News & Events

Wednesday, May 01, 2019

May 5–11 is National Small Business Week across America. Redwood County has a wealth of dedicated and creative small business owners who contribute to the vibrancy and character of our communities, while employing many of our local residents. Locally owned businesses help to define our communities. They improve our quality of life. During National Small Business Week and beyond, these companies deserve our appreciation and support. Show your appreciation by visiting small businesses You can show your appreciation for the local business owners who contribute to our community's vibrancy and success all year round. It's as simple as choosing to spend your dollars...

Redwood Falls to begin next phase of electricity distribution conversion in the downtown area

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

In 2018, the City of Redwood Falls began the conversion of the downtown business district to an underground electrical system. Due to an early onset of cold weather, the first phase of that project was not completed, but as that work continues the process to start the second phase of the project is also going to begin. That process moved forward April 16 when the city council approved a request from Chuck Heins, city public utilities superintendent, to solicit bids for the next phase. The work as part of Phase 2 includes the alley between Third and Fourth streets from Minnesota Street east...

Wood & Conn of Redwood Falls honored by Sukup

Monday, April 29, 2019

Wood & Conn Corporation of Redwood Falls has been recognized by Sukup Manufacturing Co. for outstanding sales and customer service for 2019. The company received the president’s club sales award during the recent dealer meetings at Sukup headquarters in Sheffield, Iowa. Dealers were recognized with sales achievement awards for high volume sales of Sukup grain handling and storage equipment and/or Sukup Steel Buildings. Diane Hughes, sales supervisor for Sukup Manufacturing, said award recipients have worked closely with their customers to meet their needs for better grain handling and storage solutions. Read full article.

Redwood County highway department settling into new Redwood Falls location

Friday, April 26, 2019

In August 2017, Keith Berndt started his new job as the Redwood County engineer. In that role, he began having discussions with the county commissioners about the future of the highway department, and on the list of priorities was addressing the highway shop located west of Redwood Falls. As Berndt investigated the shop, which included having conversations with those who are employed by the county regarding the building, he soon learned that finding a solution needed to be a priority. Ultimately, that task took a different path than most expected, but those who have been part of the process of the new...

Budget for One Minnesota: Broadband

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Access to robust broadband is a critical factor in the economic and social sustainability of all Minnesota communities. In 2014, the state of Minnesota set a goal of border-to-border broadband access by 2022, signaling that access to quality broadband service should be a right for all Minnesotans. Read full blog post.

Budget for One Minnesota: Closing the Opportunity Gap

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

A report by 24/7 Wall Street ranked Minnesota as the second-worst state in the country for racial equality. Although U.S. Census figures show income gains and lower unemployment rates for Minnesotans of color, we’re still experiencing drastic inequality in these areas across the state. Governor Walz’s Closing the Opportunity Gap investment continues direct appropriations made in the 2018-2019 biennial budget and funds competitive youth employment programs that target at-risk youth. Read full blog post.

Growing Our Leadership for Minnesota's Workforce

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

One of the most important areas of focus for our work at DEED is to help Minnesota workers from all professional backgrounds find great jobs, and to help companies large and small meet their hiring needs – enabling our economy to grow and thrive. That’s why we’ve decided to expand the leadership team within the DEED commissioner’s office by creating two Assistant Commissioner positions to lead our workforce efforts. We’ve just posted these two unclassified jobs – one is as an Assistant Commissioner for Workforce Services (Keyword 31802) and one is as an Assistant Commissioner of Workforce Development (Keyword 31799). You can find out more...

DEED Awards $2 Million in Redevelopment Grants and Loans

Monday, April 22, 2019

Five sites Awarded Funding for Demolition and Redevelopment DEED awarded four redevelopment grants for the cities of Mankato, Minneapolis, Woodbury and Edina. Fergus Falls Port Authority was also awarded a Demolition Loan from the agency. “Redevelopment can be a costly and time-consuming process for local municipalities,” said Governor Tim Walz. “With DEED’s assistance, these projects will attract or retain 455 jobs and increase the local tax base by as much as $1.76 million.” “Turning blighted and underutilized sites into productive uses is a good investment,” said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. “The criteria for DEED’s Redevelopment Grant Program and Demolition Loan programs ensure that...

Why Minnesota's Broadband Push is Crucial to Rural Residents

Friday, April 19, 2019

Rural communities in Minnesota fail to conduct timely business because they lack fast Internet. In one town, it's the difference between employment and mass layoffs. A new state bill would fund broadband for two years. (TNS) — International Falls, Minn. – After more than 30 years of doing business in this longtime mill town, Optum Health plans to close its health care claims office this summer. The good news is the company's 90 workers can keep their jobs. The bad news is that offer is good only if they're able to work remotely. And those who live outside the city limits may...

