WILLMAR—The Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission has found its next business development manager and didn’t have to look far to find her.
Current Willmar City Planner Sarah Swedburg has accepted the position and plans to start around May 6. She is replacing Connie Schmoll, who is retiring at the end of May.
Schmoll has worked for the EDC for just over seven years. Lately she has been focusing on expanding broadband through the county, business development
WILLMAR—While specifics were slim, Aaron Backman, Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission executive director, gave some intriguing hints Thursday about possible major economic development projects that could be headed to Willmar.
The biggest is a large distribution center project for an undisclosed end user. Back in 2018-2019, a logistics company came close to building a project in Willmar, but it was canceled in early 2019.
“This one is bigger and better,”
WILLMAR—Expanding high-speed broadband to all corners of Kandiyohi County has been a dream and challenge for many for more than two decades.
“This is an ongoing issue. It is a task we are constantly struggling to fix,” said Kandiyohi County Administrator Larry Kleindl, during a work session of the Kandiyohi County Board of Commissioners. The meeting Tuesday was specifically about broadband issues in the county.
With the passage of the American Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trillion economic stimulus
NEW LONDON—The Mill Pond Mercantile building in downtown New London has new owners.
The Goose Group, which currently owns three businesses in Perham, will be opening Lucky Duck in New London.
Featuring a unique line of toys, games, puzzles and old-fashioned treats, the retail store is tentatively scheduled to open in mid-May.
“Our goal is to make people happy,” said Doug Huebsch, owner and CEO. “We want everyone to leave the store with a big smile on their face.”
Laura Bjerke, vice president
WILLMAR—The Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission has had a front row seat to the challenges and hardship the coronavirus pandemic has brought to businesses and non-profits across the county. And since late March 2020 the EDC has also been in the driver’s seat of several financial relief programs, helping those businesses hang on.
“I am proud of the organization in terms of what we are trying to do to help businesses survive this rough patch,”
WILLMAR—When downtown and a portion of the U.S. Highway 12 commercial corridor were chosen as Willmar’s lone federal Opportunity Zone, David Ramstad and his staff at city Planning and Development definitely saw an opportunity.
While the Opportunity Zone as a tool is geared more toward developers with deep pockets and capital gains, Ramstad wanted Willmar’s zone to become a rebirth for the poorest area of town. Out of those dreams came the Willmar Renaissance Zone and a list of
The City of Willmar is interested in creating the conditions for a strong and vibrant downtown area. To that end on May 4, 2020 the Willmar City Council adopted the Renaissance Zone, which is a new zoning overlay district encompassing the Central Business District and adjacent areas. The new Willmar Renaissance Zone is a 5-year pilot program intended to encourage investment, job creation, development, creativity and vibrancy in the designated area. This district will offer greater flexibility relative
WILLMAR—When you add up all the money that has so far been awarded to small businesses and nonprofits through coronavirus relief programs run by the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission, the total is more than $2 million.
Since March the EDC has established a handful of grant or loan programs focused on providing financial relief to businesses in the county hit hard by economic impacts tied to the virus outbreak. The programs include the CARES Pandemic Relief Program,
WILLMAR—Kandiyohi County businesses and nonprofits are benefiting from the CARES Pandemic Relief Grant Program administered by the Kandiyohi County and city of Willmar Economic Development Commission.
According to a news release from the EDC, a variety of businesses and nonprofits have applied and received more than $700,000 in grants. The businesses that have received the funds average 7.5 years in business with 167 full-time equivalent jobs.
Read the full article at the West Central Tribune.
WILLMAR—Grabbing onto business opportunities that blend innovative engineering skills and rapidly advancing 3D printing technology, three brothers are expanding their role in digital manufacturing that could be a game-changer for all manufacturers—and a benefit to consumers.
During a media tour Tuesday that included a live, virtual broadcast, Carl, Brian and Sean Douglass talked about their expanding business, DI Labs, at their new location in Willmar.
DI Labs was started in 2013 in Spicer. As
