MDU Resources Foundation donates to Montana flood recovery

Recent historic flooding of the Yellowstone River impacted many residents of Carbon County in Montana. The MDU Resources Foundation, in partnership with business units Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. and WBI Energy, donated $15,000 to The Red Lodge Area Community Foundation.

This donation will support the Carbon County Disaster Relief Fund to help residents safely return to their homes or to mitigate an unhealthy home situation caused by the flooding.

Tracy Timmons (center), executive director for The Red Lodge Community Foundation, received the check from Brandon Lance (left), Montana-Dakota regional director, and Mark Vinger (right), Montana-Dakota district operations manager, both located in Billings, Montana.

Jebro, Inc. celebrates 50 years in business

Jebro, Inc. celebrated its 50th year in business with an open house May 19 at its Sioux City, Iowa, terminal. Customers, vendors, suppliers and employees’ family members attended the open house. Many visitors toured the office and terminal.

“A special thank you to all the customers, vendors, suppliers and people who have worked with or for Jebro over the last 50 years. We are successful because of them,” Noel Schulz, vice president of Marketing, said.

Bob Cheever, president, said, “We’re proud to be part of the community for 50 years and we look forward to 50 more.”

Jebro, Inc. was established in 1972 in Sioux City, Iowa. MDU Resources Group acquired Jebro in 2005.

Jebro manufactures, tests and ships quality liquid asphalt materials from four terminals located in Sioux City, Iowa; Corson, South Dakota; Cheyenne, Wyoming; and Waco, Texas.

The liquid asphalt is supplied to contractors and public agencies for use in highway and street construction and the road maintenance industries. Jebro also has a division dedicated to collecting used oil, oil filters, antifreeze, and other petroleum materials in five nearby states. Everything collected is recycled or reprocessed for use as industrial fuel.

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 $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.

 

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.

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.

Bombard Electric employees raise almost $4,000 for Las Vegas-area toy drive

This view of the Bombard Electric lobby from the second floor shows the large assortment of toys employees purchased and donated to the 98.5 LKUC Chet Buchanan Show Toy Drive in Las Vegas.

 

Employees at Bombard Electric in Las Vegas, Nevada, opened their hearts and their wallets to raise almost $4,000 to purchase toys and gifts for less fortunate families in the area. Their efforts were in support of the 23rd annual 98.5 KLUC Chet Buchanan Show Toy Drive.

Bombard employees used the money they raised to purchase and donate the following items to the Chet Buchanan Show Toy Drive:

  • Eight large crates full of toys;
  • 39 bikes and scooters; and
  • $340 in gift cards.

The Chet Buchanan Show noted the efforts of Bombard employees and mentioned them on the radio. This year, the Chet Buchanan Show Toy Drive gathered enough items to provide gifts to more than 1,800 qualified families around Nevada.

“It’s so amazing to see the generosity from our employees,” Jamie Makue, purchasing assistant at Bombard Electric who coordinated the company’s efforts, said. “Many of us don’t know how many lives we touch just by giving one toy, one bike or one gift card. To say that we are part of the reason more than 1,800 families get to have a good Christmas just warms my heart.”

Bombard Toy Drive 2021  Bombard Electric Toy Drive 2021 load up
Bombard Electric employees raised almost $4,000 for a regional toy drive. They then purchased eight large crates of toys (right), 39 bikes and scooters and $340 in gift cards.