tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54789724357664694142024-02-18T22:45:49.599-08:00West Central NewsEconomic news, information and resources about west central Minnesota.West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-73196060705070769062009-07-23T14:55:00.000-07:002009-07-23T15:06:03.641-07:00Entrepreneurial center names new director<em>excerpted from New York Mills Herald</em><br /><br />Beth Pridday has been hired as the new director for <a href="http://www.minnesota.edu/?id=1067">M State's Business and Entrepreneurial Services Center</a>, located in Detroit Lakes+. Pridday has 20 years of prefessional experience in marketing, advertising, public relations, fundraising and special events. She is an active member of the Detroit Lakes Chamber of Commerce and the DL Kiwanis Club and is a volunteer with the Humane Society and Lakes Crisis & Resource Center.<br /><br />Pridday and her husband own several businesses in Detroit Lakes.West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-20586784529407323362009-07-23T08:35:00.001-07:002009-07-23T08:45:24.815-07:00Alexandria rated highest retail "pull factor" in state<em>excerpted from Alexandria Echo Press, 07-15-09</em><br /><br />An analysis compiled by the U of M Extension Service shows that Alexandria has the highest retail sales "pull factor" in the state. That shows how much draw a community has bringing in people to shop. The study demonstrated a pull factor of 4.36, which means Alexandria has 4.36 times the annual statewide average retail sales per capita.<br /><br />Copies of the 2007 Alexandria and Douglas County Retail Trade Analysis are available online at <a href="http://www.alexmn.org/community.cfm">www.alexmn.org/community.cfm</a> or by calling (320) 763-4545.West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-65868541628616023242009-06-18T11:19:00.000-07:002009-06-18T11:19:09.931-07:00DEED awards nearly $16 million for small city projectsThe Minnesota Dept. of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has awarded 39 grants totaling more than $15.9 million to hlep pay for improvements for housing, commercial property and infrastructure in Greater Minnesota.<br />
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West central Minnesota communities that have received grants include:<br />
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Ashby, $351,600, to rehabilitate 15 owner-occupied houses to benefit Ashby and Wendell.<br />
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Glenwood, $505,570, to rehabilitate 15 owner-occupied houses, 10 rental units and eight commercial buildings to benefit the cities of Glenwood, Sedan and Evansville and Polk and Douglas counties.<br />
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Hancock and Morris, $288,170, to rehabilitate 10 owner-occupied houses.<br />
Parkers Prairie, $389,121, to rehabilitate 16 owner-occupied houses to benefit Parkers Prairie and Deer Creek.West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-28033857902807557002009-06-15T12:09:00.001-07:002009-06-15T12:21:49.149-07:00Atlas helps you navigate socio-economic waters<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3C55IUV-DcohGWWEoBVu7nrwmUFwO4Rao6PesS8z-0S1OUcRnvc0D0xoOAY7bbd0yG6OumB5JJBXxHeL-a2AlDdoI8ooykMJAFIP4Pb0szqAChmSOvEqar5qYb-BUR915YjLEPrAsVyo/s1600-h/atlascover.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347636703111794786" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3C55IUV-DcohGWWEoBVu7nrwmUFwO4Rao6PesS8z-0S1OUcRnvc0D0xoOAY7bbd0yG6OumB5JJBXxHeL-a2AlDdoI8ooykMJAFIP4Pb0szqAChmSOvEqar5qYb-BUR915YjLEPrAsVyo/s320/atlascover.gif" border="0" /></a>How does the median household income differ between Minnesota counties? What are the dropout rates? How many physicians or dentists are there in a particular area?<br /><div></div><br /><div>There are many factors that can indicate a county's social and economic health. <a href="http://www.mnsu.edu/ruralmn/">The Center for Rural Policy and Development</a>, along with the University of Minnesota Extension Service and the Blandin Foundation, have compiled indicators by county in many topics, including people, economic vitality, health, housing education and more.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.mnsu.edu/ruralmn/pages/Publications/Atlas/Atlasonline/indexatlas/indexatlas.php">Try out Atlas of Minnesota for yourself to determine your county's socio-economic health</a>.</div>West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-44622214903870864642009-06-03T13:04:00.000-07:002009-06-03T13:20:26.397-07:00News from Traverse County<em>excerpted from the Wheaton Gazette, May 26, 2009</em><br /><br /><strong>Officials break ground for Browns Valley Floodway Diversion Project</strong> - Saturday, May 26, local and state officials helped break ground for the new floodway diversion on the Little Minnesota River. In 2007, a flood devastated part of Browns Valley. The city and the local watershed district worked with many state and national organizations to develop a flood control plan. Mayor Jeff Backer personally thanked West Central Initiative for providing the funds to organize the recovery effort back in 2007.