Knife River opens new training center

The Knife River Training Center in Albany, Oregon, is officially open for business. Knife River held the grand opening in April for over 230 people. The event included an equipment demonstration, facility tour, and remarks from Knife River President and CEO Dave Barney, Oregon Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle, Oregon Department of Transportation Director Kris Strickler, and National Ready Mix Concrete Association President Mike Phillips.

The Training Center is on 230 acres and includes an 80,000-square-foot dome (the largest in the U.S. that is used for equipment training), a 16,000-square-foot classroom building, and outdoor training space.

Classes are open for Knife River employees, as well as employees from other companies and industry partners. Training Center staff have already “graduated” 160 people in classes ranging from CDL training to equipment operation to leadership development.

Joining the speakers for the ribbon cutting were regional presidents Bob Cheever, Brian Gray, Bob Kober, Jim Lauteren, John Quade and Dave Zinke; vice president of operations Glenn Pladsen; training manager Dan Abbott; and Training Center manager Kris Latimer.

Learn more about the Training Center at www.KRTrainingCenter.com.

Knife River is part of the MDU Resources family of companies.

MDU Resources Foundation commits $100,000 to new nonprofit center serving low-income population

The MDU Resources Foundation committed $100,000 to the Dream Center Bismarck to purchase kitchen equipment for the new facility. Located in Bismarck, North Dakota, the nonprofit center is dedicated to serving low-income and struggling families, children, elderly, disabled, veterans and individuals in the Bismarck-Mandan area.

At 24,000 square feet in size, the Dream Center is a comprehensive resource center that will connect people with community services that address hunger, poverty, unemployment, nutrition, health and dental care, education, abuse, finances, addiction and more.

The following programs, services and amenities will be housed under one roof, making it a one-stop shop for individuals seeking help:

  • The Banquet which serves a free meal daily.
  • The Dream Center Food Pantry.
  • Adopt-A-Block mobile food distribution program’s warehouse.
  • A multi-faith chapel.
  • Meeting rooms open to partner organizations.
  • An event center.
  • Office area for other providers to use for health screenings or legal aid.

Read about the Dream Center Bismarck’s grand opening: https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/dream-center-bismarck-to-open-hold-open-house-sunday/article_9460aa36-c198-11ec-af2a-7f7aa6ceb78d.html

MDU Resources Foundation commits $50,000 to Washington food bank to curb childhood hunger

One out of six children in eastern Washington and northern Idaho faces hunger, according to Second Harvest, a nonprofit dedicated to getting food onto the tables of families, kids and seniors facing hunger.

The MDU Resources Foundation, in partnership with Cascade Natural Gas, committed $50,000 to Second Harvest’s Feeding Kids First campaign. This contribution will help Second Harvest get healthy food to children who need it the most.

“We’re grateful for our friends at Cascade Natural Gas and their trust in us to put their generous gift to work to serve children facing hunger,” said Jason Clark, president and CEO of Second Harvest. “It’s concerning that one out of six kids in the Mid-Columbia area faces food shortages at home. Thanks to Cascade Natural Gas, we can do more to help families fill the gap.”

Cascade Natural Gas has supported Second Harvest in various ways for the past 10 years. Eric Martiscelli, vice president of field operations for the Utility Group, said Cascade Natural Gas and MDU Resources Foundation contributed to the capital campaign for the Pasco warehouse, and Cascade has hosted employee-volunteer events at the warehouse to help box donations.

 

MDU Resources recognized as top contributor to United Way 2021 campaign

Bismarck and Mandan, North Dakota-based employees of MDU Resources Group, Montana-Dakota Utilities, Knife River Corporation, WBI Energy and MDU Construction Services Group played an important role in helping the Missouri Slope Area United Way raise a record-breaking $3,104,440 for its 2021 campaign.

Contributions from employees and the MDU Resources Foundation totaled $136, 619. Thanks to their generosity, MDU Resources was recognized by the Missouri Slope Areawide United Way as the top contributor to the 2021 campaign. This is the second time in three years that MDU Resources received this honor; the last time was in 2019.

MDU Resources Foundation commits $100,000 to new children’s museum, science center in Minot, North Dakota

The MDU Resources Foundation, in partnership with Montana-Dakota Utilities, committed $100,000 to the new Magic City Discovery Center in Minot, North Dakota. The hybrid children’s museum/science center is envisioned to be an educational hub for the region.

The Magic City Discovery Center will provide experiential STEAM-based learning opportunities for children of all ages. It will feature the only Smithsonian Spark!Lab Invention Center in the region and only one of 10 in the nation. The center will be completed by year end.

 

Duro Electric named to 2022 Top Performers list by Associated Builders and Contractors

Duro Electric, part of the MDU Resources family of companies, was named to the 2022 Top Performers list compiled by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).

