LREC selects new CEO

The Lake Region Electric Cooperative (Pelican Rapids) board of directors has announced that Tim Thompson will take over as the cooperative's CEO.

Thompson is the president and CEO of Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services, an electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Albert Lea.

Read more.

Changes eyed for JOBZ program

excerpted from Fergus Falls Daily Journal, 11-16-07

Ensuring township officials are consulted before a project goes through its area is one change recommended for the city's JOBZ policy.

Job Opportunity Building Zone (JOBZ) provides substantial tax relief to companies that start up or expand in targeted areas of rural Minnesota.

The most significant change proposed is the addition of the language requiring JOBZ applicants to meet with township officials to make sure the project meets all requirements of the township.

Read entire article.

Frazee administrator is new Perham city manager

Kelcey Klemm, current clerk-treasurer-adminstrator in Frazee, accepted the position of Perham city manager, effective Dec. 17.

He will replace former city manager Bob Louiseau, who became city administrator of Detroit Lakes Oct. 22.

Read article.

SBA outlines new "Patriot Express" loan initiative

excerpted from the Perham Enterprise Bulletin, 11-8-07

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced the new Patriot Express Pilot Loan, available to military community member, including veterans, those in active duty and spouses. The Patriot Express Loans feature SBA's lowest interest rates for business loans. Details of the initiative can be found at www.sba.gov/patriotexpress.

Delegation hopes to make Chinese institute at Fergus Falls RTC a reality

excerpted from Fergus Falls Daily Journal, 11-6-07

A 17-person delegation leaves Nov. 7 for a 10-day trip to China, hoping to bring the Minnesota Institute for Cross Cultural Studies (MICCS) closed to becoming a reality on Fergus Falls' Regional Treatment Center campus.

A plan for redeveloping the Kirkbride into the MICCS was presented to the city by Institute Acquisition Partners, LLC (IAP) late last summer. After buying the Kirkbride, IAP would leave it to MICCS. MICCS' focus will be language immersion and business studies for Chinese and American students interested in international business and trade.

Read entire article.

Emmanuel, Sunnyside ‘Best Places to Work’

excerpted from Detroit Lakes Tribune, 11-4-07

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal has recognized Emmanuel Community and Sunnyside Care Center, providers of senior housing and services in Detroit Lakes and Lake Park, along with its parent organization Ecumen, as one of the region’s “Best Places to Work.”

Based on employee feedback from Ecumen communities, Ecumen was named one of the region’s Top 10 large employers. More than 200 companies vied for the honor.

Outside the box: Detroit Lakes tech school program is for entrepreneurs

excerpted from the Detroit Lakes Tribune, 11/4/07

Minnesota State Community & Technical College--Detroit Lakes is in the process of implementing an entrepreneurship program that can help students find their strengths, develop their talents and create a desire to achieve something for themselves as well as for others.

Students in technical programs will be able to expand their earning potential as well as pursue entrepreneurial opportunities by earning a certificate in several focus areas, such as sales and marketing, business ownership and customer service.

These certification programs will provide the information needed for individuals looking to run a business without having to complete an additional degree.

Read the entire article.

Aging workforce challenges state and local economies

excerpted from Echo Press, 11-2-07

As more and more baby boomers retire, the competition in the workforce will increase. The next decade will see the slowest growth in workforce ever seen in Minnesota. Meanwhile, the number of high school graduates will peak in 2008 and go down from there.

State Demographer Tom Gillaspy and Minnesota Chief Economist Tom Stinson presented these facts and much more at Alexandria's second annual Manufacturers and Industries Breakfast.

The two outlined possible changes that may happen in the future:

• An older retirement age.
• Employers may want people to work longer to fill production needs.
• Employees may need to work longer to meet personal financial needs.
• The workforce will rely more on migration--people moving into areas that need to fill jobs, or because of events taking place in their previous area of residence (flood, famine, war, etc.).

Gillaspy and Stinson said the three new "Rs" for business success will be retention, recruitment and retraining of employees. Business can do this by:

• Increasing worker education.
• Increasing the health status of individuals (fewer sick/absent days means greater productivity).
• Increasing productivity of workers.
• Attracting additional workers.
• Making the best use of individual workers.

Read entire article.