<br /><br /><strong>Traverse County's jobless rate falls during April</strong> - For the first time since last October, the unemployment rate fell, from 9.3 percent in March to 7.5 percent in April. Thirty less people were unemployment in the county. The jobless rate also fell below state and national averages for the first time this year.<br /><br /><strong>Bids accepted for sewer rehabilitation and lift station and force main project</strong> - The city of Wheaton accepted bids for two major projects in the city. Officials are hoping construction will start mid-June. The bids came in lower than expected.West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-50678623709612458762009-05-26T12:13:00.000-07:002009-05-26T12:17:27.293-07:00New wastewater technology could help clean up lakes<em>excerpted from Detroit Lakes Tribune, May 24, 2009</em><br />
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<a href="http://www.sjerhombus.com/">SJE-Rhombus</a>, Detroit Lakes, has a new treatement system that could be the next great thing for the health of Minnesota Lakes. The compact system takes wastewater and turns it into water nearly clean enough to drink. <br />
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The new system uses a form of ceramic filters that provides microfiltration down to .2 microns (about 1,000 times smaller than a human hair). It also requires a much smaller space--about 200 square feet compared to about 4,000 square feet needed to handle 10,000 gallons a day under old technology. The filters also last about 20 years, three to four times longer than conventional filters. <br />
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The new technology has implications for water-scarce parts of the world, in that it would essentially allow water to be continually reused.West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-8942556776812877922009-05-22T12:21:00.000-07:002009-05-22T12:21:42.685-07:00Minnesota manufactureres buoyed by new state investment in Growth Acceleration ProgramEnterprise Minnesota’s highly popular Growth Acceleration Program (GAP) received a significant shot in the arm this week when Governor Tim Pawlenty signed into law the legislature’s appropriation of $1 million for the program. <br />
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GAP is a matching grant that enables small manufacturers to access business improvement services. First funded in 2007 with one-time funding of $750,000, GAP has since helped more than 80 Minnesota manufacturers realize a $15 return for every $1 spent by GAP. Some companies realized as much as a $40 to $1 return on GAP.<br />
"Clearly this is a program that works,” said Bob Kill, president & CEO of Enterprise Minnesota. “The outcome of this action will be job security at a time when Minnesotans need it. GAP is a tremendous resource for the Minnesota communities and employees that depend on the economic security that these manufacturers provide.” <br />
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“At a time when the state has limited resources, we try to focus on programs that can demonstrate effects that create jobs,” said Minnesota State Senator Kathy Saltzman (Woodbury). “GAP is an excellent example of what seems like a small investment producing huge results.”<br />
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The newly funded GAP program includes a three-to-one match for companies with fewer than 50 employees, a one-to-one match for those with 50 to 100 employees, and a one-to-three match for companies with more than 100 but fewer than 250 employees.<br />
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<a href="http://www.enterpriseminnesota.org/About-Us/Newsroom/Manufacturers-Buoyed-by-New-Investment-for-GAP.aspx">Learn more about the Growth Acceleration Program.</a>West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-43958252345371702622009-05-17T12:47:00.000-07:002009-05-17T12:47:21.855-07:00MN communities encouraged to apply as "Shovel Ready" site<a href="http://www.deed.state.mn.us/">DEED</a> is encouraging Minnesota communities to apply for the state's new Shovel Ready Site Certification Program to facilitate the attraction of new business and industry.<br />
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The new program makes the site-selection process easier, faster and more predictable for companies looking to grow in Minnesota, said DEED Commissioner Dan McElroy. <br />
