News & Events

In Focus: Increased Data Center Growth Driven by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

The stratospheric rise of the cloud over the past few years caught many off guard and created an arms race among the cloud providers, with data center development underpinning the effort. These cloud providers were anticipating ever-increasing demand for the cloud by globally creating a robust and redundant network of massive data centers tethered together through a network of smaller data centers and fiber connection locations. Data centers that service other segments of the market (wholesale colocation, “edge,” and retail) were also riding the wave of increased demand. Little did we know a global pandemic would make data centers and th...

Infrastructure Investment as an Economic Stimulus Tool

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

In times of economic struggle — such as the recession that abruptly arrived with the COVID-19 pandemic — analysts and advocates promote an array of options as effective tools for stimulating the economy. One of the most frequently suggested options is infrastructure spending. Proponents of infrastructure spending during dire economic times view it as a productive job creator and essential foundation for a long-term recovery and return to sustained prosperity. Brian Raff, director of Communications and Public Affairs for the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), cites a 2015 study by the Duke Center on Globalization, Governance, and Competitiveness to demonstrate infrastructure investment’...

Adding “COVID-19 Community Response” to the Site Selection Checklist

Monday, October 26, 2020

Much has been written about the disruptions of COVID-19 on every line of business. In the realm of economic development, this has included a recommitment to retention and expansion programs, touting quality of life to capture the influx of remote workers, a rush to virtual site tours, and many other endeavors. All of these adjustments will play a part in a community’s success in the years to come. But it seems that when all of them are stacked up, they point to the foundation of a community — or to use a construction expression, they reveal whether a community ha...

Data-Driven Operational Strategies in the Pandemic Era

Monday, October 26, 2020

As state economies struggle between surging cases of COVID-19 and intense pressure to reopen — albeit with varying degrees of restrictions — companies that reduced or halted operations in response to stay-at-home orders are torn between the urgent needs to both restore revenue streams and to ensure the safety of their employees and customers. Since every location has a different dynamic and risk profile, creating a return-to-work strategy is complicated, whether a company operates in five locations or 500. The solution to developing a sound, portfolio-wide strategy includes having ready access to data, analytics, and insights, including regional and community-specifi...

Pizza Ranch Adapts During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Monday, October 26, 2020

Pizza Ranch is a family-friendly buffet-style pizza and chicken restaurant that calls Redwood Falls home. As the general manager of a buffet-style restaurant, Doug Lawrenz has had to make significant adaptations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lawrenz has been running Pizza Ranch for 15 years and he has led the business through many challenges. In spite of these challenges, the restaurant is thriving. As the pandemic spread across the country, restaurants of every category were required to make changes in order to stay in business. Pizza Ranch, too, had to rearrange some operations. “COVID-19 has affected our business quite a bit! We wer...

How Site Selection Can Help Meet Corporate Social Responsibility Commitments

Friday, October 23, 2020

The increased role of corporate social responsibility in site selection Corporate social responsibility is playing a major factor today in company's decisions on where they're locating their business. That's happening for a few reasons. I think companies are realizing that they need to be more conscious as to what's going on in the environment today, and they need to react to that. But primarily that's being driven by their consumers (for any company that is selling a product to the consumer base). Consumers want to know that the company is delivering on certain sustainability goals. They want to feel like they'r...

The New Normal in the Automotive Supply Chain

Friday, October 23, 2020

For immediate evidence of disruptions in the automotive supply chain, you need to look no further than your local dealer. Many lots are nearly empty of new vehicles, with average dealer inventories across the U.S. far below the normal 50–60 days’ supply. How did this happen? Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic is a major part of the problem. When automotive production was abruptly halted in March, there were not any new vehicles being produced until early May. Even then, production has been proceeding in fits and starts. At the same time, consumers have continued to purchase vehicles, keeping auto demand surprisingl...

How Technology Is Making Data Collection for Incentives Programs Applications Easier

Thursday, October 22, 2020

The Importance of Software in Incentives Analysis Software is becoming a bigger part of incentives analysis as clients increasingly want to use this tool. Many clients are building the internal capabilities to perform initial credits and incentives and site location analyses. They want to do some of that research on their own with their internal team prior to pulling in an advisor, or maybe they have an internal team that can handle the project from start to finish. Unless they have the ability to go to all the various jurisdictions under consideration and understand all their programs, the team’s software, dependin...

