News

In Focus: When — and How — to Ramp Up the Workforce

Wednesday, July 01, 2020

With the uncertainty in the future of businesses and the length of the coronavirus pandemic, many companies have responded to the crisis by moving to conserve money as quickly as possible. Steps taken to do this have included laying off or furloughing staff, reducing contractors and consultants, placing a freeze on new hires, and reducing compensation. Many of these steps were necessary for companies to take due to the unforeseen collapse in the economy and a lack of demand for their services. However, companies now need to consider when is the right time to re-engage with talent acquisition and what ar...

How the Covid-19 Crisis is Affecting the 2020 U.S. Census

Monday, June 22, 2020

The U.S. Census is conducted in the United States every 10 years. The Census aims to count the entire population of the United States. The Census asks American households certain questions such as sex, age, and race of each person in the household. These demographics help determine congressional representation and how much funding each state, county, and community received of the $675 billion per year in federal funding. These funds are spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works, and other essential programs. The U.S. Census data is also very helpful for businesses and developers. Businesses can use Census data to decid...

What's Your Pandemic Pivot? 4 Key Steps for Startups to Survive Catastrophe.

Thursday, June 18, 2020

Back in 2008, I was happily running a thriving ad-tech business — until the day the economy tanked. I woke up that morning to find my inbox overflowing with about 50% of my customers writing to cancel their services. Pretty soon, I was having to lay off dozens of smart, hard-working employees and move our office, along with a handful of survivors, into a barn. I had to give up my family home, too, and move with my wife into a moldy studio apartment. Unable to pay my remaining employees and also myself, I spent my weekends refinishing furniture and selling it at yard sales to mak...

COVID-19 Will Remake How We Work and Live

Monday, June 01, 2020

Generally speaking, everyone resists change. Especially sudden change. But Covid-19 changed all that. Friday rolled around and we were told to grab-your-stuff and go home and no one knew when we would be back. You hear people say, “When things go back to normal…” Well, will things really go back to normal? We’ve learned new techniques, new ways to do things differently when working together digitally. Perhaps we will not return to the old ways. Read full article.

Potential Shifts in the Workforce Due to COVID-19

Monday, June 01, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic is already causing shifts in the economy and workforce. Other than the obvious loss of employment, some of which will hopefully be temporary, another significant shift in the workforce involves employees in the professional services sector and others forced to work remotely from home. Although companies allowing employees to work remotely was already a growing trend in the United States, the question will be whether this trend continues after COVID-19 is under control. And, if the trend does continue, which is likely, consideration for incentives for home-based or remote employees will also have to be considered fro...

Smart Facilities and Industrial IOT in the Era of 5G

Monday, June 01, 2020

For manufacturing and distribution facilities, the introduction of 5G — the next generation of cellular wireless — could be a game-changer down the line. Consider: 5G will hasten the rise of the smart factory/warehouse, where tracking and distribution will improve exponentially, thanks to industrial IOT sensors. Monitoring will happen continuously in real time as the 5G network takes a triple approach to improving mobility — speed (ultra-fast data rates), interactivity (ultra-low lag with no buffering), and connectivity (more capacity, devices, and data). Read full article.

Broadband in Rural Todd County

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

We live in an increasingly complex world of technology, dependence upon smartphones, high speed Internet, and other electronic devices. There used to be a time, not very long ago, when you could casually say you could live without those things. It’s not really true anymore. No more is this evident than in rural areas, where affordable broadband is limited, or non-existent. Driving to the highest point in the area and holding your laptop in different directions may not get you the best signal, not to mention, it’s inconvenient. This is exactly the problem the Todd County Economic Development Corporation ha...

Why a U.S. Recession May Be Further Away Thank You Think

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

With all the media talk over a looming recession, is it time to start worrying about one? The answer is an emphatic “no,” says Dr. Ted C. Jones, chief economist and senior vice president for Stewart Title Guaranty Company in Houston. Citing economic indicators from real estate sectors, American industry and the larger economy, Jones told an audience of 185 people in North Port, Florida, earlier this month that virtually all major signs point to continued expansion of the U.S. economy through at least 2020. Read full article.

No Experience Required: 9 Occupations Hiring Now

Thursday, April 09, 2020

Many businesses working to provide essential services like health care, food, supplies and transportation are hiring right now in Minnesota. Some positions may be temporary during the COVID-19 pandemic, but many are permanent and, particularly in the health care field, can serve as a stepping stone to higher-paying careers for those who get additional experience or training. In many cases, a person can find a job in one of these occupations without previous experience in the field. Many of the jobs listed below may be posted under multiple titles – some of which vary in their job descriptions, requirements, and wages...

Getting by: How businesses in one Greater Minnesota town are dealing with ‘social distancing’ disruptions

Thursday, April 02, 2020

At The Tavern on Main, a downtown café and bar in Litchfield, Minnesota, Bethany and Michael Lee had to lay off 13 workers as they try to salvage their business during the disruptive “social distancing” brought on by the COVID-19 crisis. The Lees had to shutter their dining area, which doubles as a popular bar in the evening. But they have been selling enough takeout orders to generate about a quarter of their usual business – enough, they hope, to get them by until things return to normal. Read full article.