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The term "shovel ready" refers to commercial and industrial sites that have had all of the planning, zoning, surveys, title work, environmental studies, soils analysis and public infrastructure engineering completed prior to offering the site for sale.<br />
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<a href="http://www.deed.state.mn.us/bizdev/ShovelReady/SR_home.htm">Learn more about the Shovel Ready Site Certification Program</a>.West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-31570207315919473432009-03-27T08:42:00.000-07:002009-03-27T08:42:22.230-07:00West central Minnesota job seekers outnumber jobs 5-1<em>excerpted from Chokio Review, March 26, 2009</em><br />
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The latest <a href="http://www.deed.state.mn.us/lmi/publications/jobvacancy/regional/nw.htm">Job Vacancy Survey</a> from <a href="http://www.deed.state.mn.us/">DEED</a> shows that in west central Minnesota there are 6,700 unemployed workers competing for only 1,3200 unfilled jobs. This means that job seekers outnumber job openings by more than 5 to 1 (Figures for job seekers and job opendings from fourth quarter 2008).<br />
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Other findings include:<br />
<ul><li>60 percent of all openings are part time.</li>
<li>Only 45 percent of openings offer health care.</li>
<li>27 percent require education or training beyond high school.</li>
</ul><a href="http://www.deed.state.mn.us/lmi/regional.htm#edr4">Get more area labor data from DEED</a>.West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-75510321495689842572009-02-26T08:53:00.000-08:002009-02-26T11:47:54.644-08:00Rural Development seeking apps for water, sewer, storm water infrastructure financingUSDA Rural Development is accepting applications for its 2009 funding cycle for water, sewer and storm water infrastructure financing.<br />
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All public bodies, Indian tribes and non-profits with a service area of 10,000 of less qualify for funding. Eaxmples of eligible projects include water towers, water treatment plants, sewage treatment plants, pipes, treatment ponds and storm water systems. Funding is available through grants, direct loans and loan guarantees through traditional lenders.<br />
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Potential applicants should contact their local Rural Development office for further information. For a listing of offices, visit <a href="http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.mn/">http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.mn/</a>.West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-54278650163453691152009-02-25T13:10:00.000-08:002009-02-25T13:10:33.525-08:00Ethanol backers say they can add jobs<em>excerpted from Morris Sun Tribune, 2-21-09</em><br />
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Minnesota's ethanol industry could help produce jobs in a time they are most needed, agriculture supporters told the state's Senate agriculture committee Feb. 19. <br />
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Senators heard concerns that they should not cut off subsidies paid to ethanol production plants as they seek ways to balance the state budget. Ethanol supporters credit the funding with launching their industry, among the strongest in any state. Gov. Tim Pawlenty earlier targeted the program for cuts. <br />
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The ethanol industry had been quite profitable, but in recent months those profits have dried up.<br />
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<a href="http://www.morrissuntribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=16494&section=News">Read entire article</a>.West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-26292674668807861622009-02-17T12:35:00.000-08:002009-02-17T12:35:45.489-08:00Manufacturing outlook: shaky but optimistic<em>excerpted from Alexandria Echo Press, 2-6-09</em><br />
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While a majority of Minnesota manufacturers say they expect the recession to last through 2009, even more say they are confident in their company's ability to weather the economic slump. This is according to a December survey of 400 manufacturing executives from across the state.<br />
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Minnesota cut 2,900 manufacturing jobs in December, and lost 15,600 jobs throughout 2008. Around Alexandria, a lack of business has also forced some manufacturers to temporarily cut back on production and, in some cases, workers, but despite the difficulties many say they remain optimistic.<br />
