Willmar

Students unveil businesses: CEO Trade Show highlights young entrepreneurs

WILLMAR—Wyatt Allen was ready. He greeted a visitor to his trade show booth with a firm handshake and his “elevator speech” about Origin Content Development, his business providing original content for their social media marketing plans. Allen and 20 of his classmates in the Kandiyohi County Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities Program presented their fledgling businesses to […]

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Opening Kandi Mall to more than just retail uses

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WILLMAR—While the Kandi Mall in Willmar has so far dodged any store closings in recent months, Andy Weiner, president of RockStep Capital, who owns the retail center, warned the Willmar Planning Commission that the mall could be facing an unsure future. “This property is too big for current and future retail in Willmar. That is

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Housing project could bring 45 affordable units to Willmar

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WILLMAR—Housing availability, especially workforce housing, has been a topic of concern in Willmar for some time. A potential development could help alleviate some of the strain, by bringing 45 high-quality and affordable units to Willmar. “The city has an opportunity to participate in a workforce housing project. This is the first one we’ve been able

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Environmental work complete on Willmar Wye

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WILLMAR—The Willmar Wye rail bypass project has completed a big step in the process this week. The Federal Rail Administration and the Federal Highway Administration have signed off on the Finding of No Significant Impact document, which is the last step in the environmental portion of the project, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced Tuesday

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Ground broken for new Willmar Surgery Center

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WILLMAR—Ground was officially broken Wednesday for a new $11 million outpatient surgery center that will enhance the level of care and meet growing community needs for same-day, lower-cost surgical services. The project is being undertaken by Willmar Medical Services, a joint venture of Rice Memorial Hospital and Affiliated Community Medical Centers. “It’s an exciting time

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What do rural Minnesotans think?

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The Minnesota Farmers Union unveiled its report What Do Rural People Think? on April 26, 2017. It is a distillation of 14 conversations in 14 rural communities held between March 27 and April 26, 2017. Here’s the quick summary (broadband is #3!) Since the 2016 national, state and local elections, there seems to be an

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EDC boards determine 2017 goals

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At their recently held strategic planning session, the EDC’s boards identified four overarching goals on which to focus their efforts: The EDC will strengthen partnerships and connections with existing businesses to be a catalyst and build capacity for organic growth. The EDC will explore and increase operations to support efforts to improve the tax base

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Planning for Willmar airport’s future

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WILLMAR—It’s been 20 years since the Willmar Airport Master Plan was updated. Back then the city was involved with the major venture of moving the airport to its current location on state Highway 40. “All it talks about is how we’re going to build this new airport. We are a little past that now,” said

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Developing a vision: EDC reviews retail data to help economic strategy for the future

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WILLMAR—A newly completed report with data that show the strengths and weaknesses in retail trade in the city of Willmar and Kandiyohi County is being used to develop a vision and strategy for continued economic growth in the community. During a day-long planning session Thursday at the Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center in rural Spicer,

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Willmar Poultry, Aviagen establish new turkey poult supplier

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WILLMAR — Willmar Poultry/Ag Forte has merged with Valley of the Moon Commercial Poults and is set to establish a new commercial turkey poult company called Select Genetics. “The focus of Select Genetics will be to deliver the best quality genetics to the turkey industry, which will allow our industry to best compete against other

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Willmar grows and prospers

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WILLMAR—In 2016 the city of Willmar approved over $60 million dollars in new construction and development ranging from major school projects to new homes and businesses. These projects popped up all over town from the Industrial Park and along Lakeland Drive to the retail center of First Street. “2016 was a positive year,” said Bruce

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EDC to Assist Minority-Owned Businesses

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WILLMAR—As Willmar’s population continues to diversify, with people coming to the city from around the world, the business community is also growing and changing, with dozens of businesses owned and operated by minorities. “They increasingly represent a significant portion of our economy,” said Aaron Backman, executive director of the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar

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