The Next Recovery: Regional Leaders & Laggards

Thursday, October 22, 2020

To call the road that most metro areas have traveled this year rocky would be akin to labeling Mount Everest a speed bump. But the most turbulent period of our lifetimes will eventually give way to a sustained recovery. And when it does, certain types of metro areas are in far better shape to take advantage. In the short run, places that suffered the steepest job and income losses will struggle most, which bodes especially ill for the Northeast and tourism-dependent Hawaii and Nevada. But what happens after that? Much depends on the course of the virus, such as whether outbreak...

Make Your Next Pitch Instantly More Compelling By Using This One Philosopher's Framework

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Want to know with confidence that your elevator pitch will land? Would clarity and persuasion help you attract more clients, investors, mentors and sales? To maximize success in conversation, ensure you are following Grice’s maxims. Twentieth-century British philosopher Paul Grice shifted the way we think about semantics and language. His maxims for conversation are part of his work on the cooperative principle, which states that when people engage with one another there are unspoken assumptions around how the conversation will unfold. Research tells us that we grasp the nuances of Grice’s maxims from an early age; a 2015 study found that children as young as six year...

Manufacturing Week Highlights Critical Role Industry Plays in State’s Economy

Thursday, October 01, 2020

St. Paul - Manufacturing, which has long played a key role in the state's economy, is even more important now as Minnesota focuses on revitalizing our economy and rebounding from the impacts of COVID-19. As the state's second-largest industry, manufacturing added $52.7 billion to Minnesota's economy last year. Governor Tim Walz has proclaimed Oct. 1-7 as Minnesota Manufacturing Week. During the week – and throughout the month – manufacturers are opening their doors to virtual tours by the public as a way of attracting new workers and students who are considering careers in manufacturing. "Manufacturing jobs pay good, family-sustaining wages well above the state'...

DEED Examines: Where are the Job Seekers?

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

St. Paul - This week, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) released a new article that examines the question many Minnesota employers are asking right now: Where are the job seekers? Employers in industries such as Health Care, Hospitality, Retail and Food Service are desperate for staff at a time when the statewide unemployment rate is at 7.4%. While the August unemployment rate is lower than it has been the last few months, it is still 4.5 points higher than in March 2020. This 7.4% unemployment rate in Minnesota represents over 230,000 unemployed workers – over two-and-a-half times th...

Five Common Ways To Fund A Small Business Beyond Personal Savings

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

One of the most cliched statements in starting a small business is that “it takes money to make money”... but it is often true. Many businesses need an infusion of cash to buy essential components of their operations. For a pizzeria, that could be an industrial oven, and for a yard care business, that could be a commercial lawn mower. A common funding practice many new business owners take is to use personal savings and start small by reinvesting profits into the business. This approach, known as bootstrapping, seems rooted in common sense, but can be restrictive to your business’ growt...

6 Steps to Starting a Business Successfully During the Worst of Times

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

I successfully started and grew two coaching businesses during the 2008 economic recession and 2020 pandemic, respectively. Although I wish the world’s circumstances were better when I chose to start these businesses, the truth is sometimes those harsher conditions make a better business. How do you create and grow these brands when all warning signs are telling you to wait? I asked three other people who started or grew their companies under seemingly dire circumstances and used our collective stories to give you a six-step plan for starting a business at any time. Read full article.

How To Keep Women In The Workforce During The Pandemic

Monday, September 28, 2020

We may be losing some of our best leaders to caregiving duties, and the pandemic is sending us backwards when it comes to gender equality. Women’s careers often take a backseat when caregiving duties rise, and women are more vulnerable to job loss during an economic downturn. The research shows that pandemic is hitting women hard on both fronts. Women are more than twice as likely as men to say they handle more than 50% of the caregiving and education responsibilities and 34% of working families are still without childcare coverage, according to Cleo’s State of Working Parents Study. A recent FlexJobs survey reports that 80% of workin...

