News and Media

In July 2021, USDA issued a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit public input into its strategy to improve meat and poultry processing infrastructure and will hold targeted stakeholder meetings and other public engagement to better understand the needs, gaps, and barriers to fair and competitive meat processing markets...Continue Reading

In May, Economic Development Week celebrates economic developers, local leaders, and organizations who work tirelessly to recruit investors, develop businesses, create jobs, enhance the tax base, and ultimately improve the quality of life for their communities.  In Benton County, Minnesota, Benton Economic Partnership (BEP) works year-round to facilitate opportunities...Continue Reading

Advanced Interconnect Technologies LLC, St. Cloud – JCF $341,500, MIF $125,000 Advanced Interconnect Technologies LLC provides manufacturing services and technical design assistance to the military, defense, commercial air, and space markets with a focus on advanced interconnect and connectivity issues. The proposed project will expand the current facility in...Continue Reading

Benton Economic Partnership, Inc. (BEP) in Benton County, MN, is pleased to announce the onboarding of Johanna Isaro Ngango as the Economic Development Marketing Intern for 2023. Johanna is a St. Cloud State University senior majoring in Political Science, International Relations, Urban Planning and Community Development. “Through our internship...Continue Reading

At the Minnesota Chamber's recent Chamber Day at the Capitol, key legislators discussed many of the policy issues facing the business community, including tax increases, paid leave mandates and the cost of doing business.  Read the complete article here. Continue Reading

Unfortunately, the climate doesn’t stop changing when the global economy takes a turn. But Minnesota has continued to outpace the national push for a carbon-neutral economy, according to a recent report. Minnesota is outranking the national average when it comes to many clean energy milestones. Zero-carbon has provided the...Continue Reading

Seeds of future growth were scattered across Minnesota’s economy in the mid-1950s.  In 1955, a new startup named Polaris Industries built a first-of-its-kind snowmobile in Roseau, Minnesota, positioning the young company to capitalize on a growing market for recreational products in post-war America. Meanwhile, 240 miles east of Roseau,...Continue Reading

Minnesota continues to experience an extremely tight labor market with workforce shortages constraining job growth, because employers can't find the staff they need to fill open positions. The pandemic exacerbated what was already a tightening labor market due to our aging population and the decline in working age residents as...Continue Reading

Rural Minnesota CEP helped KLN Family Brands implement a welding training program that improved their workforce, provided opportunities, and gave their business more freedom.  For many workers, it's difficult to develop skills, transition into other industries, or gain certifications. For many employers, producing training programs for an entire workforce...Continue Reading

Last year, Shane was looking for his next employer at the annual Veterans Career Fair. At this year’s Veterans Career Fair, he’s representing the employer who hired him after meeting him at last year’s fair. Here’s Shane’s story in his own words about finding a great employment fit at AVA,...Continue Reading

Spring is the perfect time to recognize the importance agriculture plays in the economy of Benton County, Minnesota. Ag Day was nationally celebrated on March 21st, marking its 50th anniversary.  This year’s theme was “Growing a climate for tomorrow” to recognize agriculture's important role in mitigating climate change and...Continue Reading

People with Construction trades skills – from carpentry to plumbing and more – are in demand in Minnesota. From January to February 2023 alone, Construction gained 2,200 jobs, that’s up 1.7%, according to the most recent employment numbers released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development...Continue Reading

The gap between available jobs and available talent in Minnesota is growing. While Minnesota’s negative migration trends have widened this gap, the primary driving force is a reality we share with the rest of the country. An aging population has caused the number of workers leaving the workforce to significantly...Continue Reading

Minnesota has completely recovered the private sector jobs it lost during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Minnesota gained 10,100 jobs in the last month (seasonally adjusted basis), up 0.3%. The private sector gained...Continue Reading

Despite the recent snowfall, severe weather season is at the top of mine for new Benton County Emergency Management Director Kristen Tschida. Tschida took over in January following the retirement of longtime Emergency Management Director Jim McDermott. Click here to learn more about the City of Benton. Continue Reading

Benton County has announced that high-speed internet will be coming to some underserved parts of the county. Benton Communications and the county are partnering to bring high-speed fiber broadband to some communities north of Highway 23. Click here to learn more about Benton County. Continue Reading

Minnesota is exporting more goods and raw materials than ever before. The state shipped $27 billion of agricultural, mining, and manufactured products across the United States and to the rest of the world in 2022. The mark is over 16% higher than the year before. Fuel, oil, electrical components,...Continue Reading

COVID-19 upended many aspects of life and work. Perhaps one of the most notable changes has been the increase in the number of people working from home. Technology advances, improved communication capabilities, and a shifting attitude toward work-life balance had already started the trend toward more remote work, but the...Continue Reading

Big changes are proposed at St. Cloud State University. As part of Governor Walz’s 2023 Infrastructure plan, SCSU is projected to receive $5.4 million for Phase 1 of the Education and Learning Design complex. The multi-phase plan calls for the construction of a new building to house the over 1000...Continue Reading

The City of St. Cloud Economic Development Authority announced new grant programs for its Downtown Commercial Corridor: the Main Street Economic Revitalization Grant and Downtown Exterior Improvement Grant.  St. Cloud Main Street Economic Revitalization Grant The Main Street Economic Revitalization Grant is state-funded by the Minnesota Department of...Continue Reading

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the Department is investing $63 million to bring high-speed internet access to people living and working in rural areas in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Mississippi. Today’s investments include funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides a historic...Continue Reading

 Advanced Interconnect Technologies of St. Cloud has passed its first hurdle to receive grant funding to help with a $3.8 million expansion. The money comes in two forms, with one awarded directly by the state. The other goes to the City of St. Cloud by way of the state...Continue Reading

Today, at the USDA Conversation on Healthy School Meals Roundtable, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced major initiatives at the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will support and enhance the health of America's children through nutritious school meals. “Our commitment to the school meal programs comes from a common goal...Continue Reading

A new study by Logitech of 3,000 employees and 1,000 IT hardware decision-makers in large organizations found that 89% struggle with video and 85% with audio in their work-from-home office. Less than 40% received accessories other than mice and keyboards from their organizations. While these results are concerning, I...Continue Reading