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The mission of Faribault County Development Corporation (FCDC) is to combine resources from public and private sectors of the Faribault County Area to bring enhanced Economic and Housing Development to the Faribault County area.

Faribault County Development Corporation (FCDC) works to create a stronger tax base and a broad range of living wage or better jobs that result from Economic Development. Faribault County Development Corporation publicizes assets and opportunities as well as educates the communities located within the county on the benefits that come with quality economic development.

Faribault County Development Corporation (FCDC) is a nonprofit organization established to serve as Faribault County's leading resource for facilitating economic development and work with public and private sectors to enhance the overall quality of life.

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2011 Fair Person Of The Year

2011 Fair Person of the Year, Marlin Krupp. From the 2011 Faribault County Fair Book, Page 37. "There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man." - Sir Winston Churchill. Winston Churchill's quote summarized this year's Fair Person of the Year very well. Horses have been a part of the Faribault County Fair since the beginning in 1859. This tradition remains strong, because of the many efforts of a board of director, Marlin Krupp. Before even knowing what a fair board member does, Marlin was showing horses at the fair as a Saddle Club member. It was in 1974, when finishing the clean up after the Faribault County Fair horse show: a board member invited him to join the board of directors. The board elected him at the November Annual Meeting. 37 years later, Marlin is actively involved with all the horse events held during the fair. Marlin is a great ambassador for the Faribault County Fair throughout the upper-midwest. In 1985, the Norwegian Fjord horse show began at the county fair. His ...

Friday, 26 August 2011

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Now It's Official: WFS breaks ground

Now It's Official: WFS Breaks Ground Faribault County Register July 25, 2011 By Antonio Acosta Not even the threat of rain could dempen the spirits of those gathered at a WFS office and storage building just east of Delavan on Friday, July 15. It's not very often a city with a population of less then 200 people holds a ground-breaking ceremny for a multi-million project. Around $24 million to be exact. "I'm guessing it will be one of the top 100 projects in the state of Minnesota this year," says Todd Ludwig, CEO of WFS. As if on cue, the light rain stops in time for Mayor Kevin Walker to welcome guests at the 10 a.m. event and ceremonial turning of the ground with 12 gold-colored shovels. Walker thanks WFS officials for choosing his city and the county for a new grain facility. Ludwig says the hard work and cooperation of many people made the project possible. "It took a lot of patience," says Walker, refering to the amount of paperwork needing to be done. Groundwork has already started at the 160-acre site. Looking toward the muddy field and cooperative's current elevator, Ludwig rattles off ...

Thursday, 4 August 2011

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Zierke Built

Zierke Built builds up profile in steel industry. By Jodelle Greiner, Sentinel Staff Writer. Winnebago. It was a long process, but Zierke Built Manufacturing, Inc., has secured International Standard Organization certification, raising its profile in the steel industry and expanding the company's growth potential. The Zierkes - Greg Zierke, president and CEO, and his son, Kyle Zierke, vice president - accepted the ISO certificate this week from Bill Kill, president and CEO of Enterprise Minnesota. Enterprise Minnesota worked with ZBM throughout the 16-month-long process. "It doesn't end today because we're certified," Kyle Zierke told a gathering of employees, staff from Enterprise Minnesota, and the world of politics, including Senator Julie Rosen. "It will help us as a company to grow our standards and quality," he said. ISO is a quality management system to show that both product and process are up to standards, said Greg Thomas, business growth advisor for Enterprise Minnesota. "Some companies won't work with companies that don't have ISO." Represetatives from Enterprise Minnesota coached ZBM employees through the process, with frequent meetings and lots of feedback on what was going well and what could be improved, Thomas ...

Wednesday, 29 June 2011

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Terry Campbell

Mowing up a storm. Terry Campbell starts up a new Blue Earth Business. By Chuck Hunt, Faribault County Register. The cold spring this year has put a bit of a damper on many folks, including a new lawn mowing service in Blue Earth. "I would have liked to have been busier in April," says Terry Campbell "But, the weather just didn't cooperate". Now, however, business has started to boom for the entrepreneur, who started Camps Lawn and Tree Service, L.L.C. this past January. "I have about 15 tree trimming jobs and 30 lawn mowing contracts in place already", Campbell says. "But, I am hoping for a lot more". He admits he is starting out small, but expects to begin expanding after the summer gets into full swing. "This is something I have thought about doing for a long time", he says. "I have always enjoyed keeping my own yard in shape. Plus, I enjoy a challenge, and I love working outdoors". Campbell has been doing tree trimming work as a sideline occupation for several years. "I always thought about doing tree trimming and mowing as a retirement job", he says. "My early retirement from the ...

Monday, 23 May 2011

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Tafco

Building a BIG Business By Chuck Hunt Faribault County Register Staff Writer Everything about them is big. Big buildings, big machinery, big metal. "Well, we are not making something small you can hold in your hand," jokes Terry Ankeny, president and CEO of TAFCO in Blue Earth. "What we do takes a lot of room. We have over 130,000 square feet of space under roof." That takes up six buildings in Blue Earth's industrial park -- although three of the six are connected to each other, forming one unit. And what do they manufacture in these buildings? "We have sort of returned to our roots," Ankeny says. "We build two things here -- truck bodies and hoists." Specifically, Scott Truck Bodies and Scott Level Lift Hoists. That has not always been the case. Over their many years of existence they have manufactured several products, including add-on aluminum truck running boards. "We were the first company to make them, called the "Silver Stirrups.' We made them by the thousands," Ankeny says. "Then the truck manufacturers were producing their own and the market dried up. Many people think we still make them, but ...