How to Best Prepare for Site Selector Requests

Thursday, September 24, 2020

Many companies are onshoring manufacturing operations in the wake of COVID-19 delays and supply chain disruptions. As a result of the onshoring trend, community leaders, property managers and developers should be prepared for the opportunity to attract these companies. Site selectors are issuing requests for information as manufacturers in the United States and worldwide seek out ways to protect their supply chains from future disruptions caused by pandemics and a growing number of natural disasters. The most prepared leaders will have the opportunity to compete and win new business for their communities. The Site Selectors Guild touches on the topic o...

Minnesota Business Services Firms Expect Mostly Contracting Conditions in the Next Year

Monday, September 21, 2020

ST. PAUL – Minnesota business service firms expect mostly contracting conditions during the next four quarters due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with slightly more than half (52%) anticipating a decline in consumer spending and corporate profits, according to a joint survey released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Business services firms – such as engineers, accountants and architects – have a mixed outlook on their own profit projections over the next four quarters, with 49% expecting to see a drop, 34% expecting no change, and 17% anticipating an increase in profits. Read ful...

Hidden Bias: Sustaining an Inclusive Workplace

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Workplace bias takes many forms, but the result is always the same – exclusion of members of the workforce from experiences and opportunities for which they are qualified. We all have hidden biases, and they can prevent businesses from leveraging the talents and perspectives of all members of their workforce. Throughout this series, we’ve given examples of how and where bias often shows up in the workplace, why it is important to examine and how to minimize it. But how do we know if what we’re doing is enough? Hopefully by examining bias, we are learning more about ourselves, but d...

Survey Reveals Manufacturers’ Post-Pandemic Plans

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Few implications of the COVID-19 pandemic are as consequential to global manufacturers as disruptions to their supply chains. For many, this is the most consequential by far. Supply chains are always a work in progress as such market variables as transportation costs, tariffs and trade agreements force logistics managers to tweak their supply chains a little here, a lot over there and everywhere in between. That’s under normal conditions. Add a global health pandemic originating in the world’s second largest economy and the largest in industrial output, and it’s a whole new ballgame. Read full article.

Could a Post-Pandemic National Industrial Strategy Advance the Cause of Advanced Manufacturing?

Monday, September 14, 2020

As the coronavirus pandemic disrupted global supply chains, a new report released in April by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) urged the U.S. government to develop a national industrial strategy to strengthen the competitive position of advanced, traded-sector industries that are “too critical to fail.” “Even before this pandemic, China posed an unprecedented competitiveness challenge in the advanced industries that are most critical to America’s economic wellbeing and national security,” said ITIF President Robert D. Atkinson, the report’s author and a past contributor to Site Selection. Read full article.

Work from Anywhere?

Monday, September 14, 2020

Somewhere between your umpteenth Zoom meeting of the month and the latest webinar on the economic impacts of COVID-19, this thought probably crossed your mind: “How long will I be working from home?” While an exact answer to that question still eludes most companies, the effects of remote working are starting to come sharply into focus. Read full article.

Small Business Basics Management Series Starts This Week

Friday, September 11, 2020

The Minnesota District Office is continuing to hold virtual trainings to help small businesses and entrepreneurs understand the basics using the Money Smart series that was developed in partnership with the FDIC. Click on the links below for more information and join us in the months ahead to better understand the basics of business ownership. Read full article.

Looking for an entry-level position that can turn into a rewarding and family-sustaining career?

Thursday, September 03, 2020

There are many entry-level jobs in demand now that put Minnesotans on a career path to family-sustaining employment. This week in our Jobs in Demand series, the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is focusing on entry-level health care and social assistance jobs that, with additional training and certification, can help people move down a career path toward greater responsibilities with higher wages. In many cases, employers provide or pay for training leading to career advancement for dedicated employees. Getting an in-demand job and growing in that career may require training to develop new skills before you land the job. Ther...