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<a href="https://secure.forumcomm.com/alexandria/articles/index.cfm?page=purchase&id=62553&CFID=25383684&CFTOKEN=41520446">Read entire article</a> (requires a free online registration).West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-1605223134764279912009-02-06T10:08:00.001-08:002009-02-06T10:23:23.183-08:00Bremer Emergency Fund offers financial assistance during difficult economic times<em>excerpted from West Douglas County Record, 1-27-09</em><br />
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The Otto Bremer Foundation and Bremer Bank joined forces to set up the Bremer Emergency Fund in order to offer a direct financial response to current economic challenges. In January, grants were given to 81 community organizations in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin.<br />
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In west central Minnesota, organizations receiving grant assistance included the Otter Tail-Wadena Community Action, The Salvation Army in several communities, and the West Central Minnesota Communities Action. <br />
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<a href="http://www.ottobremer.org/download/OBF_ApplicationPacket.pdf">Learn more about grant guidelines and download an application</a>.West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-64721372609425906812009-01-27T06:33:00.001-08:002009-01-27T06:53:22.411-08:00Website will grow green tourism in Minnesota<em>excerpted from Morris Sun Times, 1-21-09</em><br />
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A new Travel Green Minnesota website has launched to provide information and best practices for Minnesota's tourism and hospitality industry. <br />
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The website at <a href="http://www.travelgreen.umn.edu/">http://www.travelgreen.umn.edu/</a> provides tools and resources to help tourism businesses and communities implement green practices that are good for the environment and business.<br />
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Consumer research shows a growing interest in travel and tourism that minimizes negative environmental impacts.West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-15682878510457784692009-01-23T13:32:00.000-08:002009-01-23T13:35:17.804-08:00DEED announces free entrepreneurship programThe <a href="http://www.deed.state.mn.us/">Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)</a> is offering a free program to help people start their own businesses.<br />
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The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and is open to people who are at least 50 years old, eligible for the federal Dislocated Worker Program and committed to starting a new business.<br />
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<strong><a href="http://www.deed.state.mn.us/news/release/2009/wd05Jan09projectgateII.htm">Learn more.</a></strong>West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-85456409976253955892009-01-15T10:56:00.000-08:002009-01-15T11:00:00.873-08:00State economist makes it official: We're in a recessionState economist Tom Stinson recently gave a <a href="http://minnesotabudgetbites.org/2009/01/14/the-latest-from-the-state-economist-on-our-budget-economy/">"state of the economy" presentation</a> for the <a href="http://www.mncn.org/bp/about.htm">Minnesota Budget Project</a> (an initiative of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits).<br />
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<div> </div>Here are the highlights from his talk: <br />
<ul><li>We are in a recession. Expect la oss of 55,000 jobs in Minnesota in 2009, across all sectors. </li>
<li>FY 2010-11 revenues are down $3.3 billion from end-of-session estimates back in May. </li>
<li>Watch job growth for signs of an economic recovery. National monthly job growth of 150,000 jobs indicates “normal” growth.</li>
<li>Some good news: Minnesota was recently able to sell $300 million worth of bonds. We couldn’t have done that in October.</li>
<li>The federal economic recovery package could be helpful in the short-term, and provide an estimated several hundred million dollars to the state in FY 2009 and something in the ballpark of $600 million in FY 2010-11. </li>
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<div> </div>West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-32250124134192701022009-01-05T12:23:00.000-08:002009-01-05T12:32:01.288-08:00Area businesses are saying "Let it snow ... and snow, and snow"<em>excerpted from Detroit Lakes Tribune, 1-4-09</em><br />
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The near-30 inches of snowfall received last month may have residents grumbling about all the shoveling, but snowmobile retailers couldn't be happier. <br />
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"The overall impact has been very good," said Charlie Okeson of Okeson Off-Trail Sales. "It's not necessarily just sled sales, it's every aspect of our business--parts, labor, service, clothing." <br />
