Swift County RDA News

Daycare could be key to Benson area’s growth

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

School-industry collaboration and city beautification also important Through his two days of meetings with students, senior citizens, business people, young adults, and local government leaders Doug Griffiths was always seeking an answer to a two-part question: What is the most important thing to the future of your community and what assets do you have that will help you ensure your future is bright? Young families moving to Benson was the first answer and excellent, affordable and readily available daycare the second. Certainly, there were a lot of discussions about the challenges businesses face in filling job vacancies, about the lack of available and...

Helping Startups Succeed—and Stay—in the Midwest

Friday, January 11, 2019

At the University of Minnesota, launching a new company is one of several ways that breakthrough research can move beyond the lab to benefit the public. But finding the right leader, with the right experience, to bring these new technologies to market can be difficult. “Leadership is just as important as intellectual property to a startup’s success,” said Mary MacCarthy, Venture Center program manager with the U’s Venture Center in the Office for Technology Commercialization. “The biggest challenge the U of M has with launching our startups is finding skilled, available CEOs with experience in particular industries.” A new network comprising 11...

Number of Women-Owned Businesses Increased Nearly 3,000% since 1972, According to New Research

Wednesday, January 09, 2019

The Eighth Annual State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, Commissioned by American Express, Finds Women Are Starting an Average of 1,821 Net New U.S. Businesses a Day Number of Firms Owned by Minority Women Has Grown by Nearly 3 Times That of All Women-Owned Firms Over the Past 11 Years NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Women started an average of 1,821 new businesses per day in the U.S. between 2017 and 2018, according to analysis in the 2018 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, commissioned by American Express (NYSE:AXP). This level of new business formation by women is greater than the daily average during the pre-recession period...

Rochester, Twin Cities Ranked Among Most Innovative On Earth

Monday, January 07, 2019

The Australian data research company 2thinknow released its 11th annual Innovation Cities Index this month. See how Minnesota cities ranked. ROCHESTER, MN — Innovation isn't easy. Case in point, your kids have heard of Netflix and Facebook, but will give you a blank look if you talk about Blockbuster or MySpace, two companies routinely listed among the biggest to fail specifically because they didn't innovate. So when we say three Minnesota cities were just ranked among the most innovative on Earth, it's — with apologies to Ron Burgundy and the movie "Anchorman" — kind of a big deal. Continue to full article

How are we doing? Minnesota near top of 'best economy' states

Friday, January 04, 2019

A ranking of state economies using metrics like poverty rate, home ownership, job growth and education puts Minnesota ahead of California (and, more important, Wisconsin). USA Today reports on the listing, compiled by financial site 24/7 Wall Street. Minnesota comes in No. 7 overall, just behind Hawaii. The state scored points for its low unemployment rate (3.1 percent at the time of the survey), GDP annual growth rate of 1.7 percent (the 14th best in the list) and an especially high home ownership rate of 71.3 percent. Continue to full article

MEDA recognized as best (again) by U.S. Commerce Department

Thursday, January 03, 2019

Minneapolis-based MEDA, the nonprofit minority business counselor and lender, has been recognized for a third consecutive year by the U.S. Department of Commerce as the nation’s top performer among 40 Minority Business Development Agency Business Centers. MEDA scored tops for overall performance, including job creation, financing, contracts and exports secured for clients. The nonprofit earned the same top national honors for its performance in 2016 and 2017. Continue to full article

New York Times sends reporter to State Fair, discovers Minnesota's greatness

Wednesday, January 02, 2019

Our beloved Minnesota State Fair gets a glowing feature — and they didn't even make fun of us. This is no grape salad write-up. No outrage needed this time, Minnesota. Yep, the New York Times published a story last night about another one of our most-treasured institutions — and got it right. In “A Newbie at the Minnesota State Fair,” a freelancer writer (who just moved here) goes to the Great Minnesota Get-Together and completely gushes. Continue to full article

Minnesota's unemployment rate hits an 18-year low, with good trends for blacks, hispanics and teens

Tuesday, January 01, 2019

Minnesota is enjoying it's third highest 3-month job growth rate since 1990. There's more good economic news for Minnesota when it comes to job growth. Department of Employment and Economic Development researchers say while the state's overall unemployment rate hit an 18-year low at three percent for the month of July, subsets within the population are doing even better. DEED Research Director Steve Hine says they've seen an among Minnesotans with less than a high school diploma, unemployment dropped nearly seven percentage points, mostly due to teen unemployment dropping 6 percent. Continue to full article