Hidden Bias in the Workplace: Retention Strategies

Wednesday, September 02, 2020

So you, as an employer, have successfully implemented a recruiting strategy focused on increasing diversity and inclusion in your workforce. Your employee base is different from five years ago. It now includes more individuals of color, women, people with disabilities, people who identify as LGBTQ, and workers of all ages and body types. It is the hope of management that – along with a more diverse workforce – employee longevity is one of the benefits. Retention is as important for employers as developing a strong recruiting strategy that attracts applicants with the right skills in the first place. What is equit...

Workforce Development Efforts Will Help Rebuild a More Equitable Minnesota

Tuesday, September 01, 2020

September is Workforce Development Month – and never in recent memory have investments in our state's workforce been more important. The pandemic has had a dramatic impact on jobs and employment in Minnesota. Our state's unemployment rate as of July is at 7.7%, down more than two percentage points from May, but still more than twice what it was in July 2019, when it was 3.2%. The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), and our workforce development partners throughout the state, are working to connect unemployed or underemployed Minnesotans during the pandemic with in-demand jobs at employers hiring now. Thi...

5 Effective Strategies for Employee Retention

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Effective hiring and retention practices are key to effective leadership. The reality is that managers that hire well and that are able to keep talented employees produce better results. Replacing employees is time-consuming, expensive, and disruptive. Plus, when an employee leaves, it can impact the entire team and cause a ripple effect of unhappiness or turnover. Read full article.

Hidden Biases in the Workplace: Recruiting and Hiring

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

As discussed in the first article of our series on Hidden Biases in the Workplace, we all have biases. It is critical that you are aware of your biases, especially when recruiting for your company. Humans make decisions every 2.5 seconds: Should I get out of bed or hit snooze one more time? What should I wear today? Do I have time for breakfast? Should I email or call that person? Because of the fast pace of our society, people begin to use intuition for all decisions. This unconscious psychological behavior can lead to biases without our even realizing it. Read full article.

Covering All the Bases: How to Set the Legal Framework for Your New Business

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

By nature, founders are big-picture people; we love envisioning new ways of doing things. The problem, though, is that sometimes we try to paint the bigger picture before we set up the mechanics of actually running a company. The legal side of setting up a business is often seen as a time-consuming chore, brushed under the carpet until it’s a screaming necessity. But to enable your business to run freely, this has to be prioritized before you even consider bringing on clients, hiring staff, or eventually pitching to investors. The legal framework of a business is what ensures that your service or product is protected...

Why Companies Should Onshore in Redwood County

Monday, August 24, 2020

Onshoring is on the mind for business executives who have watched their supply chains be disrupted and product deliveries delayed to COVID-19. For four decades companies have offshored manufacturing operations overseas in order to save costs. COVID-19 has forced companies to ask, “At what cost?” If the cost is an inability to supply customers and fulfil contracts it may not be worth it. With 60% of U.S. manufacturing companies surveyed by Thomas reporting COVID-19 business disruptions this is a widespread issue impacting virtually all industries. Onshoring is the logical solution to reducing the risk of future disruptions and delays, at leas...

Proactive Management of Incentives Deals

Monday, August 03, 2020

If you or your clients have incentives contracts, now is the time to examine your incentive agreements to understand the potential risks if your company is unable to perform key obligations. The first step in any crisis is to determine exactly what the problem is. Review your incentive agreements to confirm with specificity your obligations. Second, closely review the language of your agreements to determine if any of your obligations can be delayed due to a “force majeure” provision, a “market conditions” provision, or a similar provision. Third, as soon as the crisis begins to abate, and perhaps sooner in certai...

Parkview Senior Living Maintains Quality Resident Care During COVID-19

Thursday, July 30, 2020

All businesses have been forced to make changes due to COVID-19, but Redwood Area Development Corporation Member Business Parkview Senior Living is one of many senior homes that has taken an especially big hit. Administrator, Megan Zetah, shares with us the necessary changes that were made amidst the pandemic and how it has affected the residents and their family members. Parkview Senior Living, located in Belview, MN, provides various levels of quality care to its patrons, including outpatient therapy, adult day services, independent and assisted living apartments, short-term rehabilitation and skilled nursing services. The 30 bed skilled nursing facility and apartment...

