THE SUPPORTER
The Kandiyohi County & City of Willmar Economic Development Commission | Serving Kandiyohi County, located in Willmar
Part of our work is to support sustainable economic development in our communities, like in the people and businesses you have read about.
We:
*Recruit businesses and new industries while supporting established ones through customized assistance
*Advocate for communities to support sustainable economic growth
*Provide education, technical, and financial assistance
THE TABLE
Elevate Community Business Academy (CBA) Spring 2022 Graduation Celebration & Dinner | 6.28.2022
Willmar, MN
Students gather, getting corsages pinned carefully onto them, faces smiling at one another as they arrive. Their families come in, staying in the background snapping pictures. It is a big night—graduation.
The students have met once a week for three hours for the last 12 weeks as part of the Elevate Community Business Academy. Sarah Swedburg, Business Development Manager
Amin Grocery | Willmar, MN
Abdiweli Yusuf | Owner
Amin Grocery, like its owner, is a busy place. Product and people are all organized into the small grocery store in downtown Willmar, but bigger things are coming. Amin Grocery will be moving to a new, larger space soon. Abdiweli Yusuf, the owner, shows off the space, clean and spacious. And while looking around the walls he pictures it; plenty of storage for the fresh produce and specialty drinks his patrons want.
In the future, even a meat market
THE TRANSPORTER
Donnelly Truck Service, Inc. | Willmar, MN
Krista Jans | General Manager
If you have ever dropped a child or pet off at a new place you know the worry that can accompany putting your trust in someone you don’t know. This trust, whether we have realized it before or not, is put on those working in the trucking industry daily. These folks are not just ensuring an item will get from point A to point B, but they are making sure it gets there safely and in the same cared state
Ridgewater College | Willmar, MN
Meat Cutting Program
Jeff Miller | Dean of Instruction
A product is created, made, crafted. And your select meats whether that is a good steak for grilling or venison brats from the deer you harvested are no different. At Ridgewater College’s Willmar Campus students will be taking to the meat lockers to learn this specialized skill in its new Meat Cutter Certificate Program.
“The interest in this program has been a phenomenon. It is unlike anything I have
THE PRODUCT
Kandi Acres | Hawick, MN
Tiffany Farrier | Owner
Walking up to the Kandi Acres farm house you notice there is a lot going on. Goats are everywhere. Chickens can be heard clucking. There are 6 dogs inside, and another 13 new puppies and a protective mom inside the garage along with a few rabbits for good measure.
As owner and operator of Kandi Acres, Tiffany has grown her herd from 3 goats to 500 in 3 years. The growth was gradual—almost involuntary—as the opportunity to add to the