Recognizing Economic Developers in May

Thursday, April 18, 2019

May 6-11 is International Economic Development Week (EDW). It’s an opportune time to reflect on the importance of local economic development efforts to building a vibrant and sustainable community. The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) created EDW in 2016 to help raise awareness for the profession. Economic Development Organizations (EDOs) are often misunderstood because their activities happen behind the scenes, outside of the public eye. EDW is a chance to recognize economic developers, the local leaders and organizations that work tirelessly to recruit investors, develop businesses, create jobs, enhance the tax base and ultimately improve the quality of life of their communities. Did...

DEED seeks $70 million for rural broadband

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

After a five-year effort to bring broadband internet to rural Minnesota, state leaders believe the finish line is in sight. Under Gov. Tim Walz’s proposed budget, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development would spend $35 million in both 2020 and 2021 to support the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program. That $70 million will put the state on track to hit a statutory goal of extending broadband to all Minnesotans by 2022, DEED Commissioner Steve Grove said. Read full article.

Building up gender diversity

Monday, April 15, 2019

If enrollment growth at Dunwoody College of Technology is a good tape measure, women are poised to make big strides in Minnesota’s construction industry. Women currently make up about 18 percent of all students in the school’s popular construction management program, up from just 2 percent a decade ago, said Heather Gay, who has taught at Dunwoody since 2008. Those rising numbers are no accident, school officials say, as Dunwoody has been deliberate about bringing more women into the school’s technical programs. Read full article.

Budget for One Minnesota: Minnesota Innovation Collaborative

Friday, April 12, 2019

States and cities that create attractive environments for startups, entrepreneurs, and innovative talent are quickly distancing their economies from those who do not. For every one job created in the innovation sector, five more jobs are created in adjacent sectors – the strongest network effect in job growth today. Minnesota must put our economy on the cutting edge of this ecosystem by making strategic investments in our innovation ecosystem. The proposed Minnesota Innovation Collaborative (MIC) contains a series of initiatives focused on growing Minnesota’s innovation economy by accelerating the growth of our startup ecosystem and attracting top technology talent to the state. Comprised...

Budget for One Minnesota: Community Prosperity

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Prosperity and opportunity for all people in all parts of our state stems from the well-being of their community. Governor Tim Walz’s budget ensures that communities are thriving – not just surviving. His budget expands access to affordable childcare and housing, invests in infrastructure and broadband internet, and gives local leaders the tools they need to succeed. In total, the Budget for One Minnesota represents an investment of $432 million in community prosperity investments over the next two years, with an additional $1.9 billion in transportation and infrastructure. Read full article.

Preparing the Workforce of the Future

Thursday, April 04, 2019

Projections indicate that Minnesota may have 400,000 unfilled jobs by 2024 due to a wave of Baby Boomer retirements and a shortage of skilled workers to take their place. While two-thirds of these jobs require post secondary education or training, a four-year college degree isn't always necessary. Thanks to a generous donation from philanthropist Orrin Estebo, the Redwood Falls Area School District will have the tools to proactively address the imminent workforce skills gap to ensure talent needs are met in areas like manufacturing, construction and healthcare. The idea for the Orrin S. Estebo Career Development Center was born a couple of...

Expo Gets Youth to Think About Careers; Employers, the Next-gen Workforce

Monday, April 01, 2019

An HR executive, truck loader, court reporter and physical therapist will be among 25 Minnesota professionals who are blind, DeafBlind, or low-vision networking with blind students at the 2019 Career Expo sponsored by State Services for the Blind. The Expo highlights the diversity of career paths for job seekers who are blind. This free event, focused on high school and undergraduate students, will be held Sat., April 27 at Minnesota Department of Education, 1500 Highway 36 West, Roseville, Conference Center B. Expo attendees will connect with employees working in a variety of jobs and careers, the tools they use, and the techniques that have...

Minnesota adds 3,800 Jobs in January

Friday, March 08, 2019

Unemployment rate ticks up to 3 percent ST. PAUL - Minnesota added 3,800 jobs statewide during the first month of 2019, and the state's unemployment rate increased to 3 percent, according to seasonally adjusted figures released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.0 percent in January. Read full article.

