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Consumer Affairs' 2024 edition of "The worst roads in America" features a big Minnesota brag that, for many residents, may induce a mixture of pride and a bit of astonishment.The consumer news platform ranks Minnesota's roads as best in the nation, describing them as "the smoothest" and "safest," according to...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the USDA Forest Service is investing nearly $145 million from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act—the largest climate investment in history—to connect forest landowners with emerging climate markets as part of the Investing in America agenda.USDA’s Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, Dr...
The Red Wing school district will hire its first Indian Education director to oversee the program, as well as develop curriculum that meets the state’s Indigenous Education for All requirement.The Red Wing School Board unanimously approved the new position March 11. The person hired for the position is expected to...
In the flow of a workday, it's easy to spend your time putting out fires — we've all been there. This reactionary brand of management results in a disconnected, chaotic feeling for everyone from the workforce to the customers. Focusing on your original vision for your company can create a...
SPOILER ALERT: The classic movie Field of Dreams tells the story of an Iowa farmer who hears a voice saying, "If you build it, he will come”, and sees a vision of a baseball diamond. He then mortgages everything to build a baseball field. While he does experience initial financial...
63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024
Mar 15 2024Many people dream of starting their own business. Running an enterprise in your home, garage or on the go means you can take more control over your professional goals, set more ambitious financial targets and achieve a more desirable work-life balance.But what if you're ready to start a business but...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today awarded approximately $40.5 million for 60 grant projects through the Organic Market Development Grant program. These projects will support the development of new and existing organic markets, support the infrastructure to improve processing capacity, explore emerging technologies to promote...
Red Wing fire suppression rating improves
Mar 14 2024The city of Red Wing received a new improved rating of its fire suppression delivery system, which may save homeowners and commercial property owners money on their insurance premiums.The rating was the result of a recently completed Public Protection Classification (PPC) survey from the Insurance Services Office, according to the...
Mayors from 10 states along the Mississippi River flew to D.C. last week to lobby for funding to protect and restore one of the world’s most important working rivers.The convening was part of the annual capitol meeting of the Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative (MRCTI). The initiative, which includes...
Minnesota welcomed nearly 35,000 new arrivals from other countries between 2020 and 2023, the latest year for which census data is available. These new arrivals include immigrants, refugees, additional people from other countries here under humanitarian protection and others. Work authorization varies by group. While the definition is very broad,...
Grand Marais is located on the north shore of Lake Superior. The lakeside town with its small harbor has long attracted artists and crafts people, including visitors drawn to taking classes at the North House Folk School and the Grand Marais Arts Colony.Grand Marais is the gateway to the Gunflint...
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is making investments to provide clean drinking water, sanitary wastewater systems and affordable high-speed internet to people in Tribal communities. A portion of today’s funding will improve water infrastructure for the Yomba Shoshone Tribe in Nevada, which is...
One week after funding 24 projects to expand broadband infrastructure in Minnesota, the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today announced it is accepting applications for another $50 million in broadband development grants."As a resident of Greater Minnesota, I know how important broadband is to our businesses, families and...
In the quest for sustainable growth and prosperity, rural economic developers face a unique set of challenges, paramount among them being a pervasive issue of infrastructure deficits. These deficits not only stifle economic potential but also hinder the quality of life in rural communities.Understanding the ChallengeInfrastructure in rural areas encompasses...
The Site Selectors Guild has announced the addition of new Associate Member W. Ford Graham, senior vice president – economic development with McGuireWoods Consulting. The Guild, the only association of the world’s foremost professional site selection consultants, is now comprised of 63 Full members, five Associate members, and three Emeritus...
Red Wing, Minnesota is rich in women’s history. This month, the Red Wing Port Authority is highlighting the legacy of Eugenie Anderson, the first American Woman to serve as a U.S. ambassador – and who called Red Wing home.Liz Schmidt, an archivist at the Goodhue County Historical Society, shared her...
Minnesota’s Red Wing Port Authority is loaning money to entrepreneurs who identify as BIPOC, veterans, or women who have plans to start a business or have recently started one. Through the Advancing Entrepreneurs Loan Program, several Red Wing business owners have received loans up to $20,000 to help further their...
Google’s AI announcement: Google has announced plans to incorporate its Gemini large language models into a new web portal, chatbot, and some apps, with claims it beats OpenAI’s GPT-4 on all but 2 of 32 common performance benchmarks. Gemini Ulta, the largest of Google’s LLMs, will be sold inside the...
Artificial intelligence will help manufacturing by better understanding of demand for products and supply of inputs, with lesser impacts on what happens inside the plant. Robot technology continues to improve, but not at the rapid pace of the large language models (LLMs) that power chatbots such as ChatGPT.The LLMs have...
POSITION DESCRIPTIONProgram DirectorSite Readiness InitiativeI. INTRODUCTIONThe Site Selectors Guild, Inc. (the “Guild”) is the only association of the world’s foremost professional site selection consultants. Guild members provide location strategy to corporations across the globe and for every industry, sector, and function. Founded in 2010, the Guild now comprises 67 members,...
Childcare shortages in communities across the United States have reached critical levels, leaving families struggling to secure affordable and quality care for their children as they attempt to earn a living and contribute to economic development. This article delves into the depth of the issue, examining the shortage of childcare...
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is investing $207 million in renewable energy and domestic fertilizer projects to lower energy bills, generate new income, create jobs, and strengthen competition for U.S. farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers. Many of the projects are being funded by...
Companies and colleges in the Twin Cities contemplating the future of work confront big questions. What does the next generation workforce expect? What can employers do to meet these expectations? What can colleges and universities do to best prepare their students for a new world of work? In a word:...
CareerForce spotlight: Sandra Brick provides expert help to job seekers revamping their resumes
Feb 2 2024Sandra Brick is dedicated CareerForce specialist who exemplifies the assistance job seekers receive when they call or visit a CareerForce location looking for help in their job search, from exploring career options to preparing for interviews – and everything in between.Just this month, we’ve received two CareerForce Success Story submissions...