A Guide for Minnesota Small Businesses Who Need Help

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Over the past few weeks, several state and federal programs have been built to assist small businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Different programs make sense for different businesses, so we’re providing this summary guide to help small businesses quickly see which programs might be right for their situation. SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) – all Minnesota small businesses should apply for these! Read full article.

Hospitality skills transfer well to many health care positions

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Are you a leisure and hospitality industry service provider whose job has been recently impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic? Our health care industry needs you! Many people working in restaurants, hotels, casinos, event planning, theme parks, and other tourism- and travel-related jobs have been laid off and are looking for work. If you were among those leisure and hospitality workers laid off, you have a set of skills that can easily be transferred to help meet the needs of health care employers across Minnesota. Here are seven skills common to hospitality service providers – and how they’re needed by health care employers right now. Read full article.

First Avenue dentist ‘rode the roller coaster called life’ to get here

Sunday, February 16, 2020

Heather Holt didn’t always want to be a dentist. Her father had a farm where she grew up in Long Prairie, where her first job was picking rocks in the field. Now, she’s the fresh face at First Avenue Dental in Little Falls, and after years of “riding the roller coaster that is life,” she’s looking forward to slowing down. Click here to read the full article!

The 12 Best Amish Markets in the Country

Monday, February 10, 2020

If you live in the northeastern part of the United States, you might be familiar with Amish markets. Typically, these markets sell homemade baked goods, fresh produce, Amish furniture and other handcrafted goods. But not all Amish markets are the same. Amish communities are located in 30 states, mostly in the eastern U.S., and that's where you'll find the best Amish markets. In what is considered Amish Country (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, along with parts of Ohio and Indiana), you'll find roadside stands and farmers markets where Amish vendors sell their goods, usually open a few days each week. You may also find old-fashioned country stores locate...

Land O’Lakes’ Ford: Rural areas need broadband

Wednesday, February 05, 2020

Land O’Lakes CEO and President Beth Ford doesn’t mince words about what she sees as the harsh conditions agricultural communities are facing across the country. “Rural America is the new inner city,” Ford told attendees at Wednesday’s meeting of the Economic Club of Minnesota. “It has not been invested in, there’s a lack of attention, and it should concern all of us.” Click here to read the full article!

Minnesota Pork Board Names 2020 Industry Award Winners

Tuesday, February 04, 2020

The Minnesota Pork Board recognized individuals and families who have made significant contributions through pork promotion, consumer and producer education, youth mentoring and service to the pork industry at its annual Awards Reception on January 27 in Minneapolis, according to a board release. Click here to read full article!

TCB Q&A: Steve Grove, Minnesota's Economic Development Czar

Saturday, February 01, 2020

Steve Grove had been with Google for more than a decade but wanted to get out of Silicon Valley. The Northfield native and his family moved back to Minnesota in 2018. “I was always in the business development and strategy side,” Grove says. “Google didn’t have an office here. I had a global team that I led when I was at Google, so working remotely from here was doable. I worked from a co-working space.” Click here to read the full article!

The Economic Development Administration’s Five Investment Priorities

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Knowing your revitalization partner’s priorities adds clarity and saves time. When they are a funder with a competitive grant process, there’s all the more reason to know their priorities. For local communities interested in knowing where the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is at with their current investment priorities, a speech at the 88th Winter Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors delivered by Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development and Chief Operating Officer Dennis Alvord pointed the way. Click here to read full article!

Minnesota Ag in the Classroom offering resources to incorporate ag education in all classrooms

Monday, January 27, 2020

A unique partnership is putting agriculture education back in the classroom. Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom provides free resources and professional development opportunities across the state that meet the K-12 academic standards and allows teachers of all studies to incorporate ag literacy into the classroom. It’s a partnership with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Click here to read full article!

USDA invests $11 million in broadband for rural Minnesota and Iowa communities

Saturday, January 18, 2020

HARMONY, Minn. – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Stephen Censky announced USDA has invested $11 million in three, high-speed broadband infrastructure projects that will create or improve rural e-Connectivity for more than 1,395 rural households and nearly 120 businesses throughout several counties in Minnesota and northern Iowa. This is one of many funding announcements in the first round of USDA’s ReConnect Pilot Program investments. Read full article.

IU, U.S. Economic Development Administration launch USA Opportunity Zones website

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Indiana University and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration have launched a new online mapping tool that will help business people find Opportunity Zones that aim to steer private investment toward economically distressed areas. Click here to read the full article!

Housing market forecast: What can we expect in 2020?

Sunday, January 05, 2020

Over five million existing homes sold in the United States in 2019. With the year drawing to a close, people are beginning to turn their sights to what 2020 may bring. Will recession be a hot topic next year? Will home buyers still enjoy increasing home prices? Will young people keep demand for houses up? All of these questions and more are things that our team set out to answer for the purpose of constructing this article. Based on our research, we’ve come up with some expert-backed predictions for next year’s housing market that home buyers and sellers alike should be privy to. Read ful...

News

Free Professional Consultation!