Innovation Voucher Award Program

Monday, December 31, 2018

Financial Awards Give Small Businesses Access to Technical Assistance The Innovation Voucher Award Program provides $5,000 to $25,000 awards to help small businesses purchase technical assistance and services necessary to advance research, development or commercialization of new or innovative products and services. Qualifying businesses receive awards – which the recipient must match on a 50 percent basis – to reimburse for expenses incurred for assistance and services rendered by public universities, colleges, technical schools and non-profits in Minnesota. Reimbursable expenses include purchased technical assistance and services in research, technical development, product development, commercialization, market development, technology exploration, and improved business practices, including strategies to...

3 Percent

Friday, December 28, 2018

MN's unemployment rate has been at or below 4 percent for four years straight Minnesota’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to its lowest level since June 2000 – 3 percent. Our unemployment rate has been at or below 4 percent for four consecutive years. (The US unemployment rate in July was 3.9 percent.) Employers added 11,200 jobs in July and 31,800 jobs over the past three months, the third-highest number of new jobs over a three-month span dating back to 1990. Continue to full article

Two Young Professionals are Following their Passions in Swift County

Monday, November 05, 2018

Blake Hagen and Tracy Herzog recently graduated from college and have chosen to build their careers, and their life, in Swift County. After graduating from St. John’s University in 2016, Blake Hagen knew he wanted to stay true to his roots and live in an agricultural community, as did his fiancee Tracy Herzog. “Growing up in Morrison/Stearns County, nearly everyone (including my family) in the neighborhood are dairy farmers. I really enjoyed the freedom of living in the country and having the space to run around and play. I loved the connections we had with our neighbors and the farming...

Meet Jordan Almen, a Millennial Who Has Chosen to Grow Her Career in Swift County

Wednesday, August 08, 2018

Jordan Almen, reporter at The Kerkhoven Banner, chose to move back to Kerkhoven after spending four years away at school and then two years in the cities, working at a bank. She spent enough time elsewhere to know that living here was what she wanted. She chose to be here because this she loves living in Kerkhoven, even though she had a good job elsewhere. Like many Millennials, Jordan is living life on her terms and choosing to live in a small community is part of that. “Through those six years away, I came to realize that I really missed things...

Terri and Bob Orr Moved Home to Grow their Family and Launch a Business

Wednesday, August 01, 2018

When Terri and Bob Orr decided to have children, they knew they wanted to raise them in Benson. Moving back to Swift County after 17 years allowed them to be close to their large families, reconnect with the community, and pursue their passions in the process. Terri is the Swift County Veterans Service Office Manager and works closely with Veterans. Bob runs their two companies - BackStreet Media and BackStreet Printing. We wanted to learn more about what drew them back to Swift County and how their careers have thrived here. Q: After leaving Benson, you lived in several places, including...

Benson airport getting $820,000 in upgrades

Friday, July 27, 2018

With considerable financial assistance from the federal and state governments, the Benson City Council agreed at its meeting to pursue more than $820,000 in improvements to the municipal airport. It has contracted with TKDA Professional Services of St. Paul for work on a new aviation dual-fuel storage tank at the airport and the removal of the old tank. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has ordered the city to replace the old tank. The cost of the new fuel tanks is $320,000, but the federal government is paying 90 percent of the cost, or $288,000. The state government is paying $16,000 as is the...

Minnesota's youth labor force growing

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

New numbers from DEED show Minnesota has more teens working during the summer. MINNESOTA - Summer is almost here and that means kids are antsy to get out of school and start having more fun. But many teens will be busy working, some collecting a paycheck for the first time. Through Growing Good, about 50 youth will be digging in the dirt at community gardens in the Twin Cities. The program is run by the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum to teach kids job and life skills. "They're growing vegetables, herbs and selling them to local restaurants. They're learning how to create invoices, communication skills, and...

