News

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Editor's note: The following information was provided by the Todd County Soil Water Conservation District. Most Todd County landowners know vegetative buffers were required on public waterways November 1, 2017 and on county ditches by November 1, 2018. This is very important considering Todd County spans out over almost 1,000 square miles, has 123 public lakes, 380 miles of public streams, and 379 miles of county ditches. Todd County SWCD has completed a county wide buffer inventory on all public waters and public ditches. Many landowners have already contacted the SWCD and have installed compliant buffers. If buffer compliance is not observed, Todd...

Funding rural broadband: A no-brainer for this legislative session

Monday, March 18, 2019

Consider this your daily affirmation of Minnesota’s excellence: We have the best funding structure for connecting our rural areas to high quality broadband internet access. You can thank the Minnesota’s Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program housed within the Department of Employment and Economic Development for this. The overarching goal of this program is to extend high quality and affordable internet access to all Minnesotans, especially those in unserved or underserved areas. Despite the myriad partisan battles between 2014 and now, the Minnesota Legislature has allocated $90.5 million to the program, providing a booster shot to the economy of Greater Minnesota. Read...

Minnesota STEP Grant Program helps businesses with export related activities

Friday, March 15, 2019

The STEP program helps Minnesota businesses that are looking to sell their wares outside of the country. The Minnesota State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) grant program is looking to award funds to Minnesota businesses planning to grow their exports. The STEP program provides financial and technical assistance to qualifying Minnesota small businesses with an active interest in exporting products or services to foreign markets. Participants may be first-time exporters or companies that are currently exporting but are interested in expanding into new international markets. The grant is operated by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Read full article.

The Impact of Automation on Minnesota's Labor Market

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Minnesota has a smaller concentration of occupations most at risk compared to the U.S. – and that’s good news. But workers still need to keep up. With near-record low unemployment rates and a labor force growing much slower than in the past, could automation be the boost Minnesota needs to maintain its global economic position? At odds with that view and our current labor force situation, is the notion that new technologies will destroy so many jobs that our labor market will be systematically dismantled by robots. Many discussions about the future of work result in conclusions that are not only far-fetched,...

Consolidated Telecommunications Company is Bringing Fiber to Moran Township

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Consolidated Telecommunications Company (CTC) is a full-service telecommunications cooperative operating in Todd County. They are a strong regional partner, providing essential telecommunications services to over 11,000 members in our region. Recently, they were awarded a Rural Utilities Service (RUS) grant to build out their fiber network in Moran Township. Businesses and residents in the area will receive High Speed Internet with speeds up to 1 Gigabit per second (or 1,000Mbps), along with Digital TV, HD TV and local phone service. This is part of a county and statewide strategy to ensure that all residents and businesses have access to broadband...

Magazine Highlights Minnesota as a Top Spot for Business

Monday, February 11, 2019

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

New Privacy and Data Security Guide Published for 2019

Thursday, February 07, 2019

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

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

Thursday, January 17, 2019

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

New Guide to Hiring Disabled Veterans Available

Wednesday, January 09, 2019

With record low unemployment, more and more employers are feeling the laborforce crunch, but one group of job seekers may be overlooked – disabled veterans. To raise employer awareness of this labor source and lower perceived barriers to hiring disabled veterans, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) has released their 2018 hiring guide. Continue to full article.

MILE Program Approves First Round of Startup Loans

Wednesday, January 02, 2019

Funding goes to four early-stage businesses in St. Louis Park, St. Paul, Mendota Heights and Mankato ST. PAUL – Four high-tech startup businesses in Minnesota, including three owned and operated by women, have been approved for interest-free loans totaling $196,000 under a pilot program at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). DEED approved the funding from the Minnesota Innovation Loans for Entrepreneurs (MILE) program for UR Turn in St. Louis Park, Thrivors Inc. in St. Paul, Poma 22 in Mendota Heights and Guardian Athletics in Mankato. Continue to full article

