economic development

DiLabs

A Tiny 3D Printing Company in Central Minnesota Looks to Leave a Mark on the Med-Tech Industry

A small 3D print shop in central Minnesota is building parts for some of the state’s biggest companies. At DI Labs’ office about two hours west of Minneapolis, machines operate 24 hours a day printing prototypes of parts and thousands of other components for 3M, Toro, and a handful of other companies throughout the Upper Midwest […]

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Opportunity Zone Willmar MN Hwy 12

Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar EDC seeks investors for redevelopment projects in Willmar Opportunity Zone

Kandiyohi County’s only Opportunity Zone, located around downtown Willmar, provides potential investors with tax breaks while funding development or redevelopment of the neighborhood.   The goal of the Opportunity Zone is development or redevelopment, and the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission has contracted with Golden Shovel Agency to attract investors. When

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Hemp2

Local interest in growing and processing hemp: EDC committee will conduct feasibility study for market options

WILLMAR— With the potential for high per-acre profits there’s increasing interest in growing industrial hemp on west central Minnesota farms. But with limited processing options available, an untested market chain and federal law that still classifies industrial hemp as a controlled substance, there are a few roadblocks yet to overcome. That’s why a feasibility study

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Ridgewater

Ridgewater brings $170 million to area’s economy, study says

WILLMAR—Ridgewater College contributes more than $170 million to the region’s economy, according to a study by the Minnesota State system of public colleges and universities. The study indicates the college also contributes 1,456 jobs to the area, according to a news release from Ridgewater. “At Ridgewater College, our top priority is the success of our

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2018 FAM Tour by Connie Schmoll

Designed to bring familiarization of Minnesota and communities across the state, including Kandiyohi County and the city of Willmar, to site selectors nationwide, the 2018 Minnesota Site Selectors FAM Tour may have been the most effective tour in the four years I have been a part of this organization. Past FAM Tours In 2015, the

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Childcare

Lack of child care a barrier to economic development

WILLMAR—Not having enough safe, affordable and accessible child care facilities is being tagged as a growing barrier to economic development in west central Minnesota, including Kandiyohi County where it’s estimated another 776 child care slots are currently needed. Businesses that struggle to find workers because potential employees are unable to find child care—and child care

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