Advancing the Prosperity of our Member Businesses and the Vitality of the Area.

Tuesday, April 5, 2022

April Member Press Releases

-Brick-Meger Funeral Home to celebrate 125th Anniversary with big name sportscaster

-City of Owatonna anounces new food and beverage service at Brooktree

-Climate by Design International launches Youth Skills Training Program

-Corporate Recognition, Inc. announces new team member

-Linder Farm Network Executive, Lynn Ketelsen inducted to Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame

-Little Theatre of Owatonna (LTO) announces auditions for Color of Stars production

-Owatonna Foundation receives gift from Spherion Staffing and Recruiting

-Owatonna Sports & Physical Therapy announces employee retirement

-Rescued Room offering Home Organizing Services to Owatonna area

-St. Mary's School Knight of Knights Auction set for Saturday, April 23, 2022

-Workforce Development, Inc. presents 2022 Forum

-Workforce Development, Inc. to identify the Best Places to Work in Southeast MN

-Workforce Development, Inc. to offer free Interpreter Training

Unemployment Tax Still Hitting Business; Learn to Earn

Businesses in Owatonna and across the state are waiting on the legislature to fill the $2+B hole in the unemployment trust fund. Since the legislature didn't fix it by March 15th your UI tax went up. Some of yours over 50%. This fix needs to happen to hold business harmless over forced closures during covid.

The Learn to Earn initiative lead by Owatonna Partners for Economic Development, Riverland College and Senator Jasinski pushed through Senate committees and hopefully the $1M bill will be part of an end of session agreement.

KAMP Automation Plans Move to Owatonna

At tonight's city council meeting a purchase agreement for 4.45 acres of city land located just north of Gopher Sport will be approved for KAMP Automation currently located in Waseca. KAMP needs more space and plans to build a 50,000 sq ft manufacturing and office facility in Owatonna. Included in their plans is hiring of 23 new employees over the next 2 years.

KAMP Automation creates custom automation systems to manufacturing companies spanning from SMBs to Fortune 100 Enterprises-from custom machines to full manufacturing lines.

The building project is estimated at $6M. Waseca city council gave their approval to the move-an important step for state incentives in the project. Learn more about KAMP Automation.

New Director of Conventions and Tourism Announced

Congratulations and welcome to Glenda Smith as our new Director of Conventions and Tourism.

Glenda and her husband Paul have lived in Owatonna for little over 22 years, with 21 of those years as an Account Manager with Tri M Graphics. Much of their free time has been spent cheering on and supporting their to kids, Abby (19), and Owen (16), as they participate in their favorite school and club activities.

Glenda states "Developing marketing materials and clients' products, services and events have been my passion. I look forward to continuing to building on those relationships in my new position, and am excited to promote Owatonna collectively to our visitors".

"Owatonna is a great place to live, work, and play and I could not be more thrilled to join a team of people who are dedicated in continuing to build a community of excellence for future generations".

Make Workforce Connections

Are you interested in learning how to engage the future workforce and be approved to hire youth 16 and older? The Youth Skills Training program supports partnerships between schools, employers, and community organizations to provide safe, healthy, and meaningful paid work experience to students 16 and older in high-growth, in demand and living wage industries.

Industries include advanced manufacturing, agriculture, automotive, healthcare and information technology. Rich Wessels, project coordinator for this program will be presenting virtually, 9:00-10:00 at the April 8 SteeleCoWorks meeting. Email Megan Horton mhorton@wdimn.org to get the Zoom link to attend.

Save the Date for Signing Day on Wednesday, June 1. If you are hiring any students on full-time after they graduate, please complete the form, so you will be included in Signing Day

In Need of Summer Workforce? Looking to fill Open Positions?

Businesses, we are excited to invite you to the Owatonna High School Spring Career Fair on Wednesday, May 4 from 10:15am-2:00pm. Please respond via this Google Form if you are able to attend by Wednesday, May 27. We encourage businesses to bring an activity or product to better engage students.

This is a great opportunity to promote summer jobs, feel free to bring applications so students can apply on the spot. We look forward to your response and are honored you can share your day with us.

Any questions, please contact Megan Horton, mhorton@wdimn.org

Featured Speakers include Doug Loon, President, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Liz Sheridan Rammer, President & CEO of Hospitality Minnesota and Bruce Nustad, President, Minnesota Retailers Association

North Cedar Avenue Construction Resuming Soon

Construction on the 100 block of North Cedar will begin as soon as possible; however, due to the current forecast, traffic control changes and removals are not planned to being until the second half of next week at the earliest. Stay tuned for schedule updates as they are further defined. Check out the City website here.

Construction updates will continue to be held each Thursday at 11 am in Central Park starting on Thursday, April 7th.

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320 Hoffman Drive
Owatonna, MN | 55060 US

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