Hilltop Lumber has been selected as the recipient of the 2018 Business & Industrial Appreciation Day award by the Boards of Directors of the Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission and Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. The Business & Industrial Appreciation Day (BIAD) event has honored a Douglas County company each year since 1984 and […]
Over the last year, there have been a number of retail companies who have closed their doors in the Alexandria area, and these closures have caused concern in our community. Ultimately, our location is not unique to this trend. Nationally, the amount of retail space going dark in 2018 is on pace to break a […]
What is and what does economic development organizations do? Being that there’s no one definition for economic development is why these two questions are often asked. Although economic development organizations can be a bit different in the services they provide they all tend to have the same similar goals of job creation, community growth and […]
In the next few weeks, our area will celebrate two nationally recognized weeks that celebrate small businesses and the quality jobs they create. National Small Business Week 2018 kicks off at the end of this month with an awards ceremony in Washington D.C. where national award winners will be recognized and awarded for their achievements. National Small Business Week […]
Meet the Auran Family… My husband Nathanael and I were born and raised in Minot and Maxbass, North Dakota. We had planned to live there forever, but with the oil boom came more traffic, higher prices, and more crime. We wanted to relocate somewhere that had the small town feel where we could raise our […]
New study cites family finances, health and safety, and high-quality education and child care among top factors Minnesota is the second best state in the nation to raise a family, according to a new study from WalletHub. The new study ranked all 50 states across 42 factors, with Minnesota scoring especially high on measures of […]
With roots going back to 1872, Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory has given many years of service to the Alexandria area. From the dedicated and caring staff to their commitment to the community Anderson’s has built a legacy of meaningful relationships and compassionate service. The Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission & the Alexandria Lakes Area […]
Shannon Berns is the newest consultant joining the West Central – Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Shannon has a Masters of Business Administration degree from Hamline University. Shannon has been an entrepreneur, small business owner, banker, Economic Development professional, marketing director and small business consultant. Shannon is Founder of Du Nord Consulting located in Alexandria, […]
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has awarded workforce development grants totaling $2.2 million under the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP) to train 2,744 workers. “Minnesota is forecasted to have a shortage of more than 100,000 workers by 2020. We can’t afford to leave Minnesotans unprepared for good job opportunities,” said Lt. Governor […]
Rank City Employer Contribution % Investment Performance Administrative Fees Best 401(k) Plans Index 1 Champlin, MN 91.2% -0.7% 0.3% 96.16 2 Jordan, MN 78.1% -0.8% 0.1% 90.53 3 Little Falls, MN 63.5% -0.5% 0.2% 82.90 4 Willmar, MN 62.0% -0.3% 0.1% 82.66 5 Belle Plaine, MN 52.4% -0.1% 0.1% 78.12 6 Redwood Falls, MN 50.5% […]