Willmar

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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Greater Minnesota cities struggle to sustain their oldest homes—but loans and education are helping

News

On a hot August morning, in one of Willmar’s oldest neighborhoods, stucco bungalows, ramblers and an American Foursquare here and there stand under the shade of massive trees, set close together, bordered by sidewalks. It’s a charming scene, at first glance, yet many of these homes clearly need repair. “It’s the oldest housing stock in

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Major Willmar Industrial Park development proposed, possible package sorting and distribution center

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WILLMAR—A yet-to-be named business is interested in constructing a package sorting and distribution center in the Willmar Industrial Park, a business which could bring dozens of new jobs. “They haven’t released the name, but you have heard of it. It is not going to be a secret; they are a big player,” said Bruce Peterson,

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That #KanDo Mentality That Can Only Mean Success

News

For almost 15 years, the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission (EDC) has been working hard to serve as a catalyst for economic growth in its region. In 2017, Business in Focus took a closer look at this dynamic organization and all of the great initiatives the EDC was working on in

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Willmar council OKs steps to accept $1.2M rehab grant

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WILLMAR—Homes located on the northside of downtown Willmar and businesses within the downtown business district will soon be able to apply for no-interest, deferred loans for eligible rehabilitation projects. The city’s application for a Small Cities block grant of $1,205,177 was approved earlier this summer by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. “This

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A year full of play and pride: Willmar’s Destination Playground exceeds goals

News

WILLMAR—It has been just over a year since the Willmar Destination Playground at Robbins Island Regional Park opened to the cheers of delight from adults and children alike. It is as popular today as it was on its grand opening weekend, with people coming from near and far to spend a few hours at the

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New Ridgewater president ready to take on a new challenge

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WILLMAR—Craig Johnson feels his blue collar, first-generation college student background will inform his work as the new president at Ridgewater College. Johnson, 62, joined the college July 1. He came from the University Center in Sioux Falls, where he was director. Johnson said his first few weeks have involved finding his way around the school’s

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Willmar voters to decide sales tax in November

News

WILLMAR—The voters of Willmar will now have the opportunity to approve or reject a local option sales tax which could raise $30 million for a host of projects across the city. At Monday’s meeting, the Willmar City Council approved a resolution to place the question on the Nov. 6 ballot. “We are a regional center

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Council supports new workforce housing project in Willmar

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WILLMAR—A resolution of support from the Willmar City Council will be added to the tax credit application being submitted to the state by the Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership. The group hopes to construct a 72-unit multi-family housing project on the north side of Willmar, near the MinnWest Technology Campus. The council passed the resolution at

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Why so many Twin Cities immigrant organizations are branching out to Greater Minnesota

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In 1998, when John Keller joined the St. Paul-based Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) as an immigration attorney, he would often drive to Worthington, where hundreds of low-income immigrants and refugees depended on the organization’s free legal services. “We would do workshops, answer a bunch of questions, do in-takes and represent whoever we could

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Willmar housing project clears a final hurdle

News

WILLMAR—With the approval Tuesday night of a tax increment financing district, the 15th Street Flats apartment project in Willmar has cleared one of its last hurdles and is now on schedule to begin construction in June. “The city and the EDC have been working with Commonwealth Development for approximately a year to bring this project

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Vaxxinova acquires Epitopix

News

Vaxxinova, an EW-group company with core business focusing on animal health, has concluded an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in Epitopix, a US based animal health company specialized in poultry and livestock biologicals and founder of SRP® technology. The transaction will be concluded by February 28, 2018. Epitopix is a part of the Willmar

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