Three Albert Lea businesses were recognized as 2019 Best Places to Work in southeast Minnesota last week in a commissioned study by Workforce Development Inc.

The purpose of the program is to recognize some of the best employers in the area and to provide information to companies about the practices they use to attract and retain employees, according to a press release.

Recognized from Albert Lea were Albert Lea Seed House, Farmers State Bank of Hartland and Innovance Inc.

The companies received an award at a banquet Thursday.

Each company participating was required to complete a 40-question survey that allowed its employment practices to be analyzed by consulting firm Personnel Dynamics Consulting of Florida, the release states. Some of the data measured were turnover, rate of growth, promotion rates, employee evaluations and feedback, percent of injured employees, diversity of management and benefits offered, among others.

The following is the full list of the companies recognized:

Small employer (under 75 employees)

• Albert Lea Seed House
• Custom Alarm/Customer Communications Inc.
• Farmers Bank of Hartland
• Southeast Service Cooperative

Mid-size employer (75 to 200 employees)

• Austin Utilities
• Benike Construction
• Cooperative Response Center
• Commercial Water Distributing

Large employer (over 200 employees)

• Gemini Inc.
• Innovance Inc.
• Olmsted Medical Center
• Pace Dairy Foods

The participating companies will receive a detailed 20-page report with the information on their company and the results of the survey. They can use it as a tool to recruit and retain workers.

This is the ninth year Workforce Development Inc. has brought the Best Places to Work program to southeastern Minnesota.