News
By Carol Anderson, Guest Columnist
The state is starting to open up again, but slowly. Here is some information on what can be open starting Monday, May 18.
What can be open:
By Carol Anderson, Guest Columnist
The state is slowly starting to reopen. The Governor now is allowing for elective surgeries to resume as well as customer-facing retail businesses that sell goods if they engage in curbside or outside pickup and delivery. There are restrictions that do apply such as they canno...
By Carol Anderson, Guest Columnist
On Thursday (Apr 30), Governor Walz announced he is letting some retail businesses open with curbside deliveries. Those mentioned were repair shops and pet groomers with restrictions, such as picking up the pet curbside. Unfortunately hair salons and barbershops are not to open. Also, some businesse...
By Carol Anderson, Guest Columnist
The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) reported that Executive Order 20-38 allows for some safe outdoor activities for people from a single household. They are working with business leaders and Chambers as well as other state agencies on a template for businesses to hav...
By Carol Anderson, Guest Columnist
I’ve been asked to write a weekly column to keep everyone up to date on what is happening with the state and federal governments regarding business assistance. I’m on twice weekly calls with various heads of departments for the state of Minnesota so I’ll try an...
White Dog Labs announced (Feb. 4) that the district court for Morrison County, Minnesota, has approved its bid to acquire the Central Minnesota Renewables (CMR) plant in Little Falls. The plant, originally a 20mgy ethanol plant, was upgraded in 2016 to produce butanol and has several of the unique productio...
LITTLE FALLS, Minn. — Agriculture stories this past year focused on the affects of a trade war and the impact of climate change on farmers.
Arlene Jones has a different story to tell.
She's a farmer with 80 acres and the executive director of Sprout, a food hub in Little Falls tha...
Carol Anderson of Community Development of Morrison County has been appointed to Governor's Workforce Development Board.
She and the other appointees to the Board will assist the Governor in: developing, implementing, and modifying the State plan, review of statewide policies and programs, providing recommendations on actions to align and improve th...
After being hungry for a grocery story for more than a year, Randall residents and those passing through, can have their fill. Adam Boone opened Boone’s Market in Randall, Friday, Oct. 25.
In July, Boone purchased Gosch’s, the town’s grocery and meat market that had been a staple in town sinc...
Eastern Morrison County Sportsmen's Club rifle and trap range grows into favorite for sportsmen
Oct 25 2019The Eastern Morrison County Sportsmen's Club rifle and trap range is a hidden jewel on Highway 27 between Pierz and Little Falls.
For 50-plus years, a little piece of land on Highway 27 has offered sportsmen a place to practice their shooting skills. In the 1960s, landowner Bumpy (Alcuin) Faust opene...
Starry Eyed Brewing Co. in Little Falls, MN
Sep 30 2019Tucked away in north Little Falls, just off the juncture of highways 371 and 10, exists a brewery that owes much of its existence to a woman named Dayna -- from its inception as a small birthday gift, to the name and logo emblazoned on its building today.
It started a...
From sunflower oil to microwave popcorn, Smude Enterprises LLC, a central Minnesota business in Pierz keeps growing.
On a cloudy day, there's a bright spot in Pierz, Minn. 15 acres of sunflowers are in full bloom—one of the smaller fields connected to a central Minnesota business.
"They've been blooming for about 1...
The site of Brainerd area-based Barrett Petfood Innovations' expansion was bustling with activity and excitement when ground was broken Monday, Aug. 12, in Little Falls in Morrison County.
“We’re expanding ... and the pet industry is -- as everyone knows -- that people love their pets,” Sarah Barrett said before th...
Little Falls & Parents Of Special-Needs Children Welcome Barrett Petfood Innovations To Community
Aug 5 2019The Little Falls City Council is standing by their decision to allow Barrett Petfood Innovations to build a new facility next to future Mid-State special education school. Barrett Petfood Innovations plans to have their new facility up and running by either the spring or summer of 2020, while the ne...
The City of Little Falls is awarded $32,000 in investigation funding for this 7.30-acre site. Formerly used as a bulk oil station, gas station, fertilizer plant, feed warehouse and other uses. It is expected this site will be redeveloped into multifamily residential use. Matching costs will be paid by th...
Pierz approves TIF District for RTO
Jun 4 2019The Pierz City Council approved a 26-year tax increment financing district (TIF) for RTO PA, a professional tax and accounting firm, Monday, after a public hearing was held RTO has purchased two lots with plans to build a new office.
The two lots, located on 405 and 409 Main Street Sout...
The Smudes began their operation on their 160-acre farm, but outgrew the production space and moved it into Pierz.
To meet the growing demand for their high oleic sunflower oil and popcorn, Smude Enterprises recently acquired a facility near their existing location. The new plant will help them expand from producin...
Larson Boat — in better times above —closed its 114-employee Little Falls plant in January and merged operations into its Wisconsin flagship plant.
The Wabash Cannonball, if you will, is rolling into Little Falls to the delight of the job-hungry locals.
Indiana-based Wabash National, a growing maker of high-test, lightweight truck trailers...
Wabash National Corp. has purchased and plans to renovate a 53-acre manufacturing site – formerly Larson Boats – in Little Falls and use it to manufacture select parts for the semi-trailer and truck body market using a propriety molded structural composite (MSC) technology.
Wabash National Corp. is a diversified industrial manufacture...
After 19 years operating Lin Furniture in Little Falls, owner Linda Burggraff decided it was time to sell.
It is something she had discussed for the last two years with her employee, Todd Waldoch, 27, who was interested in buying the store at some point. He grew up in Randall an...
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Honey may very well run through Bruce Marquette’s veins. His grandfather was a beekeeper in Thief River Falls, and his father kept bees and sold honey in Wisconsin. Bruce grew up with honeybees as an ever-present part of his life.
“I’d always kept bees on the side, even while I wa...
“It takes about five years before bigger buyers will say, ‘OK, now we’ll do business with you.’”
Central Minnesota farmer Tom Smude speaks from direct experience.
His sunflower cooking oil business is now in the black, with retail and food service distribution across Minnesota and four neighboring states. Bankers and neighbors though...
