Business View Civil Municipal - July 2023

234 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 7 park score. “Our park score is phenomenal, coming in at 88,” he proudly asserts. This implies that an impressive 88% of residents live within a ten-minute walk of a park. Boasting 38 public parks for its 21,000 residents, Willmar presents a thriving oasis of greenery amidst the bustling industrial heartland, which includes neighborhood parks tucked away in each city quadrant and a larger regional park, serving as sites for local shows and gatherings. Aaron Backman, the Executive Director of the Kandiyohi County/City of Willmar Economic Development Commission (EDC), furthers the conversation, illustrating Willmar’s robust growth. Backman points to an intriguing statistic: since its inception in the 1870s, Willmar has recorded population growth in each of the 14 consecutive censuses, even weathering the Depression—a rarity for most cities. According to Backman, this consistent growth attests to the city’s diverse economy. The town has fostered a vibrant economic landscape as a regional center for retail, industry, medical, and higher education. But the diversity in Willmar goes far beyond its industries and businesses—it seeps into the very fabric of its population. Walker is keen to note the diverse demographics of the city. “We’re very close to 10% black, with the predominant portion of that being East African,” he explains. The town also has a significant Hispanic population, accounting for 25% of the residents. He describes the city as a “vibrant and diverse community,” acknowledging the many residents from Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and East Africa. Navigating Willmar’s Vibrant Business Landscape Perhaps most famously known as the home of Jennie-O Turkey Store, one of the largest turkey processors in the nation, Willmar’s business framework offers far more diversity than meets the eye. As Backman highlights, while Jennie-O