Budget for One Minnesota: Child Care Investment and Integrity

Friday, March 01, 2019

For many Minnesota families, child care is a necessity, yet a growing number of Minnesotans can’t access it – it just doesn’t exist. The number of licensed family childcare providers has decreased almost 30 percent in Minnesota since 2005, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Census data from 2014 show that about 310,000 children in Minnesota ages 0-5 have both parents or guardians in the workforce and likely need some form of child care. Lack of affordable, quality child care is a significant barrier to workforce participation that can negatively affect job and wealth creation, business expansion and retention,...

Business, education creating connections to address workforce shortage in the Redwood area

Monday, February 18, 2019

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a three-part series of stories focused on the issue of workforce shortages facing rural Minnesota and the efforts that are being made to address them as it relates to students who will be taking over those jobs in the not-so-distant future. If today’s students were assured of a good-paying job in the region where they have been growing up, 75 percent of them indicated they would want to live and work there. That statistic was offered by Luke Greiner, a regional analyst for southwestern and central Minnesota for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic...

Redwood Area School District education program focused on preparing students for next stage

Friday, February 15, 2019

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a three-part series of stories focused on the issue of workforce shortages facing rural Minnesota and the efforts that are being made to address them as it relates to students who will be taking over those jobs in the not-so-distant future. In 2013 the Minnesota legislature changed the way schools review everything from curriculum to achievement through what is known as the World’s Best Workforce. As a result, schools are required to develop a plan that addresses a series of established goals all in an effort to help prepare students from preschool through Grade 12 for...

Mid County Ag Services begins construction

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Many in the Wabasso community may have noticed the construction activity across from St. Matthew Lutheran Church at the intersection of State Highway 68, County Road 6 and Impala Avenue in Wabasso. The building construction will be the home of the Mid County Ag Services, LLC, which is owned by Jamison Panitzke who purchased the land from the Wabasso Economic Development Administration and has started building a seed warehouse and office. Read full article.

Company’s Innovations Improve Life for Those with Disabilities

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

“Necessity is the mother of invention,” is a saying that is applicable to entrepreneurism. Successful business ventures are often based on identifying a problem that needs to be solved. When a spinal cord injury left Alan Tholkes a quadriplegic at 17, his creative ways of navigating mobility challenges turned him into an entrepreneur. He founded Altimate Medical in 1987 and the products he developed improve the lives of people who use wheelchairs. Tholkes’ initial invention was a folding, lightweight wheelchair that could easily squeeze through narrow doorways. This product provided a foundation the company was built upon. Now the company based in Morton,...

The 5 biggest economic stories in Minnesota from 2018

Monday, February 11, 2019

It was a year with highs and lows for Minnesota’s economy, marked by turnover in the state’s technical college system, trade war uncertainty, rosy economic numbers and an escalating shortage of workers. Here, a look at the year in Minnesota’s economic development: Read full article.

Magazine Highlights Minnesota as a Top Spot for Business

Friday, February 08, 2019

The new edition of Minnesota: Thriving in the North spells out the benefits of doing business here. It highlights the state’s inviting business climate, innovative atmosphere and world-class workforce. The publication, available in both print and digital versions, is part of DEED’s ongoing work to promote the state’s advantages for business investment and expansion, as well as its culture of innovation and quality of life. Read full article.

New Privacy and Data Security Guide Published for 2019

Thursday, February 07, 2019

Annual guide developed in cooperation with Gray Plant Mooty ST. PAUL - The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has partnered with Minneapolis law firm Gray Plant Mooty to publish “A Legal Guide to Privacy and Data Security 2019.” This privacy guide is intended to inform businesses of legal issues related to privacy and data security. Written for non-lawyers, this is the fourth time Gray Plant Mooty and DEED have collaborated to publish and distribute the privacy guide. Read full article.

Dave Hesse of Comfrey is part of MDA farm advocate program

Thursday, December 27, 2018

In the 1980s, Dave Hesse of Comfrey came through his own financial challenges. At that time this rural Minnesota farmer began to speak out on behalf of himself and others in the ag industry through what was known as the Groundswell movement. As that movement was continuing, another concept was beginning to take shape. How could farmers who were facing financial challenges find someone to help them? Out of that came what is known today as the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s farm advocate program. Hesse said he was asked to take on the role of an advocate with the idea of serving in that...

How Minnesota Became the Land of 10,000 Startups

Friday, December 21, 2018

Minnesota is no stranger to big business. It’s home to such names as Target, Best Buy, General Mills, and Ecolab — all of which have made their homes in Minnesota for generations and have become a source of pride. But a new industry — technology — is taking Minnesota by storm, boosting the local economy and putting the state on the global map once again. Minnesota has long been known for its high standard of living, agriculture industry, and flourishing community of performing arts. But over the past decade the Twin Cities area has made great strides to become a forward-thinking...

