Development in Windom

09/08/2026

Enterprise Minnesota and the Southwest Initiative Foundation will be holding a Manufacturing Focus Group at the Windom City Hall on October 21, 2026 at 12:00pm. If you are in a position of leadership at your respective manufacturing business, EnterpriseMN and SWIF would love to hear about your challenges and outlook for the industry you represent. Registration can be found by following this QR code:

06/08/2026

We are thrilled to share that momentum continues to build around childcare initiatives in our community!

Applications and program guidelines are now available on the EDA website https://www.windomeda.com/growchildcare for the Roots-to-Wings Family Childcare Provider Assistance Program. Thanks to $40,000 in grants from the Remick Foundation and Taylor Family Farms Foundation, this opportunity is available to both existing and aspiring childcare providers, helping strengthen and expand local childcare capacity.

In another major step forward, the City of Windom has been awarded a $100,000 Minnesota DEED Childcare and Economic Development Grant. These funds are being matched by local donations to support Windom Area Schools with the remodeling efforts at the Highland building, paving the way for a new childcare center scheduled to open in September 2026.

These investments represent meaningful progress toward increasing childcare access, supporting working families, and strengthening Windom's future workforce. We look forward to sharing more updates as these projects continue to move forward.

Discover initiatives to expand child care options in Windom, MN. Learn how Windom EDA and local leaders are working to grow and sustain child care services.

12/10/2025

Stop out tonight! Bring the whole family!

12/08/2025

Please join us this Wednesday, December 10th at BARC for Design Day!

The event is from 5:30-8, with a presentation by Leathers & Associates at 6pm!
✨Leathers is the original Kastle Kingdom design group, and we are so excited to work with them again!✨
There will be kids activities, light refreshments, Kastle Kingdom 🎄Ornaments🎄& Merch, opportunities to share ideas & dreams for the park, and more ways to get involved through fundraising and eventual build- don’t miss it!

Tell your friends!
See you Wednesday!

12/05/2025

Support Local Businesses and Warm Up the Season for your Neighbors

As the holidays arrive in Windom, there’s something extra meaningful about choosing to support local businesses. Every time you pick up a thoughtful gift from a local shop — a cozy candle, a restaurant gift card, a small kitchen appliance, or a warm scarf — you’re doing more than holiday shopping. You’re helping warm up the season for your neighbors.

2025 has been hard for many small businesses, and your support makes a big difference. Supporting local businesses keeps more dollars right here in Windom. It helps families put food on their tables and strengthens the small businesses that give our town its heart. These same businesses sponsor local youth sports, support food banks, and contribute to fundraisers that benefit our entire community all year long.

This holiday season, let’s lift one another up. Every local purchase, every gift, and every act of support spreads warmth — to the person receiving it and to the families and organizations that depend on our community.

12/02/2025

We've heard the childcare shortage has “always been an issue”… so why the focus now?

Because it’s getting worse — fast.

Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council (SMOC), the Child Care Aware agency for Region 8 serving Cottonwood, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, and Rock Counties, reports that the region has dropped from 460 child-care programs in 2018 to 367 in 2025.

And right here in Cottonwood County, Family Child Care providers have fallen from 35 to just 18 — a nearly 50% loss. Cottonwood County saw the largest percentage drop of any county in Region 8.

What this means for Windom:
-Parents are scrambling for childcare openings.
-Workers are turning down local jobs.
-Businesses are struggling to hire and retain workers.

This isn’t the “same old issue” — it’s a growing crisis.

Last week, school, city, and local business leaders met again with First Children’s Finance to dig deeper into the local need, brainstorm, and learn what’s working in other communities. The next step is to define priorities and start developing a game plan.

11/28/2025

Kastle Kingdom Ornaments are available here.
https://friends-of-windom-parks-inc.square.site/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAOWdCNjbGNrA5Zzx2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHmAQHnntj-SphRVsiPP1BG69QdTdzxrGBQzHH_Q1F1kz2L61keJJN9uC4Uc7_aem_xR9xfc7fOAjxitspiIYXvQ

11/18/2025

11/17/2025

The Child Care Strategic Supply Plan program with First Children’s Finance launched in Windom, Minnesota, on November 17, 2025, bringing together thirteen community representatives to better understand and address local child care needs.

According to the Supply-Demand Gap Analysis completed by First Children’s Finance, the Windom area faces a shortage of 179 child care slots for children from birth to age five, assuming all available parents are in the workforce. Further analysis shows that 46% of the shortage—approximately 82 slots—is for infants and toddlers. The need isn’t only here in Windom, county-wide that number grows to a shortage of 264 slots.

Representatives also toured the Highland Early Learning Center which houses the Head Start program, three and four-year-old preschool programs, and Adventure Club. During the tour, the group discussed the updates required to repurpose four rooms for a proposed childcare center. Meeting state licensing requirements will require nearly $500,000 in capital improvements. The proposed center would create 50 additional child care slots.

The proposed childcare center is an encouraging step forward — but there is still a long way to go to close the gap.