DEED Launches Tool to Measure, Report Broadband Access

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

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

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

Sunday, December 09, 2018

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

New Guide to Hiring Disabled Veterans Available

Saturday, December 08, 2018

DEED Launches Tool to Measure, Report Broadband Access

Friday, December 07, 2018

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

CentraCare Health is Building a Community-Driven Wellness Center in Todd County

Thursday, November 29, 2018

As the region’s premier healthcare provider, CentraCare Health (CCH) is at the forefront of innovation and finding ways to increase access to healthcare, while improving the long-term wellness of the entire community. One way they are doing so is through the creation of a community-driven wellness center in Todd County. The wellness center is in response to requests made by community members looking for an opportunity to improve their overall wellbeing. “The community voiced a clear desire to include a wellness center. We listened” stated Dan Swenson, CentraCare Health - Long Prairie Administrator. The resulting Regional Community Well-Being Center is a...

Reasons to Celebrate Small Business Saturday on Nov. 24th and Beyond

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

November 24 is Small Business Saturday, a shopping holiday that urges consumers to patronize small and independent businesses rather than online retailers or big box stores. American Express was behind the first Small Business Saturday, which started in 2010. The initial goal was to counter the negative effects of the recession on small businesses and local economies. The holiday quickly caught on. In 2011, the Senate passed a resolution in support of Small Business Saturday. Consumers have now spent an estimated $85 billion at independent retailers and restaurants over the eight Small Business Saturdays since its inception. Small Businesses Make a Significant Economic Impact Research...

USDA Rural Development has approved a grant of $2,147,863.00

Saturday, November 17, 2018

This Rural Development investment will be used to construct a fiber to the home broadband system providing state of the art services to 250 households and 8 in and around Moran Township, Todd County, Minnesota. A community center will also be located within the Moran Township Town Hall where residents can access two computer terminals and WiFi, free of charge. This project will allow the residents and businesses in this area to access high quality voice and broadband services so that they may be better able to access the economic, health care, educational, and quality of life opportunities such services...

Helping Startups Succeed—and Stay—in the Midwest

Wednesday, November 07, 2018

At the University of Minnesota, launching a new company is one of several ways that breakthrough research can move beyond the lab to benefit the public. But finding the right leader, with the right experience, to bring these new technologies to market can be difficult. “Leadership is just as important as intellectual property to a startup’s success,” said Mary MacCarthy, Venture Center program manager with the U’s Venture Center in the Office for Technology Commercialization. “The biggest challenge the U of M has with launching our startups is finding skilled, available CEOs with experience in particular industries.” A new network comprising 11...

Number of Women-Owned Businesses Increased Nearly 3,000% since 1972, According to New Research

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Women started an average of 1,821 new businesses per day in the U.S. between 2017 and 2018, according to analysis in the 2018 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, commissioned by American Express (NYSE:AXP). This level of new business formation by women is greater than the daily average during the pre-recession period from 2002 to 2007 (714), the recession and recovery period between 2007 and 2012 (1,143), and the post-recession period between 2012 and 2017 (952). New this year, the report explores data back to 1972 – the first time the U.S. Census Bureau provided data on minority-owned and women-owned...

Innovation Voucher Award Program

Monday, October 29, 2018

Financial Awards Give Small Businesses Access to Technical Assistance The Innovation Voucher Award Program provides $5,000 to $25,000 awards to help small businesses purchase technical assistance and services necessary to advance research, development or commercialization of new or innovative products and services. Qualifying businesses receive awards – which the recipient must match on a 50 percent basis – to reimburse for expenses incurred for assistance and services rendered by public universities, colleges, technical schools and non-profits in Minnesota. Reimbursable expenses include purchased technical assistance and services in research, technical development, product development, commercialization, market development, technology exploration, and improved business practices, including strategies to...

3 Percent

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

MN's unemployment rate has been at or below 4 percent for four years straight Minnesota’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to its lowest level since June 2000 – 3 percent. Our unemployment rate has been at or below 4 percent for four consecutive years. (The US unemployment rate in July was 3.9 percent.) Employers added 11,200 jobs in July and 31,800 jobs over the past three months, the third-highest number of new jobs over a three-month span dating back to 1990. Details: Monthly gains across the major sectors were widespread; only two sectors lost jobs. The largest job gains were in education & health care (up...