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Minnesota Hops Take a Giant Leap Forward

Friday, July 12, 2019

What exactly do Minnesota-grown hops taste like? Beer lovers, gather round, we are in receipt of some of the biggest Minnesota-beer news of all time. First off, Minnesota's poised to break our all-time hops harvest this year, with 100,000 pounds coming out of Mighty Axe hops in Foley, just north of St. Cloud. That's more than before Prohibition, it's more than ever. But that's only the start of this story, because Mighty Axe founder, hops-champion, and CEO Eric Sannerud feels so strongly that the hops he's growing are unique in the world, in terms of their flavor and aromas, that he's rebranded...

Local nonprofit builds solar arrays, empowers communities

Tuesday, July 09, 2019

Jason Edens knows from experience what it’s like to struggle to pay energy bills. While studying for a masters degree in environmental studies at Bemidji State University, he couldn’t afford to heat his home. He reached out to the local energy assistance program with a hopeful idea. If they could provide him with a low interest loan for a solar energy system, he could become self sufficient. But in 1999, such a program didn’t exist. In what Edens refers to as “serendipity,” he came across a free solar energy system the next day that someone was discarding. He installed it on his...

2019 New State Fair Foods

Monday, July 01, 2019

The Minnesota State Fair’s 2019 new foods roster includes the perennial mix of attention-seekers, potential gut bombs and trend-observant hopefuls. Sixty-five proposals were under consideration this year, and 31 were selected. Seven new vendors will grace the fairgrounds this year, although some did not make the fair’s official “new foods” list, which means there will be even more novel options to encounter. “These vendors don’t have what are considered a ‘new’ food to the fair,” said State Fair spokeswoman Lara Hughes. “We already have cookie dough and ice cream sandwiches.” Which explains why deep-fried cookie dough at Kora’s Cookie Dough...

DEED Seeking Director of Economic Opportunity

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Minnesota’s economy is prospering, but unfortunately, not all Minnesotans are sharing in that prosperity. While gains have been made, there is still drastic inequality across the state. At DEED, we have a duty to address these issues and find solutions. DEED’s Office of Economic Opportunity leads much of this effort, so we are announcing the opening of a director position for that office. Analysis by the Brookings Institution, 24/7 Wall Street and others all point to the large divides in Minnesota’s economic equity. For example, the median incomes of white Minnesotans remain almost twice that of American Indian/Alaskan Native Minnesotans and Black/African American...

Little Falls Council approves purchase of budgeting software at cost of $17,000 a year

Sunday, June 23, 2019

New software purchased by the city of Little Falls for creating its annual budget will cost $17,620 a year. This will be about a $6,000 increase from what the city currently spends on the OpenGov software. The city has been using the company’s transparency and reporting tools since 2016 and they have been useful, City Administrator Jon Radermacher said. The current contract ends this year and he recommended the Council approve a new four-year agreement, including a new budget building tool. The new software would allow department heads to edit their budget requests up until they are due, rather than filling out paper worksheets,...

Morrison County gets $92,000 from state over MNLARS

Saturday, June 22, 2019

Morrison County is getting money back from the state as reimbursement for costs it sustained due to the Minnesota Licensing and Registration System (MNLARS), to the tune of $92,344.69. The funds, part of $13 million approved by the state for all 174 deputy registrar offices, are aimed at avoiding a lawsuit, the grant agreement said. “The parties agree that the specific reasons that this dispute is being settled is (1) to avoid any and all further costs of litigation for all parties; and (2) to avoid any and all further risks of litigation for all parties,” the document said. By signing the agreement,...

State Government Leader Frank Gilbertson to Head DDS

Friday, June 21, 2019

Frank Gilbertson, a Mountain Iron, Minn. native with over two decades of experience working across health systems in the state, has been named director of DEED’s Disability Determination Services. Most recently, Frank served as the manager of the Health Care Administration (HCA) Finance Office at the Minnesota Department of Human Services where he developed and maintained HCA’s annual $70 million administrative budget and oversaw contracts and grant activities. Prior to managing the HCA Finance Office, Frank served as director of Revenue Development at Hennepin Health (Hennepin County Medical Center), director of Provider Relations and Contracting for UCare, and led corporate and strategic initiatives at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota. He also worked for?HealthEast,...

Unemployment holds at 3.3 percent

Thursday, June 20, 2019

Professional and business service jobs up 1,800 over the month ST. PAUL – Minnesota gained 100 jobs in May according to figures released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained steady at 3.3 percent in May and the U.S. unemployment rate was 3.6 percent. April’s job gain was revised downward from 3,600 jobs to 200, and annual gains fell to 4,164 jobs or 0.1 percent. Over the year, construction lead all other sectors adding 7,443 jobs. Read full article.

Seeking Partners for Child Care Economic Development Grants, and Business Development Grants

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Getting high quality business development assistance at the right time is critical for the success of entrepreneurs and small businesses. I believe the state’s commitment to providing this assistance is one reason Minnesota ranks third in the nation in five-year business survival. Another way we can assist in economic development is through grants to help communities address shortages in child care. As a father of two toddlers myself, I understand how a lack of quality care impacts not only the parents who need it in order to work, but also the businesses that desperately need workers and want to employ them. We’re focused on supporting the economic...