The University of Minnesota’s craziest, most interesting innovations

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

The University of Minnesota is a research giant. Sure, most colleges and universities have an active team of researchers, but few institutions churn out inventions at the same rate as the U. Last year, the U was named by the National Science Foundation as one of the nation’s top 10 research institutions. A report released by the university in late 2017 estimates that it has had an $8.6 billion impact on Minnesota, and that its inventions generated more than $320 million for the state between 2009 and 2015. Simply put, the University of Minnesota is, and always has been, at the heart of the state’s...

IREC: Where Are The Best And Worst Shared Renewables Programs?

Monday, December 17, 2018

A national scorecard released by the nonprofit Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) grades states’ shared renewable energy programs – e.g., community solar and net metering – with Minnesota and New York coming out on top. IREC says its National Shared Renewables Scorecard uses specific criteria to evaluate how each program stacks up against national best practices and to one another. This includes bill credit valuation, project siting requirements, interconnection procedures, low- to moderate-income customer participation, subscription portability and transferability, third-party ownership and management, and data tracking and reporting. Continue to full article

New Guide to Hiring Disabled Veterans Available

Friday, December 14, 2018

With record low unemployment, more and more employers are feeling the laborforce crunch, but one group of job seekers may be overlooked – disabled veterans. To raise employer awareness of this labor source and lower perceived barriers to hiring disabled veterans, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) has released their 2018 hiring guide. “The Veteran Advantage: DAV Guide to Hiring & Retaining Veterans with Disabilities” contains up-to-date statistics and incentives to help employers take advantage of this underused labor pool. Continue to full article

An Enterprise of Entrepreneurs

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Entrepreneurs, makers and artists networked with DEED representatives from the Offices of Small Business Assistance, Business Finance, Business Development, Small Business Development Centers, Minnesota Trade Office and Unemployment Insurance to learn about technical support and financing programs DEED offers that help get startups up and running. DEED’s Startup open house, held Oct. 9 at the First National Bank Building in St. Paul, competed with some major Startup Week events taking place that morning, such as Manova Global Summit and specialized tracks in FinTech and Food Ag Ideas. Startup Week program attendees had twice as many events to choose from this year, compared to...

DEED Launches Tool to Measure, Report Broadband Access

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Check Speed Minnesota will give insight into consumer experience, inform policymakers ST PAUL - The Minnesota Office of Broadband Development, located within the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), today launched a new tool that will allow Minnesotans to test, map and report various broadband internet speeds across the state. CheckSpeedMinnesota.com is a benchmarking tool designed to gather information about the high-speed internet consumer experience in Minnesota. By answering a few questions and running a speed test, the input captured will help create a better overall picture of broadband in the state. Continue to full article

New Leave a Legacy Southwest Minnesota initiative is focused on philanthropy

Wednesday, December 05, 2018

Throughout southwest Minnesota there are myriad non-profit organizations that are focused on making their communities better and sustaining them into the future. There are also people in the region who are looking for ways to donate to programs that are making a difference. The challenge is that there really has not been a great way to connect those who want to give with those who can best utilize those gifts. Now a new program is being established in the area that can help network people and non-profits together. It is known as Leave a Legacy® Southwest Minnesota. The program is focused on “encouraging philanthropy...

Food Manufacturing in Southwestern Minnesota

Tuesday, December 04, 2018

Food manufacturing is big business in southwestern Minnesota. In fact, with more than 11,000 jobs at 109 establishments, the industry employs workers in that region at four times the concentration statewide, according to a story by Cameron Macht in the latest issue of Trends magazine. The cluster of food production jobs in southwestern Minnesota isn’t surprising, given the area also has a significant number of farms and other agriculture-related enterprises. The food manufacturing sector includes businesses specializing in animal slaughtering and processing, grain and oilseed milling, dairy product manufacturing, fruit and vegetable preserving, and specialty food manufacturing. Despite perceptions that food manufacturing provides...

Great Minnesota Get-Together wins Fair of the Year Award

Monday, December 03, 2018

It really is great. The Great Minnesota Get-Together was named the Fair of the Year Tuesday evening by the International Entertainment Buyers Association, a trade group of people who work behind the scenes of the concert business. The Minnesota State Fair beat out fairs in Wisconsin, California, Delaware and Vancouver, BC, among other finalists for the honor from the Nashville-based group. This year the state fair set a new attendance record, with more than 2 million visitors during the 12-day run. Among this year’s Grandstand concerts: Culture Club, Sugarland, Earth Wind & Fire, the Beach Boys and Niall Horan. The honor was announced at...