How to Become a Successful Entrepreneur During the Pandemic

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Other than operating a business directly in a warzone, these are some of the most challenging times to be an entrepreneur. The pandemic has brought a range of obstacles to the frontline of the entrepreneurial spirit and is pushing all of the boundaries of business owners. Coronavirus (Covid-19), protests, destructive riots causing damage to stores, floods, and many other events that have occurred in a short block of time sending shockwaves globally. This does not even account for the latest virus that was recently discovered: the Financial Coronavirus (also known as Financial Covid-19), which was covered in my recent story on Thrive Global. Severe restrictions being placed o...

Rethinking Business And Revenue During The Pandemic

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

The year 2020 has undoubtedly been one of the most difficult in recent memory. As the world navigates the coronavirus pandemic, businesses are struggling to find their way in an uncertain environment. In fact, a June survey of 330 U.S. finance leaders by PwC found that many senior managers feel challenged by the need to creatively manage their businesses during the pandemic. The survey discovered that about half (47%) of finance leaders expect their company’s revenues to decline more than 10% in 2020. We can even see this in large, seemingly recession-proof companies. According to CNBC, Google will see a drop of more tha...

For some small farms, Covid-19 pandemic has been good for business

Monday, July 27, 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has sown chaos throughout the food sector, triggering shortages of some products and gluts of others. But some family farms have found their own fortunes lifted by the upheaval. That's one of the takeaways from a Pioneer Press story that talks with small-scale farmers that have seen demand soar for products like zucchini, pick-your-own fruits and locally raised meats. Read full article.

Minnesota Mask Requirement: Slowing the Spread of COVID-19 to Keep Our Economy Open

Thursday, July 23, 2020

Over the last months, we've heard repeatedly from Minnesota businesses that we need to continue to control the spread of the coronavirus in order to sustain the economic rebound underway. Our state's businesses know that in order to keep making strides in bringing our economy back, we've got to take care of each other – and the easiest way to do that is to wear a mask. In recent weeks, more and more Minnesota business have led the way on this requirement. From big chains like Target, Best Buy, and Cub Foods, to local shops and establishments across Minnesota, business owner...

Support for Businesses and Individuals during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented change to the United States. Individuals and businesses alike are facing uncertainty unlike anything experienced in recent times. Lost income and health concerns coupled with the absence of social structures typically provided by extended family, friends and other relationships have given rise to high levels of stress and anxiety. Now, more than ever, the availability and accessibility of social services and assistance is critical to weathering this storm physically and mentally. Employment Assistance For many, simply having steady employment is the most important source of calm and reassurance needed for daily living. Those looking for employmen...

What we’re hearing about the Workforce Optimization Cycle

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

We are getting great feedback on the Workforce Optimization Cycle (WOC) resources Workforce Strategy Consultants developed to help Minnesota businesses plan for and meet their workforce needs during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The six stages in the cycle help employers walk through assessing their business, projecting labor demand, identifying workforce gaps, developing workforce strategies, communicating about and implementing strategies and monitoring, evaluating and adapting strategies to meet changing needs. Read full article.

10 Ways To Change Your Traditional Office As You Head Back To Work

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Many states are beginning to reopen after an intensive COVID-19 lockdown, which means people are heading back to traditional offices (if they’re not in one of the “rollback states” reverting to previous conditions). However, just because reopening is taking place doesn’t mean the pandemic is over. Many of your employees and clients will have concerns about coronavirus transmission; they may have anxieties about their health and safety. If you want to make people feel healthier, safer, and more secure, it’s your responsibility to open your office with new rules and restrictions in place. Read full article.

Will COVID-19 Kill Globalization? What You Need to Know

Monday, July 20, 2020

Recent trade battles with China, Mexico, Canada, and Europe have reduced trade flows. Now, with the outbreak of COVID-19 severely impacting international commerce, many argue that globalization will soon be dead. Globalization is not dying. Rather, it’s evolving, and existing trends are accelerating. American companies and workers would be wise to prepare for what’s ahead. Read full article.

More Than 27,400 Businesses Applied for Small Business Relief Grant Program

Friday, July 17, 2020

St. Paul, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced that it has completed the lottery drawing for the winners of the Small Business Relief Grant Program. The program will award $10,000 grants to small businesses that have suffered financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and was passed with bipartisan support in the Minnesota Legislature during the 2020 1st Special Session and signed into law by Governor Tim Walz. Read full article.

