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Foley, MN – April 2, 2025 – Benton Economic Partnership, Inc. is pleased to announce that Odam Medical has officially broken ground on a new healthcare facility at 700 Penn Street in Foley, Minnesota. This exciting milestone marks the beginning of a new chapter for the community and is set...
Summer is an important time for teen workers. Some young people move into full-time employment after finishing their high school education. Other teens want to find temporary work for the season to build a resume and earn money. CareerForce has resources for teens looking for work – whether it be...
Benton Economic Partnership Inc. Has Multiple Banking Partners to Support Residents and Businesses
Apr 1 2025The Benton Economic Partnership (BEP) is a member-driven organization. Local businesses invest in BEP because they want to see the region succeed. A key group of members who improve the lives of residents and business owners are our local banks. Through account services, loan approval, and other financial help, our...
Minnesota's landscape is constantly evolving, with new homes, commercial buildings, and infrastructure projects popping up across the state. Behind every blueprint and foundation stands a crucial workforce: construction professionals. According to data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), the demand for these skilled workers remains robust.High...
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins will visit six international markets in her first six months as Secretary to expand markets and boost American agricultural exports. At a time when the agricultural trade deficit is at nearly $50 billion following the previous administration’s little to no action in the international...
USDA Delivers on Rural Energy Commitments, Provides Path for Applicants to Support U.S. Energy Independence
Mar 25 2025U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will release previously obligated funding under the Rural Energy For America Program (REAP), Empowering Rural America (New ERA) and Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) programs. This announcement underscores the Trump Administration’s commitment to rural communities...
The number of large data centers operated by hyperscale providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) grew to 1,136 at the end of 2024, according to new data from Synergy Research Group.While the number of these facilities has doubled over the last five...
Ten Recommendations for Promoting Rural Communities to Attract Talent, Investment, and Businesses
Mar 24 2025Rural communities hold immense potential for growth, innovation, and development. However, capitalizing on this potential requires strategic efforts highlighting your rural community and its unique advantages. At Golden Shovel Agency, we specialize in empowering economic developers to promote their regions effectively.Why Promoting Rural Communities MattersEconomic development in rural areas is...
AGRIBUSINESS: Something Old Made New Again
Mar 24 2025Is the zeitgeist right for ‘agrihoods’?Would you rather invest in a golf course community or one where valuable property is profitably used to grow food?“Agrihoods” are gaining steam as an alternative real estate strategy targeting affluent, younger demographics that are jazzed by the prospect of living and raising families among...
There are 50+ CareerForce locations throughout Minnesota and each one is staffed by professionals who know their local job market, have connections with local employers and want to help you with a successful job search!Check out a CareerForce location near you for hiring events, workshops and 1:1 appointments for personalized...
This is a two-part series on the different school districts in Benton County. You can also read about Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools and their commitment to supporting the next generation of learners.Parents have multiple high-quality public school options in Benton County. Foley Public Schools supports nearly 2,000 students across three...
This is a two-part series on the different school districts in Benton County. You can also read about Foley Public Schools and their commitment to supporting the next generation of learners. Parents in Benton County, Minnesota, have multiple school districts to choose from for their kids, but one top option is Sauk...
A new proposed bill from Sen. Aric Putnam, DFL-St. Cloud, would require additional licenses for delivery services like DoorDash and Instacart to deliver alcohol.Putnam presented the bill Tuesday in the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, which would create a retail license with required liquor liability insurance for third-party delivery...
The chefs behind St. Joseph's Krewe restaurant and Flour & Flower bakery will be opening their newest venture in St. Joseph next month.Chefs Erin Lucus and Mateo Mackbee will be opening Joetown Smashburger in the new House Food and Tap food hall, bringing a new option of casual American fare...
The trend across America is for large metro areas to be leaking population, as smaller and medium sized cities see folks moving in. Many in the country are seeking a less hectic, less crowded, better quality of life.Minnesota is loaded with these smaller to medium sized towns that fit the...
Understanding your customers' needs, frustrations and praise for your brand is a critical element for entrepreneurs who want to improve their products and generate more revenue. What used to be a simple task through customer conversations and basic surveys is now more complex than ever. Today, audiences with rapidly changing...
Here, I am looking at innovation through the lens of process improvement. The value of most organizations is defined by their intellectual capital rather than their physical assets. The intellectual capital of your organization can be traced through the process maps that enable your business operations.Process innovation is not achievable...
The Risk of Marketing Without a PlanMany rural communities struggle to attract business investment, site selectors, and workforce talent–not because they lack opportunity, but because they don’t have a clear economic development marketing strategy.We’ve seen it happen time and time again. Economic developers in rural America rely on one-off marketing...
While homebuyers and home sellers still see headlines about the housing market being a seller’s market and national home prices reaching all-time highs, a deeper look reveals that several regional housing markets have shifted, giving homebuyers some power.During the pandemic housing boom, from summer 2020 to spring 2022, the number...
Most Minnesota manufacturers expect improving or similar business conditions for 2025 compared to last year, according to an annual survey conducted by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. More than 85% of the survey's 232 respondents expect improvements or similar...
Minnesota is known for its vibrant business community and talented workforce, making it an exceptional place to live and work. Great Workplaces in Minnesota honors some of the state’s most outstanding employers—organizations where employees are engaged and eager to contribute.Great Workplaces in Minnesota is a collaborative effort between Best Companies...
During February, CareerForce draws attention to the many opportunities available to high school students to prepare for employment through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on learning.Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses integrate core academic knowledge with technical and occupational knowledge and skills to provide students a pathway to postsecondary...
The St. Cloud Times is looking for nominations for its annual recognition of the area's top professionals who are under 40.For the 19th year, Local IQ and the St. Cloud Times needs the community's help. Nominations for 5 Under 40 opens Feb. 5.The Times is looking for young business leaders...
CareerForce can help you jump start your job search. Here are five tips to get you started:Develop a plan before you start applying for jobs. What kind of employment do you want? CareerForce can help you with interest and skills assessments plus tips on occupation, industry, and employer research. When...