Minnesota Manufacturers try to manufacture interest in careers

Friday, November 30, 2018

Scores of Minnesota manufacturers are hosting students this week during Minnesota Manufacturing Week to stimulate interest in critical industries that also pay above average. They included two growing North Minneapolis makers located within a couple blocks of each other: Unison Comfort Technologies, a builder of heating-and-cooling systems that can be as big as a small house for commercial installations; and H&B Elevators, a maker of passenger elevators, from U.S. Bank Stadium to a skyscraper in Dubai. Human Resource Manager Tara Thurs of Unison, said the company employs 345 people, and is looking for 30 more at beginning wages that range from $15.44 an...

Minnesota's ACT scores remain steady, among best in the U.S.

Thursday, November 29, 2018

Minnesota's average declined slightly but not enough to alter its best-of-the-nation standing. Minnesota students’ scores on the ACT college entrance exam dipped slightly this year but were still higher than those of any other state where nearly all students take the test. Graduating seniors in the class of 2018 earned an average composite score of 21.3 out of a possible 36, according to test results released Wednesday. That’s down from last year’s state average of 21.5, but still above the national average of 20.8 for the test that measures students’ college readiness in math, reading, science and English. It was also enough to...

Most & Least Energy-Efficient States

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Energy is expensive. In fact, it’s one of the biggest household expenses for American consumers. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average U.S. family spends at least $2,000 per year on utilities, with heating and cooling of spaces alone accounting for more than half the bill. In 2018, the average consumer spent another $1,968 on motor fuel and oil, up $59 from last year. The Department of Energy estimates that adopting energy-efficient measures in the home could reduce a family’s utility costs by as much as 25 percent. It pays to conserve, especially during a time of increasingly warmer temperatures. As for transportation, the agency...

Sun Country Airlines partners with Minnesota State in Mankato for new pilots

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Sun Country Airlines on Thursday unveiled a partnership with Minnesota State University, Mankato, to offer commercial aviation students full-time employment prior to graduation through a new initiative, the Sun Country Bridge Program. Students in the aviation program at Minnesota State can apply for the program their freshman year, said Jessica Wheeler, spokesperson for Sun Country. Applicants will be chosen on "technical requirements, professionalism, and commitment to their profession," she said Upon completion of the program and the required flight hours, members of the program enter Sun Country's three-month pilot training program for full-time employment. Tom Peterson, an assistant professor of aviation at Minnesota State,...

MINNESOTA'S TOP TOURIST ATTRACTIONS RANKED BY ATTENDANCE

Monday, November 26, 2018

Explore Minnesota, the state's tourism promotion office, announced 2017 attendance figures today for major attractions and events statewide. From the nation's largest mall to stadiums, museums, zoos, parks, big events and more, the top 40 most-visited tourist attractions in the state can be viewed in this Click here for the complete article.

The Experience of American Indian Students in the Minnesota Labor Market

Monday, November 26, 2018

American Indians have the lowest educational attainment rates of any population group in the United States, and Minnesota is no exception. Moreover, American Indians with a college degree have lower post-college earnings relative to other groups. This study compares American Indian post-secondary students to their white peers with the aim of identifying (1) what educational and socio-economic characteristics set them apart from the majority race group, (2) how these background characteristics contribute to the observed employment and wage disparities relative to whites, (3) how geographic location, especially living and working in rural counties, negatively affects earnings, and (4) potential implications of...

Hoppkes are new owners of Dari King in Redwood Falls

Thursday, September 06, 2018

Dari King has been an establishment in Redwood Falls for generations. Previous to the Dari King name it was the Dairy Freeze until being purchased and rebranded by the Brakken family. After nearly 55 years, Marge and Dan Brakken were ready to sell. New owners Chris and Melissa Hoppke opened the Dari King as official owners May 1, 2018. Melissa speculated that the Brakkens, who approached them about purchasing it, wanted to find someone that they knew would keep it much the same as it had been. Click here for the complete article.

Match.com for business Redwood County supports a diverse community of manufacturers!

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Enterprise Minnesota - December 2014 Issue -- Tom Mason, writer When Enterprise Minnesota’s president and CEO Bob Kill traveled recently to Redwood Falls he got to experience first hand how a diverse community of manufacturers can give their community a solid economic base. Kill was invited by the Redwood Area Development Corporation (RADC) to keynote their annual Manufacturing Week luncheon. Redwood Falls is a prosperous community of about 5,000 people located a couple hours southwest of the Twin Cities. RADC is considered a well-run and forward-thinking organization thatserves 16 area communities. The day’s chief organizer was Julie Rath, one of two development...