This annual list highlights contractors that have earned ABC’s Accredited Quality Contractor credentials for their commitment to corporate responsibility in quality, safety, talent management — including inclusion, diversity and equity — education and community relations.

For 2022, Duro Electric was listed:

  • No. 114 on Top 200 Performers list;
  • No. 54 on ABC’s top Trade Contractors list;
  • No. 24 on ABC’s Top Electrical Contractors list; and
  • No. 14 on ABC’s Top Religious Contractors list.

Home sweet home: Knife River — Texas Division supports Habitat for Humanity, presents keys to homeowners

A family in Bryan, Texas, now has a place to call their own, thanks in part to Knife River — Texas Division and its employees.

As part of the Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity’s annual Corporate Challenge build, Knife River — Texas joined other local businesses in funding the home. Through the MDU Resources Foundation, Knife River — Texas contributed $10,000 for this year’s build. In addition, Knife River employees volunteered during the home build.

Since 2014, the MDU Resources Foundation has given $75,000 to the Habitat for Humanity in Bryan, Texas.

KRC-TX Habit for Humanity 2022 key presentation
Crystal Mejia, administrative assistant at Knife River — Texas, presented the keys to the new homeowners at the home dedication.

Crystal Mejia, administrative assistant at Knife River — Texas, presented the keys to the new owners at the home dedication.

“It was an honor to be asked to present the keys to this hardworking family,” Mejia said. “Handing those keys over to the family makes me proud to work for such a giving and caring organization that wants to help its community.”

Habit House_KRC Texas Messages on Sheetrock 2021      Habit House_KRC Texas_signed 2x4 2021
A Knife River employee (left) signs best wishes onto the sheetrock during the build of the Habitat for Humanity home.

 

Keep Kids Warm campaign collects 2,570 coats for kids in need

More than 2,500 kids in need living near the Boise, Idaho, area will have a warm jacket to keep them warm this winter.

Intermountain Gas Company once again partnered with local businesses for the Keep Kids Warm program. This year’s efforts resulted in 2,570 coats that were collected and distributed to kids in need throughout the Treasure Valley region.

People also could donate money to the Keep Kids Warm fund, which assists with heating costs for low-income families with children.

The Keep Kids Warm program started 25 years ago. Since then, the program has collected thousands of coats and raised more than $1.3 million to keep children warm during winter.

Intermountain Gas Company partners with Baird’s Dry Cleaners, CBS 2 Boise and the Idaho Steelheads for Keep Kids Warm. The partners work with the following local non-profits to help distribute the coats and monetary assistance:

  • El-ADA Community Action Partnership.
  • Western Idaho Community Action.
  • Boise Rescue Mission Ministries.
  • Interfaith Sanctuary Housing Services.
  • United Way of Treasure Valley.
  • The Salvation Army Boise Corps.

Liberty Mutual recognizes MDU Resources companies for 2021 safety achievements

Several MDU Resources Group companies were recognized by Liberty Mutual Insurance for outstanding, excellent and commendable safety performance in 2021. Liberty Mutual gives the awards to recognize ongoing, effective safety programs and initiatives that produced lower or much lower work-related injury/illness rates than industry averages.

The following companies received awards:

Gold Award
The Gold Award recognizes companies with a DART rate 80% better than industry average with a minimum of 200,000 labor hours.

  • Anchorage Sand & Gravel.
  • Desert Fire Protection.
  • ESI.
  • Knife River Construction — Northern California Stockton.
  • Knife River — North Dakota.
  • Loy Clark Construction.
  • USI Industrial Services.


Silver Award
The Silver Award recognizes companies with a DART rate 60% better than industry average with a minimum of 200,000 labor hours.

  • Knife River Materials — Northern Minnesota.


Commendation

Liberty Mutual awards Commendations to companies that achieved a DART rate 50% better than industry average with no minimum labor hours.

  • Capital Electric Construction.
  • Connolly-Pacific Company.
  • Jebro.
  • Knife River — Montana/Wyoming.
  • Lone Mountain Excavation.
  • Pacific Northwest Oil.
  • Wagner-Smith Equipment.

Liberty Mutual provides workers compensation, general liability and auto liability coverages for many operations that are part of MDU Resources.

MDU Resources Foundation’s 2021 contributions total over $2 million

In 2021, the MDU Resources Foundation contributed more than $2,091,000 in grants to 610 organizations in 23 states.

In addition to those grants, the foundation made the following contributions as part of its employee match programs that encourage volunteerism and support of education:

  • Through Volunteer Match Program, the foundation donated $89,250 as a match to employees’ reported 6,999 volunteer hours in 2021.
  • Through the Education Match Program, the foundation donated $26,350 to schools and universities to match education donations made by employees.

Since 1983, The MDU Resources Foundation has contributed more than $40 million to worthwhile charities and organizations.

In 2021, the Foundation contributed over $2,091,000 in grants to deserving organizations.