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At the most recent Upsala School Board meeting, a report given by Superintendent Vern Capelle informed the board of the process for ending statutory operating debt.According to the Minnesota Department of Education, if the amount of a district’s operating debt is more than 2 ½% of the most recent fiscal...
As Minnesota continues to face record-high winter temperatures, Governor Tim Walz has announced that Minnesota has unlocked federal funding for small businesses impacted by this winter’s historic drought conditions. Amid the warmest winter on record, federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available because of ongoing federal drought declarations affecting 81...
On Tuesday, March 5 the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced that they have awarded over $53 million in grants through their Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant program. The 24 projects that were awarded throughout the state will be matched by nearly $51 million in local funds, for...
SAN ANTONIO, March 6, 2024 – As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s PowerXchange annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas that USDA is moving forward on clean energy investments in 23...
When the 100th anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s 1927 transatlantic flight is marked in three years, Lindbergh Field in Little Falls could be home to a series of infrastructure improvements.That’s the hope of MN State Representative Ron Kresha (R - Little Falls).On Feb. 22, Kresha introduced HF 4093, a bill seeking...
Through a request for information (RFI), the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) invites eligible cooperatives and other interested stakeholders in providing input to help the agency in designing a new Green Fertilizer Grant Program and in assessing business readiness of the green fertilizer industry in Minnesota.During the 2023 session, the...
A new Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) grant program is offering funding to support the development of agricultural cooperatives in the state.The Cooperative Development Grant Program is now accepting applications from new cooperatives looking to finance business development strategies that will aid in the successful production, processing, or marketing of...
LITTLE FALLS — Through a yearlong partnership with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, the Initiative Foundation awarded $4.3 million in grants to six communities in central Minnesota.The grants leveraged an estimated $47 million in hometown improvements.The Initiative Foundation worked with Brainerd, Cold Spring, Little Falls, Long Prairie,...
I.C.E. Fest took place over the weekend at Green Prairie Fish Lake in Little Falls, but ice conditions gave this year’s celebration a different look. The annual event raises funds for underprivileged children.While this year’s I.C.E. Fest did not go to plan when it came to making record-breaking ice carousels,...
As the world grappled with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the childcare sector emerged as a critical cornerstone for supporting working families and ensuring the healthy development of young minds. Adequate childcare is a necessity for parents and a vital component of a thriving economy. This narrative delves...
Funding is currently available through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) for two grant programs to help expand access to fresh and culturally appropriate foods to low- and moderate-income areas.The two grant opportunities are part of the MDA’s Good Food Access Program (GFAP): The GFAP Equipment and Physical Improvement Grant...
A multitude of people gathered at the Community Center in Bowlus, Jan. 17, for the annual Upper Mississippi Irrigators Association and Minnesota Corn Growers Association meeting.As part of the meeting, Dr. Mark Seeley, a retired emeritus professor in the Department of Soil, Water and Climate at the University of Minnesota,...
When the 2023-24 school year began at Pioneer Elementary School in Pierz, students, staff and parents welcomed Wendy Becker as the new assistant principal. It is a position she has enjoyed tremendously ever since she officially joined the district in July 2023.“I absolutely love serving the students, families and staff...
The city, along with a local hospital, has been leading the efforts to reduce the costs for family child care providers, making it easier for them to stay afloat.Jon Radermacher remembers searching around for child care as a first-time dad. He’s been through the process multiple times — and knows...
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...
AI 101 for Site Selection
Feb 4 2024Selecting the right location is one of the most important decisions a business can make. This process requires the comprehensive analysis of a host of critical factors. An increasingly key factor that site selection professionals must consider is speed — companies prefer the shortest-possible but still thorough site selection process...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing approximately $11.5 million in 38 cooperative agreements that support innovative, scalable waste management plans to reduce and divert food waste from landfills. The Composting and Food Waste Reduction cooperative agreements, which are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, are part of...
When business schools nurture their relationships with local business communities, students and organizations benefit—all to the advantage of local talent pools and regional economies. The relationship is not a one-way street, however. It’s reliant on businesses reciprocating and participating in a business school’s initiatives.Business schools as catalysts for regional development...
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a pilot program to allow more cattle producers and meat processors to access better markets through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) official beef quality grading and certification. The Remote Grading Pilot for Beef, developed by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), matches simple technology...
STATE OF THE STATES 2024
Feb 4 2024Among the themes to emerge across the 50 state legislatures and governor’s offices over the past year is how to attract funding from a family of major federal programs toting hundreds of billions of dollars in funds. The various challenges and grants follow closely behind Recovery Act funds for which...
The “Dear Redhead” exhibit at the Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Museum in Little Falls displays some of the work of Wes Sod. While Sod’s name might not be immediately recognizable, many in Morrison County are familiar with his art.Wes Sod’s work is as versatile as it gets. Not limiting himself to...
The Internal Revenue Service successfully opened the 2024 tax season last week by accepting and processing federal individual tax returns as the agency continues focusing on expanding options to help taxpayers.The IRS expects more than 146 million individual tax returns for 2023 to be filed this filing season, which has...
Another big winter event in the area has been forced to make some changes. I.C.E. Fest 2024 in Little Falls will not only go by “Beach Fest” 2024 this year, but the annual event will also be held at a different venue as well.Due to poor ice conditions, I.C.E. Fest...
The Laura Jane Musser Fund announces the 2024 grant round of its Little Falls/Morrison County granting initiative. The Laura Jane Musser Fund wants to help the citizens of Little Falls and Morrison County continue to develop and maintain strong, vibrant, and healthy communities. Musser Fund grants up to $10,000 are...