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The DL Regional Chamber of Commerce reports many people stopping in to look for snowmobile trail maps. Lower gas prices have encouraged snowmobilers to take longer trips than at this time last year. <br />
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Sales of snowplows and snow removal equipment has also gone up.West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-27284974456339590792008-11-24T05:51:00.000-08:002008-11-24T06:12:42.581-08:00Hoffman's Main Street Galleria a small business incubator<em>excerpted from Grant County Herald</em> <br />
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There's a bit of a renaissance going on in downtown Hoffman. After several businesses closed in the past four years, the town now has a new appliance store, the newly opened Hoffman Mall with a health care center, second hand store and library, and now the Main Street Galleria, an incubator for small businesses. The galleria offers a low-risk environment for businesses to co-op costs for the building, infrastructure, advertising and staff time.<br />
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Currently there are 18 small businesses that operate out of Main Street Galleria. They rent space by the foot and pay for it in cash of volunteer hours by helping run the central cash register and assisting customers. There's quilting and scrapbooking stores, a coffee shop and an Internet kiosk, a gift shop and dollar store, plus even a carpet and flooring remnant outlet run by the former owner of the building. Plus a lot more. <br />
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The idea for the business incubator came from the Hoffman Economic Development Authority (HEDA). It was patterned after other such ventures, including a successful Wadena mall that graduated five businesses into their own locations, revitalizing that city's downtown.West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-42817391965624981442008-11-16T12:45:00.000-08:002008-11-16T12:56:49.854-08:00Changes to JOBZ program aimed at improving oversight<a href="http://www.deed.state.mn.us/">Minnesota DEED</a> has announced changes that officials say will improve oversight of the <a href="http://www.deed.state.mn.us/bizdev/jobz.htm">Job Opportunity Building Zone (JOBZ) program</a>. <br />
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The changes include:<br />
<ul><li>All new JOBZ applications will be reviewed by DEED officials. A new application have been developed for use by local governments and/or subzone administrators.</li>
<li>A new evaluation process has been developed to determine if a proposed project is eligible for the JOBZ tax benefits.</li>
<li>A new mandatory Business Subsidy Agreement (BSA) template is available. </li>
<li>Businesses that are new to JOBZ will be required to report on the number of jobs created and wages paid two years after their program anniversary date.</li>
<li>Businesses that are relocating their operations into a JOBZ site must report on jobs and wages one year after they begin operations.</li>
<li>A business that meets most but not all of the goals of its BSA can remain in the program if DEED, the local government and the business agree on a new set of goals.</li>
</ul>For more information on the registration guidelines, plus a JOBZ application and a helpful JOBZ tax benefit calculator, <a href="http://www.deed.state.mn.us/bizdev/jobz.htm">visit the JOBZ Web site</a>.West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-23829109410814457252008-11-04T12:49:00.000-08:002008-11-04T12:52:15.634-08:00DEED announces Minnesota Investment Fund-Biomass Heating ProgramThe <a href="http://www.deed.state.mn.us/">Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development</a> (DEED) is pleased to announce the availability of the Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF) Biomass Heating Program.<br /><br />This program provides grants and loans to local units of government for the installation of biomass heating projects in publicly owned facilities. The funding award limit is $250,000, with a required minimum local match of 1 to 1. A total of $1 million will be awarded.<br /><br />Applications for funding will be accepted until April 30, 2009, or until all funds are committed, whichever is sooner.<br /><br />For more information, please go to: <a title="http://gw.vtrenz.net/?KXKPKYPAZV:C1KT9LRLTA=" href="http://gw.vtrenz.net/?KXKPKYPAZV:C1KT9LRLTA=ssID:296797399,email:nancy@wcif.org">http://gw.vtrenz.net/?KXKPKYPAZV:C1KT9LRLTA=ssID:296797399,email:nancy@wcif.org</a>West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-703356691220416022008-11-02T12:05:00.000-08:002008-11-02T12:13:45.173-08:00Stevens Forward's 'Destiny Drivers' designed to get county moving on fulfilling future<em>excerpted from Morris Sun Tribune-News, 10-15-08</em><br />
