Alright, let’s talk tax season. Filing taxes? Not exactly thrilling. But getting a refund? That part tends to spark some ideas. According to the Internal Revenue Service, recent average federal refunds have topped $3,000. That’s a meaningful amount — whether you see it as a
Mankato, MN, February 9, 2026 – Greater Mankato Growth (GMG) celebrates New Horizon Academy’s acquisition of the Cultivate Mankato child care center in order to continue operations, ensuring vital continuity of care for local families and educators and preserving critical child care capacity in the heart of
Welcome to The Indicator, a blog series that highlights key metrics shaping Greater Mankato’s economy and business climate. Each month, we focus on one meaningful indicator that signals where our region is headed and what it means for business leaders. This Month’s Indicator: Workforce Makeup The
Greater Mankato Growth is proud to share that Andy Wilke, Executive Vice President, recently completed his first year at the Institute for Organization Management (IOM), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s premier nonprofit leadership training program. Andy attended the Winter Institute in Tucson, Arizona, alongside chamber and association
The Mankato–North Mankato Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) reached 105,193 residents in 2024, reflecting a nearly 7% increase over the past decade (since 2015). This steady growth underscores sustained regional vitality and signals significant opportunity for every business leader in Greater Mankato. Why does this matter? Population growth matters because people drive economic
A blog written by Hunter Jordan, Advocacy Intern at Greater Mankato Growth. Minnesota’s economy, though strong, is slowing in growth. The 2026 Business Benchmarks report from Minnesota’s Chamber of Commerce points this out across multiple measures, and here are the key takeaways: Minnesota ranks 6th in the country for labor force participation
As an S Corporation owner in Minnesota, it’s required and crucial that you understand how to comply with the new Minnesota Paid Leave requirements, which will be applicable to your W2 owner wages, beginning on January 1, 2026. Quarterly wage detail reporting and the collection
In 2023, The Minnesota Legislature passed a ban on the sale of certain lamps and lamp ballasts that contain mercury and are less energy efficient. The ban will take effect in stages, beginning 2025 and expanding in 2026, and includes linear fluorescent lamps, which are common in many commercial office
This blog was researched and written by Hunter Jordan, GMG’s Advocacy Intern. Hunter is a senior at Mankato West High School. His internship focuses on government and advocacy. Hunter has a passion for local government and community development and hopes to develop a greater understanding of the types of career pathways in
A version of this article first appeared on profinium.com. Fraud affects thousands of small businesses every year and the consequences can be devastating. Whether it’s through a fake invoice, a compromised email, or unauthorized account access, fraudsters are always looking for ways to exploit weak