Union Kitchen & Sports Bar in Wabasso Revamps Operations During COVID-19

Friday, July 17, 2020

Union Kitchen & Sports Bar in Wabasso is a striking example of the tenacious spirit of local business owners in the community. The challenges brought on by COVID-19 have affected all types of small businesses, from retailers to restaurants. Union Kitchen & Sports Bar rearranged its business model in order to stay open for the community and combat these hardships. Union Kitchen & Sports Bar Adapts During COVID-19 Having recently changed ownership to Rubi Kaufenberg and her husband Brad, COVID-19 roadblocks could have easily discouraged the new team. Instead, the Kaufenbergs adapted. “We decided to offer take-out and curbside pick-up. We created a...

Connecting Minnesotans who need work with jobs in demand

Thursday, July 16, 2020

The federal $600 a week payment for people receiving unemployment benefits is slated to end at the end of July, unless Congress takes action. While regular unemployment benefits will continue for eligible people, the loss of the emergency benefit will have a significant impact on many Minnesota families. Over the last several months, the additional $600 a week has helped Minnesotans who lost work or had their hours significantly reduced pay for housing, food, and other necessities for their families during these difficult times. When the temporary payment ends, many people will struggle to make ends meet. Read full article.

Guidance for Employees Going Back to Work During COVID-19

Thursday, July 16, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has swept across the country, bringing unprecedented changes with it. Employees and employers are working together to determine how to best protect everyone’s health as they get businesses back on track. Naturally, questions abound for the employees in a wide range of industries who must now adapt to new workplace practices. who must go to work to provide for their families. So the question is, for those who must go to their places of employment, what can they do to protect themselves, their families and others? Workplace Environment Every employee should expect their employer to attempt to lead the effor...

Direction for Employers Opening Facilities During COVID-19

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

After intense reaction to COVID-19, employers across the country are beginning to reopen their business or consider doing so. One of the most significant questions arising is how to resume operations while protecting employees and customers. Simply opening the doors or restarting manufacturing equipment is not enough. Every business should act now to adapt their operations through new policies and expectations to protect against workplace exposure. Thankfully, significant resources exist for employers to thoughtfully lead the process of opening their businesses again. Understanding each business's ability to reopen will generally be driven by state and local governments. The U.S Chamber o...

COVID-19 and Site Selection in the Near and Long Term

Monday, July 13, 2020

Companies and communities are attempting to navigate through the current crisis, but as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, how will corporate location strategy be affected in the near and long term? Recessionary Forces The level of damage to the economy will depend on the spread of the virus, the healthcare response to the virus, and the effectiveness of the government stimulus and aid programs. This was clearly exemplified in the analysis and research completed by McKinsey & Company in “Safeguarding our lives and our livelihoods: The imperative of our time.” The accompanying graphic contains the group’s projection of the recovery and what w...

First Person: Handling Plant Shutdowns and Re-Openings During the Pandemic

Monday, July 13, 2020

AD: The global COVID-19 pandemic has caused some manufacturing plants to temporarily suspend — wholly or in part — their operations because of employees suffering illness. What — and who — is involved in coordinating the suspension of operations? Vetter: To my knowledge, I don’t believe that we have seen this type of activity happening within our food and consumer products clients’ operations. In fact, what we are experiencing is a ramp up in production on their existing lines. Lines that had some, or even significant amounts of idle time in their production schedule prior to COVID-19, have now been replaced with increase...

Proactive Management of Incentives Deals

Monday, July 13, 2020

Successfully Returning to the Workplace Post-COVID

Monday, July 13, 2020

With the easing of restrictions surrounding the Covid-19 outbreak, organizations are starting to bring employees back into the workplace. A successful re-entry program will ensure the safety of company personnel and the public, obviate charges of discrimination and invasion of privacy, and avoid actions that inadvertently violate federal, state, and local employment laws. Employers should set a positive tone to motivate their personnel in a difficult environment. Read full article.