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After 10 months of planning, <a href="http://www.stevensforward.org/">Stevens FORWARD!</a> stewards released a list of 14 projects that they believe will make the county a better place to live and do business in the future.<br />
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The stewards, county residents who are helping move the initiative forward through a series of morning meetings, conducted a countywide survey and identified the 14 "Destiny Drivers" that they believe will inspire broad-based community action.<br />
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<a href="http://www.stevensforward.org/destiny.php">Read the 14 "Destiny Drivers."</a>West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-62081617960515783882008-11-02T11:56:00.000-08:002008-11-02T12:04:46.972-08:00Several White Earth members graduate from first TOT program<em>excerpted from Anishinaabeg Today, 10-15-08</em><br />
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Twelve graduates comprised the first class to complete the Transportation Opportunity Training (TOT) program created by <a href="http://www.dot.state.mn.us/">MnDOT</a>'s Office of Civil Rights, the White Earth Indian Reservation and several other partners.<br />
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The classes were held at <a href="https://www.minnesota.edu/index.php">MSCTC-Detroit Lakes</a>. <br />
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During the training, the students studied math, reading comprehension, conflict resolution and other skills. They also learned truck driving skills and met other requirements to obtain a commercial driver's license.<br />
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This program increases the diversity of the hiring pool in the region and will help contractors meet federal and state goals for employing women and minority group members on federally funded construction projects.West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-5593313733659809952008-11-02T11:46:00.000-08:002008-11-02T11:54:20.340-08:00Stevens County business growth slow but housing okay<em>excerpted from Morris Sun Tribune-News, 10-22-08</em><br />
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Stevens County Economic Improvement Commission Executive Director Michael Haynes reported slow growth overall for area businesses in the third quarter of 2008, but he said there was no loss of value in Stevens County's housing market.<br />
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He reported the Morris Industrial Park is currently full but that there are 40-60 acres available for future expansion. <br />
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He also talked about the county's Corn Stalk Gasification Plant project--the first of its kind in the country. The proposed project would convert corn stalks or similar material to natural gas and transmit the gas to customers through the existing natural gas pipeline system.West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-40231386936389590522008-10-15T10:47:00.000-07:002008-10-15T10:51:45.331-07:00Carpenter training center to be built<em>excerpted from Fargo Forum, 10-13-08</em><br /><br />A $2.4 million training center is being built in Fargo to train apprentice carpenters in their craft and help journeyman-level workers advance their skills in the latest technology and practices.<br /><br />It is being built by a partnership of the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters and Minnesota and North Dakota contractors. It will open in the spring.<br /><br />The new center is at 513 36th St. N., Fargo.West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5478972435766469414.post-51369331984531080982008-10-10T06:18:00.000-07:002008-10-10T06:26:36.809-07:00Need a job? Be a nursing assistant<em>excerpted from the Becker County Record, 10-1-08</em><br /><br />With the shortage of workers in the medical industry, Detroit Lakes Adult Basic Education is offering a pre-certified nursing assistant class to prepare for future certified nursing assistant courses. The class will help students learn medical jargon, local opportunities, regulations and more.<br /><br />The class is free and runs for six weeks on Tuesday and Thursday evenings beginning Oct. 14. For more information, call 218-847-4418.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dl-online.com/articles/index.cfm?id=38431&section=News&freebie_check&CFID=100134728&CFTOKEN=78413890&jsessionid=88303541687759347a32">Read entire article</a>.West Central Bloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16126250642855461660noreply@blogger.com0