To the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s announcement this week for grant dollars that will go toward Albert Lea-based Mortarr.

The company will receive $175,000 from the state’s Job Creation Fund, which was created by Gov. Mark Dayton in 2013. The fund is a pay-for-performance program that provides money to businesses after they meet certain criteria.

Mortarr, a software business startup specializing in the commercial construction and design industry, will be renovating the first and second floors of the Freeborn National Bank building for their business and is expected to create 34 jobs within two years.

We look forward to seeing the growth of this company.

 

To the new Tiger Cage competition launched this week.

Plans were unveiled this week for a new friendly competition designed to spur entrepreneurial activity in the community.

The contest, called the Tiger Cage, is organized by the Albert Lea Economic Development Agency with assistance from other businesses, organizations and members of the community.

It encourages entrepreneurs to pitch and develop their business ideas in hopes of winning a cash prize and other prizes to help get their business off the ground.

Business concepts that will be eligible are new businesses, significant expansions of an existing business, or a second or third retail or restaurant business satellite location from an existing business in another town. 

We look forward to hearing more about this competition and seeing the business ideas that come out of it.

We hope entrepreneurs take advantage of the opportunity.

 

To renovations at the Cancer Center.

Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea this week showcased the recently remodeled Cancer Center.

The hospital system, private donors, nonprofits and the Naeve Health Care Foundation invested $700,000 into the facility to make it a more healing environment for patients.

In addition to adding a fireplace in the waiting room, moving the bathrooms, making the radiation therapy rooms more handicap accessible, and the renovations make it more conducive for patients to have more privacy and to allow family members and friends more space to visit with their loved ones being treated.

 

To the return of sunny weather.

We don’t know how long-lived it will be, but after a cloudy and rainy week, we were thrilled to see the return of the sun and blue skies on Friday.

It looks like Saturday should also be nice with partly sunny skies forecast by the National Weather Service. Get out and enjoy it while you can, because a chance of showers is expected to return Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.