Local Governments Plan for Impact of COVID-19

Friday, July 10, 2020

Communities across the country have responded to the COVID-19 crisis by implementing various stages of stay-at-home practices and shutdowns of nonessential businesses. While those practices seem to have directionally reduced the feared spikes, they leave less money for local governments to pay for expected services such as public safety, trash collection, road work, and other programs. Now, governments seek how to maintain those services in their upcoming fiscal year budgets in the face of less revenue and more expenses. Increased local expenses The COVID-19 crisis has led to an increase in unexpected expenses for local governments across the nation as they bea...

Stick the Landing: How to Help Optimize Workplace Reentry

Friday, July 10, 2020

We are at a pivotal point in time, surrounded by growing uncertainty. Yet we know one thing for certain: The way we work will change following this pandemic. That includes everything from the ways we interact with one another, to the tasks we take on, and the physical environment we work in. Organizations carefully planning their safe return to the workplace will find key allies in corporate real estate experts who specialize in office location, planning, layout, and design. The workplace structure will need to be reimagined as employees cautiously return to the office and employers prioritize their safety and well-being...

143-Year-Old Company's Online Sales Up 80 Percent During Covid

Thursday, July 09, 2020

There are some items people prefer to buy in person--those with a high sensory factor, like yarn, have fallen into that category in the past. When it comes to picking out yarn, there is something about being able to see the vibrancy of the colors in person, and to feel the strands in your hands to know if it is worth using for a project or going to be a scratchy nightmare. When coronavirus led to the closing of non-essential businesses, it would have been easy for a yarn company to say, "People don't want to buy yarn online--we should take thi...

5 Things You Can Do Right Now to Prepare for the Post-Coronavirus Business World

Thursday, July 09, 2020

Social distancing. Telemedicine. Self-quarantine. These are all words that at the start of 2020 weren't part of our vocabulary, but several months into the new decade we are all hearing and using them daily. There is no denying that the coronavirus outbreak has dramatically changed just about every facet of just about every person’s life around the world. From a business perspective, the stock market saw its largest one day loss and largest one day gain in history. The U.S. saw the largest job-loss report ever. We are in uncharted waters, and how long we will remain in them remains uncertain. However, there i...

A&W Furniture and Laney Lu's Boutique Stands Firm Despite COVID-19

Thursday, July 02, 2020

COVID-19 brought many challenges to people and businesses alike during the past few months. While some stores have been forced to permanently close their doors, many are able to survive, and even thrive, in the face of this adversity. A&W Furniture is one store that remains stronger than ever. A&W Furniture and Laney Lu’s Boutique A&W Furniture of Redwood Falls is a family owned and operated 2nd generation store that is continually evolving to meet the ever changing furniture needs of the community. The store was opened over 30 years ago by husband and wife team, Bob Wetmore and Mary Ahrens-Wetmore. I...

Greater Minnesota solar projects highlight utility plans for speeding up the green economy

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

When Minnesota’s largest utilities released plans for putting people to work during a sagging economy while also speeding up the state’s transition to green energy, solar energy topped two of the companies’ lists. The June proposals by Xcel Energy and Minnesota Power, which include solar projects at four sites in Greater Minnesota, came at the urging of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, which had asked the big utilities it regulates to move up the completion dates of energy projects that were in the works. Read full article.

Minnesota ag department informs farmers of new COVID-19 preparedness plan requirements

Sunday, June 28, 2020

Farms, farmers markets and other agricultural businesses were designated critical businesses under an executive order from the governor that was announced in April 2020. By June 29, 2020, all critical sector businesses, including all farms and farmer’s markets, are required to develop and implement a COVID-19 preparedness plan that complies with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) COVID-19 guidelines as well as OSHA standards. Read full article.

9 Ways to Lead Your Team Into an Unknowable Future

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

The workplace is changed. As parts of the world begin to loosen coronavirus-related restrictions, organizations are emerging from COVID-induced hibernation. These transitions back to work are gradual. Uncertainty will remain for months as threats of renewed waves of coronavirus persist. We are anticipating a new normal — but what we need is a new now. The radical change of these times demands empathic leadership to keep teams engaged, cohesive and forward-focused. Leaders must demonstrate a spirit of purpose and optimism to reinforce the idea that an uncertain future has the potential to be a better future. Here are nine steps for leading your team into an unknowabl...