Optimism grows among Minnesota manufacturers

Monday, July 23, 2018

The state of manufacturing is strong. A full 93 percent of Minnesota manufacturers are financially confident about the future, which is just a hair off last year's high-water mark of 94 percent, according to a recently released survey by Enterprise Minnesota. "There has never been as much energy in manufacturing as there is today," said the consulting firm's CEO, Bob Kill. "And that's a cool thing to say, because we face a lot of challenges." Continue to full article

Nursing field is attracting more males, both in Minnesota and nationwide

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Long before Raney Linck joined the nursing profession or became a clinical assistant professor at the University of Minnesota, he bounced from one sales gig to another for seven years. Then the routine started to feel a little mundane, and Linck, who had a bachelor’s degree in mass communication, decided to try a different career path — one that involved educating and caring for people, would be both personally satisfying, and would help him make a difference. The best occupation that combined all of those characteristics, he figured, would be nursing, because he could both care for his patients and inform them about...

Ranking of world's top 1,000 universities puts Minnesota, many from Big Ten in first 50

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Minnesota landed in 35th in the annual ranking released A well-regarded annual ranking of 1,000 of the world’s universities is out, and the University of Minnesota is one of nine Big Ten schools landing among the top 50. The U came in 35th on the list released Monday by the Center for World University Rankings. The center, based in the United Arab Emirates, is a global consulting organization providing policy and strategic advice, and consulting services to governments and universities. It has been publishing the academic ranking of universities since 2012. Continue to full article

How Minnesota farmers are using different plant varieties, and new techniques, to extend the state's growing season

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

When horticultural and wine scientists at the University of Minnesota apply for funding to research growing grapes in a climate better known for producing soybeans than wine, they often have to answer a common question: Why bother? “We get that pushback when we submit grants all the time,” said Matt Clark, who leads the University’s grape breeding project. The simple answer – why not? – smacks of the same spirit many Minnesotans adopt to handle long, cold winters. Yes, the climate presents challenges, but farmers and ag researchers also see opportunities: Breeding cold-hardy fruit varieties has made the university a lot of money...

Survey report suggests Midwest economy still steaming ahead

Monday, July 16, 2018

OMAHA, Neb. — The surging business conditions in nine Midwest and Plains states will be tested by trade conflicts and other factors that could slow growth, an economist said in a survey report issued. The Mid-America Business Conditions Index recorded its highest mark in 14 years last month, hitting 67.3 in May, compared with 64.5 in April, according to the report. The March figure was 62.1. This is the 18th straight month the index has remained above growth neutral 50.0, pointing to strong growth for the region over the next three to six months. Continue to full article

2018 Consumer Confidence Report

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Notice is hereby given that the City of Murdock Consumer Confidence Report will not be mailed or published, but is available upon request at the Murdock City Office. Respectfully, Kim Diederich City Clerk

Garbage Pick up

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Due to the Memorial Day Holiday on Monday, May 28, City of Murdock garbage will be picked up on Tuesday, May 29,

Building Permit Guidelines

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Please remember that you need to apply for a building permit PRIOR to any building project being started. Please contact the City Office with questions. A building permit application can be found on the Monthly Meeting Minutes and Building Permit Application page.

City of Murdock April Newsletter

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Since Winter does not seem to want to leave us, please remember to move your cars during a snow event so that plowing of the city streets can be done easily! Hopefully this will have to be the last reminder of this for this year! There will be a city wide clean up day in mid-May. So start your spring cleaning. We will post more info and a date as when we have it set. Mark Your Calendars! May 25 Red Cross Bloodmobile at City Hall from 11:30-5:30p.m. More Details to come! July 13-14 Murdock Daze! Golf Tournament on Friday night in Kerkhoven, Volleyball...

Consumer Confidence Report

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

The Consumer confidence report for the City of Murdock is now available for reviewing at the City Clerk’s office at the Murdock City Hall. Thank you, Kim Diederich City Clerk

March 2018 Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

A Public Meeting was held at 5:00p.m. on Wednesday March 14, 2018 to discuss the TDS Franchise for the City of Murdock.. All Council members were present as well as Adam Simmonds and Trista Kavanagh. Mike Wentzel from TDS was at the meeting to present information regarding TDS providing Cable Service as a choice for residents of Murdock. Discussion was held and questions answered. The Public meeting was adjourned at 5:30p.m. The Murdock City Council met in regular session on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at 5:30p.m. with all members present. Adam Simmonds was also present. February meeting minutes were read and approved...