Protect what matters most

By Jodie Norquist

As you and your family spend Labor Day weekend enjoying all the Brainerd lakes area offers, it’s also a great time to consider safeguarding your most valuable assets. Shannon Finnegan and his staff at American Family Insurance in Brainerd are dedicated to providing the comprehensive coverage you need.

Finnegan & Associates Inc. is your local American Family Insurance agency. They offer a range of insurance products, including personal, auto, home and life insurance policies. Your home is your largest asset and it’s important to have proper coverage. You don’t want to discover after the fact when it’s too late. Shannon Finnegan, agent and owner, understands each family’s needs are unique and he and his staff ensure tailored solutions that fit your lifestyle and budget. Their focus is on excellent service and making sure their clients are happy and, most importantly, feel their homes and families are protected. Stop in and get a quote at their office, 406 W. Washington St., Unit 4, Brainerd, or call 218-829-3040.

“They are moving to put their home in the middle of everywhere, is what I call it, inside the middle of nowhere,” Winchester said, noting whether moving to a smaller town is alienating or welcoming is key to retaining those workers, families and entrepreneurs. Six out of 10 of those new residents won’t be there in five years if they find the community isn’t welcoming.

“So this is now a huge retention issue,” Winchester said. “So economic development for me is not just about the job. It’s everything but the job to ensure that you are retaining the people that you work so hard to recruit.”

Winchester pointed to Otter Tail County, which developed a “grab-abite” program to welcome new residents and answer questions they may have. “So this is the key point — how do you allow new people to help build their community too in the same place that previous generations have built theirs?” Winchester said different communities across the state are trying a variety of approaches aimed at welcoming newcomers. Finding answers to these questions and needs for child care and affordable housing are key aspects of the lakes region’s economic health.

This Progress edition looks at a host of area workers, employers, and entrepreneurs along with what they bring to the fabric of the region. Take a moment to check it out. It’s all moving pretty fast.

RENEE RICHARDSON, managing editor, may be reached at 218-855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch. com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter. com/DispatchBizBuzz.

Holden ElectricCo.,Inc. is committedtopr oviding

By Sara Schroeder (with edits

Advertorial by advertiser)

At Holden Electric, you can. A family-owned business that has been serving and servicing the Brainerd lakes area since 1957, Holden Electric is known for contributing to the lakes area’s economic growth and has become the largest electrical contractor in the Baxter/Brainerd area.

Holden Electric serves both central and northern Minnesota with offices in Baxter, Duluth and Two Harbors. They have become a leading electrical contractor in service and excellence.

Top notch, quality work is what you can expect when you call for a repair, a new build or remodel.

Holden Electric is a name you can trust, backed by years of experience and local businesses as proof of not only a job well done, but continued great customer service, quick response to repairs and knowledgeable ideas for new builds and businesses.

Whether you are new to the area, or have been here for years, you will for sure hear of Holden Electric. The owner and many employees are involved in the community, the company donates to many causes locally both financially and with in-kind services.

As you visit various places throughout northern Minnesota you will soon learn that Holden Electric has had their hand in many of them such as the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts, Brainerd Airport, Staples School, Shannon’s Auto, Essentia Deerwood Clinic, and Habitat for Humanity to name a few. The signature project was the ground up new Astera Hospital in Wadena. Holden Electric isn’t just a business in Baxter, Minnesota; it’s a family of electricians, working together, cheering one another on and celebrating each other’s life events and being there for co-workers when life gives them challenges. Holden Electric recently added several electricians that have roots in our community and have been welcomed by all.

With Holden Electric, you aren’t just a name, you’re family.

Call for a quote for your next project at 218-829-4759 or visit holdenelectric.com.