Willmar, MN - Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach was in Thief River Falls meeting with Mayor Lorenson, city staff, State Senator Mark Johnson, and State Representative John Burkel to review the community’s critical water and wastewater infrastructure needs. Local officials outlined the factors driving current water quality issues and discussed the cost required to fully complete the upgrade project. Rep. Fischbach committed to working with the city to find opportunities to secure federal dollars to complete the needed improvements.
In Thief River Falls, the Congresswoman also toured the Arctic Cat facility to meet with senior management and discuss the manufacturer's role in the local and regional economy. The conversation focused on the region's current workforce shortages and the pressing need to attract new families to Northwest Minnesota to fill open positions. Rep. Fischbach highlighted the newly established Workforce Pell Grant program in the Working Families Tax Cuts package, which allows students to use federal grants for technical training and trade programs. The group also discussed how federal trade policy impacts Arctic Cat’s business, noting how they moved Argo vehicle manufacturing from Canada directly to the Thief River Falls plant.
