Everyone knows that renovations of any kind can be stressful. So what better time to do them than during 2020, a year marked by intense stress for just about everyone? When Mike and Brenda Eickhoff temporarily closed the The Sweet Stop and Sandwich Shoppe in Preston on July 26, they saw an opportunity to finally get some renovations done that had been on their list for a while. … [Read more...]
Otto Bremer Trust announces second phase of emergency fund to focus on restoring small businesses and critical services
SAINT PAUL, October 13, 2020 — The Otto Bremer Trust (OBT), one of the nation’s largest charitable organizations, today announced the initial recipients of program-related investments and grants for the second phase of its Community Benefit Financial Company (CBFC) $50 million emergency fund. Announced in July, this second phase of the fund focuses on a network of … [Read more...]
Harmony Telephone Company receives award totaling $9.7 million for rural high-speed broadband
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue announced Harmony Telephone Company as a recipient of a ReConnect Program award totaling $9.7 million. “The need for rural broadband has never been more apparent than it is now – as our nation manages the coronavirus national emergency. Access to telehealth services, remote learning for school children, and … [Read more...]
One happy farmer
By Wanda Hanson Amber Feine-Rasmussen has been farming full-time since 2003 when she asked her father if she could join him in the family operation. Amber had been attending UWSP (University of Stevens Point); she’d made the dean’s list and enjoyed her soils and water classes, but was tired of “sitting in a concrete box” and hated having to take tests. She had figured out … [Read more...]
Browsing broadband career with Jill Huffman
For Jill Huffman, her passion has always been technology-driven. “I like technology, I like the advancements in technology and what it does to change people’s lives.” Jill is General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of Spring Grove Communications, Harmony Telephone and MiBroadband. The trajectory of her career path began after graduating from Preston High School in 1992. … [Read more...]
Sally’s Hair to Dye For still going strong after 20 years
Sally Gibson has known that she wanted to be a hairdresser since she was in eighth grade. After high school, she attended a beauty school in Rochester and then worked in Rochester at a hair salon for the next 20 years. Things changed though when her family moved to Preston into a house that already had a salon built into the basement. She had planned to retire from hair … [Read more...]
Gwen Stier knows doors
Whoever is in the market for a garage door will be amazed at the incredible amount of colors and finishes offered, but it wasn’t always this way. Gwen Stier of Spring Valley Overhead Doors remembers how business changed and evolved. “Years ago, the color choices were so limited, and now they’ve come so far with that!” According to Gwen, “The first doors we ever put in were wood … [Read more...]
Seabright Electric merges with English Electric
By Wanda Hanson With a sale that was final September 30, 2020, Seabright Electric of Spring Valley officially became part of English Electric of Racine. Carl English, the owner of both companies intends to keep both locations open, possibly building a new shop in the spring near the current location in Spring Valley. All employees will continue working in the same town as they … [Read more...]
Minnesota Manufacturing Week
Raising public awareness about the importance of manufacturing in your community or region is an essential part of Minnesota Manufacturing Week. Consider enlisting public officials and business leaders to issue press releases, submit opinion columns to area publications, or speak at public events during the week. Manufacturing is a dynamic and robust industry, crucial to the … [Read more...]
Types of careers
So, what would you be doing in manufacturing? Well, if you love to create you might want to be an engineer that designs products. If you really like working with your hands or are interested in robotics you could find yourself in production. Whatever your interests are, we guarantee you can find an area to channel your energy in manufacturing. Here are a few examples of cool … [Read more...]