Business News: GF sales tax…EGF recycling & winter fees

Pay is rising for many public sector employees as governments try to compete for new workers and stem a tide of retirements and resignations. Turnover rates in state and local governments are double the norm of the past two decades.  The wage war comes as governments and taxpayers feel the consequences of empty positions.

Grand Forks sales tax collections continue to outpace year ago levels.  The July payment topped $2.7 million dollars.  That pushes the year-to-date tally to nearly $18.4 million – up 8% over one year ago.  The one-quarter percent restaurant/lodging component of the tax is also posting gains.

The June unemployment rate for Grand Forks County came in at 2.2%.   That compares to 2.3% one year ago.  The local labor force sits at 38,573.  According to Job Service North Dakota there were 837 people in search of a job in Grand Forks County last month.

Recycling of glass will no longer be accepted in residential recycling containers in East Grand Forks starting August 1st.  Residents who would like to recycle glass should drop it off at the greensite location.  Countrywide Sanitation says markets that receive the recyclables now want the glass separated out.

The North Dakota Development Fund is now soliciting applications for companies looking to construct a fertilizer facility in North Dakota.  Up to $65M in loan funds are available through the NDDF for the development and construction of a fertilizer facility within the state. Companies are asked to submit their proposals by August 13, 2023.  The fund was created in 1991 as an economic development tool.

East Grand Forks is looking to boost registration fees for winter programs by 5%.  The fee increase would impact those participating in the various hockey and figure skating programs.  Even higher fees are being proposed in future years to cover the true cost of operating the programs.  The 2023 fees changes fall short of last year’s expenses to the tune of some $48,000 dollars.

Acme Tools is celebrating its 75th anniversary in the tool and equipment industry.  Growing online business was supported by a new Distribution Center built in Grand Forks in 2014 and expanded in 2020.  An additional 115,000-square-foot Distribution Center opened in the spring of this year in Burnsville, Minn.  The company is currently finishing construction of a new Acme Equipment in Fargo.  Acme Tools employs more than 600 people.

Wendy M. Klug has been selected to serve as the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) deputy district director for the North Dakota District Office. Klug will help promote small business resources across North Dakota including access to capital, counseling and training, government contracting, and disaster relief.  Prior to joining SBA, Klug was the Program Director for the Veterans Business Outreach Center of the Dakotas.

Ford is recalling more than 870,000 newer F-150 pickup trucks in the U.S. because the electric parking brakes can turn on unexpectedly.  The recall covers certain pickups from the 2021 through 2023 model years with single exhaust systems. Ford’s F-Series pickups are the top-selling vehicles in the U.S.

Trader Joe’s is recalling two cookie products because they may contain rocks, the grocery chain announced Friday. The recall impacts Trader Joe’s Almond Windmill Cookies and Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies with “sell by” dates ranging from October 17, 2023 to October 21, 2023.