Launch Minnesota: Come Help Us Grow Minnesota’s Startup Ecosystem

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

One of the most exciting outcomes of the 2019 Legislative session for DEED was the creation of a new program called Launch Minnesota. Designed to nurture technology startups and entrepreneurs across the state, Launch Minnesota will work with private industry to create financial incentives and programming to demonstrate that Minnesota is committed to fostering an innovation ecosystem that draws global attention. The program concept grew out of a collaboration between DEED and the Minnesota Legislature – with legislators on both sides of the aisle making meaningful contributions. It is a joint initiative with private businesses and nonprofit organizations statewide. Read full article.

Alexis Krebs turns dairy cow showing into a stint as dairy princess

Sunday, June 16, 2019

For Morrison County Dairy Princess Alexis Krebs, the dairy industry is something she became involved in as a teenager, rather than being born into it like other princesses. “I was born into the beef industry actually,” Krebs said. Growing up, the family lived next door to Krebs’ uncle, who raised beef cattle. Then, about five years ago, Krebs’ older brother began showing dairy cows and the rest of the family followed suit. After hanging around the fair the first year her brother was showing dairy cows, Krebs decided she wanted to do it too. Read full article.

Technical Assistance, Webinars Available for Workforce Development Grant Program Applicants

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is accepting requests for proposals (RFPs) from qualified organizations across the state for five competitive workforce development grant programs designed to increase economic opportunities for people of color, women, youth, people with disabilities and veterans. “The goal of the funding is to address economic disparities and to make Minnesota a state where everyone – regardless of their background or skill set – has an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to our economy,” said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. Organizations may submit grant proposals for one or more of the five programs. Informational webinars will be available...

For Dairy Princess Megan Borash, dairy farming is about family

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

For Morrison County Dairy Princess Megan Borash, dairy farming has been a lifelong family affair. Growing up on a dairy farm south of Little Falls, Borash remembers when she was young she would help feed the calves with her mother, Joyce. As she got older, she began helping her father, Wayne, milk cows in the farm’s milking parlor. Before she and her sister were able to milk real cows, their mom would fill a plastic glove with water and poke holes in the finger tips so the two could practice on that. One of the best parts of growing up on a dairy farm...

Paving on the schedule for Cypress project

Monday, June 10, 2019

In a news release, Scott Hedlund of Short Elliott Hendrickson said road building is the focus for contractor Landwehr Construction, including concrete work and bituminous street paving. On Cypress Drive between Basswood Road and the railroad tracks and on Industrial Park Road, they are planning ongoing concrete and bituminous driveway work, and miscellaneous grading, topsoil, tree planting and turf restoration activities behind the curbs. On the portion of the project north of the railroad tracks, there will continue to be miscellaneous concrete flatwork, paving, signal, grading and turf restoration over the next few weeks. There will also be more pavement marking activities...

The heat is on - and the Splash Park design is approved

Thursday, June 06, 2019

If plans keep rolling forward, you'll be cooling off in the puddles at the new Splash Park in southwest Wadena, just north of the wading pool later this summer. Wadena City Council members heard the Wadena Park Board had agreed upon a Splash Park design, at a cost of $108,000 during a special council meeting May 28. A splash park is a playground like area covered in sprinkler-type features that spray water over a large pad without any deep water areas, meaning children, or adults for that matter, can wander freely through the area getting sprinkled with water without the need to...

Community Engagement Sessions: What Did We Learn? What’s Next?

Saturday, June 01, 2019

As DEED’s newly appointed Deputy Commissioner of Workforce Development, I started my new leadership role travelling across the state, meeting with people and organizations working to build an economy that works for all Minnesotans. I believe that leadership starts with listening, that’s why I travelled more than 1,300 miles visiting Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, St. Cloud, Duluth and Detroit Lakes. For many of these stops, it was my first visit. I was amazed by how each corner of our state is working to address their specific workforce challenges. Community engagement is a two-way exchange of information, ideas and resources. Oftentimes, community engagement...

Support for Small Businesses

Wednesday, May 08, 2019

Small businesses have an oversized impact on the economy. According to the Small Business Administration, two out of three new jobs in the private sector from 2000-2017 were created by small firms. The first full week of May is National Small Business Week across America. It’s an opportune time to recognize the importance of local businesses and their role in bolstering our area’s economy. Because small businesses have a big impact, the North Central Economic Development Association (NCEDA) works in partnership with Region 5 to offer loans to support area business growth. “Entrepreneurs and small businesses make up the backbone of our region’s...

Three Cheers Hospitality Finds Right Ingredients for Success

Thursday, April 11, 2019

Restaurants play an integral role in our communities, serving as important gathering places and contributing to the local economy. Every dollar spent in restaurants generates $2 in sales for other industries, according to the National Restaurant Association. 3 Cheers Hospitality is a food, beverage and catering company with a focus on farm-to-fork food. The growing company has a history in the region that originated more than a decade ago with Prairie Bay Grill and Catering in Baxter. Nick Miller has been with Prairie Bay since it opened in 2004. He served as its general manager until 2015 when he and longtime chef...

Local Design Firm Thrives in Region 5

Monday, February 11, 2019

Rural towns have struggled for years with “brain drain,” the phenomenon where young people move away for college and job opportunities and don’t come back. But lately, some towns are experiencing a return migration of young people attracted by small town quality of life. They’re bringing their skills, energy and experience back home with them. Some young entrepreneurs are returning to start their own businesses, which provides a nice boost for local economies. A prime example of this is Digital Ink Design & Graphics in Baxter. Josh Goble grew up in Brainerd and started working for a local company in the sign...