Nearly $19 Million Awarded for Development Projects in Small Cities

Monday, June 22, 2020

St. Paul – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today announced Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) grants totaling nearly $19 million for infrastructure and rehabilitation projects in 32 Minnesota cities. SCDP grants are part of the Community Development Block Grant Program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The SCDP grants pay for rehabilitating housing and commercial buildings and updating public infrastructure in small cities and counties. Read full article.

DEED announces partnership with Coursera to provide free online learning content to Minnesotans

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

ST. PAUL, Minn . – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced today a new partnership with Coursera, the leading online learning platform that offers courses from 200 top universities and businesses around the world, including more than 60 courses from the University of Minnesota. This partnership is made possible by the Coursera Workforce Recovery Initiative . Read full article.

How Is the Pandemic Affecting Location Decisions in the Food & Beverage Industry?

Friday, May 15, 2020

I've been fortunate to have some great conversations with economic developers over the past few weeks, with many questions on the pandemic's impact on site location decisions for the food and beverage Industry. While nothing is certain, I've read and attached links to some important insights which I would like to share with those who currently or plan to target this industry. Be very aware that: Disruption of reliable demand and labor shortages have resulted in huge supply chain inefficiencies, leaving too much food in the wrong places. New facility locations that process products that heavily rely on predictable supply chain will n...

More relief available for Minnesota small business amid coronavirus crisis

Friday, May 15, 2020

As small businesses throughout the state continue to struggle amid the COVID-19 crisis, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development this week announced the implementation of the Minnesota Small Business Loan Guarantee Program. This program is part of a $330 million bill signed by Gov. Tim Walz over the weekend, and provides another option to help small businesses that might be struggling right now. Read full article.

Shifting business to battle the coronavirus

Friday, May 15, 2020

Ben VandenWymelenberg graduated in 2012 with a bachelor of science in architecture—but not before hitting on something big. While procrastinating on his senior year project, VandenWymelenberg struck gold with an idea and rushed to the workshop to produce his first wooden phone case. A few months later he launched WOODCHUCK USA, producing sustainably sourced, handcrafted wood products. Read full article.

Essential PR Tools and Tactics - Elevate the Visibility of Your Business While Being Sheltered in Place

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Promoting your business during the coronavirus outbreak presents unique opportunities. New technologies, subscriber lists, social media and strong digital connections are more important than ever, and more powerful than ever before. Attend this session, presented by PR expert Patricia Maldanado, where we'll provide the tools and steps you can take to make sure your business remains visible to your customers, potential customers, and even the media. Now more than ever, the steps you take to promote your company, its work and products plays an essential role in ensuring its relevance and survivial. Read full article.

10 Site Selection and Economic Development Takeaways from the COVID-19 Crisis

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Over extended and overly risky supply chains are no longer tolerable. Coronavirus is providing new and forceful momentum for the reshoring of manufacturing investment back to the U.S. from China and elsewhere. Our nation’s medical devices and biopharma sector — now dangerously concentrated in China — must be the first in line to disinvest there and reinvest back here in the States. Currently, less than 30% of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) -producing facilities are in the U.S. - while the number of Chinese facilities has more than doubled since 2010. The recent bipartisan bill introduced by Senator Blackburn (R-Tennessee) an...

The Secret To Retail Success Post Coronavirus? Adopting A Consumer-Centric Approach

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Fashion retail was facing unprecedented upheaval long before any of us had even heard of coronavirus or could imagine a situation where all stores would be forced to close and the world would be in global lockdown. This pre-coronavirus need for change was being driven by shrinking margins and an increase in nimble new entrants to the market who were growing their market share at a rapid pace, striping away sales from large incumbent brands and retailers. For the majority of retail businesses, trying to evolve and keep pace in recent years has been a painful experience as it’s meant questionin...

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 developmen...

10 Site Selection and Economic Development Takeaways from the COVID-19 Crisis

Thursday, April 30, 2020