONDON—Residents and businesses in Brooten, Danube, Kerkhoven, New London, Pennock and Spicer will soon be gaining access to 1-gigabit broadband connections, thanks to a project by TDS Telecommunications.
The telecommunications service provider broke ground on a fiber network expansion project this month.
According to a news release, it will connect more than 3,700 properties to fiber broadband service, with the first people being able to connect by next summer. The launches will continue
Willmar—The developer of what is thought to be the first tiny home development in the region has the southeast Willmar project out for bids.
Justin Paffrath, also a real estate agent, spoke last week to the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission to share the inspiration behind his development, as well as concept plans of how the development will be laid out.
Paffrath agreed with EDC Executive Director Aaron Backman that this would likely be the first tiny home development
Photo from left to right: Katherine Giliz Cusa, Almera Jane Amindato, Missi May Flores and Shelamie Santillan are several of the new teachers who are starting the new school year with Willmar Public Schools after being hired through an international teaching program. This is Willmar’s first year hiring teachers abroad to help address its staffing shortage. The teachers have the opportunity to stay teaching in Minnesota for up to five years before being required to return to their home countries
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
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
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
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
