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The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell to 332,000 last week from a pandemic low, a sign that worsening COVID-19 infections may have increased layoffs slightly. Unemployment aid claims rose from 312,000 the previous week, the Labor Department said Thursday. Unemployment claims, which usually keep pace with layoffs, declined steadily for two months as many employers struggling to fill jobs kept their employees.
The Labor Market Information Center has released the 2020 ranking of North Dakota’s largest employers. The top ten largest employers are: Sanford health… Walmart… Cathoolic Health Initiatives… Altru Health… Doosan Bobcat… UND… NDSU… Trinity Health… Bismarck Public Schools… ND Department of Human Services.
North Dakota’s unadjusted July unemployment rate was 3.2 percent. The unemployment rate fell 0.4 percentage points between July and August. The August 2020 rate was 2.6 percentage points higher than the current rate. Between July 2021 and August 2021, unemployment fell by 1,909, a drop of 12.8%.
Minnesota’s unemployment rate improved slightly and fell a tenth of a percentage point to 3.8% in August due to the exit from unemployment and employment, according to figures released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Minnesota’s labor force participation rate stood at 67.8% in August.
Long-term average mortgage rates have fallen this week as the economic outlook has remained muted amid a wave of new cases of the delta-variant coronavirus. They remained below 3%. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says the average rate on a 30-year mortgage has edged down to 2.86% from 2.88% last week. The rate on a 15-year loan went from 2.19% to 2.12%.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said his office had reached an agreement with California-based StubHub, Inc. regarding the company’s refusal to reimburse consumers for concerts, sporting events and other events canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the settlement, StubHub will provide $ 1.87 million in reimbursement to 5,500 consumers who live in Minnesota or have purchased tickets to events in Minnesota.
The North Dakota Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) as well as the North Dakota Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) have announced that Tyler Demars has been appointed Director of Specialty Services. Demars, a longtime resident of Bismarck, has worked in business and economic development for the past 10 years. He recently worked at the Center for Technology & Business with the InnovateND program. He received his Masters in Strategic Leadership from the University of Mary.
Northdale Oil has been granted planning permission for a new car wash project in 4400 32nd Avenue South. The building permit issued by the City of Grand Forks lists the cost of the project at $ 1.7 million.
Affordable Housing Developers Inc. (AHDI) has hosted a grand reopening of Courtyard Apartments, an independent living community for households 62 and older in Rugby. The property, which was originally built in 1981, required extensive structural repairs. The total cost of the project was $ 2.02 million.
Altru Health is partnering with Devils Lake Public Schools to meet the medical service needs of students. A registered nurse will be available at five schools in the district for a variety of issues from diabetes care and medication administration to lice checks and more. The agreement also includes on-site licensed sports medicine services for student-athletes at sporting events.
Valley City State University (VCSU) announced that it had been ranked as the best regional public college in North Dakota by US News and World Report. The report is based on retention, peer reviews, graduation rates, measures of student excellence, alumni donation rates, and education spending per student. VCSU was ranked # 2 in the Midwest category of public regional colleges.
Canadian Pacific hopes to complete its $ 31 billion acquisition of the Kansas City Southern Railroad before the end of next year. Shareholders of both companies will likely vote on the deal sometime in December, and then Mexican and US regulators will have to approve the tie-up. Officials from both railroads provided an update on the timing of the deal last week during a call with investors.
Ford plans to spend $ 250 million and add 450 jobs at three Michigan factories to meet demand for the new F-150 Lightning. Kumar Galhotra, Ford’s president for the Americas, said Ford has already taken more than 150,000 reservations for the new electric version of its hugely popular F-150 pickup truck.
The Grand Craft Beer Tour will take place at the East Grand Forks Civic Center September 25. More than 100 selections of craft beers are expected for the event. Participants will visit the various beer vendors and consume 2-ounce samples of the vendor’s products. Tickets are currently on sale.
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