Wednesday, 27 April 2011

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Dikken's

Dikken's has seen many changes during its 35 years By Regan Carstensen, Faribault County Staff Writer. Nestled between a Tae Kwon Do studio and a photography store on Main Street in Blue Earth sits a business that has offered an assortment of home furnishings and decorations to area residents for more than three decades. Dikken's Furniture and Decorating, Inc., was opened by Marv and Jacqui Dikken in 1976. Marv had been teaching a co-op program at the high school, but had always wanted to be an independent businessman - so he decided to take the risk. "He left a sure thing for an unknown," Jacqui says. While it was unknown whether the business would last when it was just getting started, the fact that Dikken's is still servicing Blue Earth after 35 years shows it was a risk well taken. But many changes - including name, location and inventory - have been made to get the store from where it was in 1976 to where it is today. "As time went on, we evolved quite a bit," Marv says. When Dikken's first openend, the owners' last name was ...

Wednesday, 27 April 2011

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Dulas Excavating

Digging out -- a family tradition By Antonio Acosta Faribault County Register Staff Writer. Dulas Excavating Inc., in Wells is celebrating it's 40th Anniversary. The secret for success? It's quite simple -- just ask Jerry Dulas, the company's founder and cheif executive officer. "Treat the people right. It gets around by word-of-mouth. They'll always come back," he adds. "Survival. I guess that was my main goal. The business wasn't what it is today. There wasn't much competition for excavating," he adds. Quickly, Dulas looks at his wife, Marilyn, and points out with his low-key humor he's had some help along the way. "You couldn't have done it without me and I couldn't have done it without you," she says smiling at Jerry. "We've always been together, working as a team," she adds. Jerry says his partner has "her thumb on the money" and runs a tight operation. "Everybody has to get her OK to buy anything," he adds. On company business cards is the slogan -- First generation values, Second generation vision. The Dulases the past four years have been grooming daughter, Crystal, and son, Ike, to take over the reins. Last summer may have been ...

Wednesday, 27 April 2011

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Roerig Hardware

Keeping it the same By Regan Carstensen Faribault County Register Staff Writer. One local hardware store has been serving the Winnebago area for more than 80 years, but despite having changed ownership twice since it opened, the shop has only ever known one name --Roerig Hardware. Leo Roerig opened his own business in 1928 on the corner of Main Street and Cleveland Avenue in Winnebago. Hardware stores were kind of in his family's blood, because Leo's brother had a store of his own just 10 miles away in Amboy. "I think uncle John had his hardware store before my dad did,' says Nancy Espeland, Leo Roerig's daughter. Leo ran his store for 46 years before he decided it was about time to see what retirement had to offer. On June 1, 1974, Roerig turned ownership over to Herb Pederson, who moved from Spencer, Iowa to Winnebago just to run the store. 'I had never been in the hardware business in my life until then,' Pederson says. 'But I had an accounting background, so I kind of knew how a business had to run.' Having just moved to the area, ...

Wednesday, 27 April 2011

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BEVCOMM gives back to the community

BEVCOMM gives back to the community Faribault County Register By Antonio Acosta Register Staff Writer Philanthropy and capitalism. Two works you wouldn't think could be used in the same sentence. After all, the primary objective of a business is to make money - not give it away. Unless the company is BEVCOMM (Blue Earth Valley Communications) in Blue Earth. "I think we owe BEVCOMM some gratitude for that," Wells Mayor Shannon Savick told the council at their last meeting. She was referring to a $5,000 grant the company gave the city to help clean up an abandoned trailer park. The money was made available through the BEVCOMM Foundation started about a year and half ago. It cost around $35,000 to clean up the trailer park, with the county and city splitting the bill. City Administrator Jeremy Germann says he became aware of possible funding from BEVCOMM by word-of-mouth. "With the tight budget and cuts, it's going to help a lot," he says. "It's a great program for all cities in the county not just Wells." Bill Eckles, president and CEO of the telecommunications company, says non-profit, public governmental organizations may apply for funding. "This area has be...

Tuesday, 27 April 2010

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TWO INTO 'ONE'

TWO INTO 'ONE' Faribault County Register Story and Photos By Chuck Hunt Register Editor April 26, 2010 Two Blue Earth real estate firms were recently merged into one business. The key word being 'one.' In fact, it is going to be renamed ONE Realty, it was announced last week. Olson Realty and Nelson Realty are both being purchased by Kara Drake and Cornelia Hagedorn, two real estate agents from the former Olson Realty. "Our new name is a play on words, combining the 'O' from Olson Realty and the 'NE' from Nelson," co-owner Kara Drake says. Underneath the ONE Realty name they are still going to use Olson-Nelson, Inc., as part of their legal business name. Cornelia Hagedorn adds that the word ONE also signifies their aim at joining the two operations into one real estate agency. The two new owners say that all the of the staff at both of the two offices are going to remain in place. That includes the five real estate agents from each of Olson and Nelson offices. Drake and Hagedorn purchased Olson Realty from Kitty Fletcher and Carey Weber. The bought Nelson Realty from Kendal Skaare. "They ...

Monday, 26 April 2010

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Business diagnosing success

Business diagnosing success By SARAH DAY SENTINEL Staff Writer Published February 26, 2009 BLUE EARTH - In a few short years, the urine drug test manufacturer Express Diagnostics International has turned into a success story. Paul Johnson, vice president and co-owner, said a group of the company's distributors took a chance on the failing, then California-based company. "The opportunity came up for us to buy the company because of mismanagement by the previous (ow...

Thursday, 26 February 2009

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