The Calgary, Alberta-based petroleum pipeline company is expanding its operations in the Twin Ports region. A company spokeswoman told the News Tribune it already has more than 550 employees and contractors. She says the new professional positions will include civil, electrical and environmental engineers and safety specialists.

Summer flooding did not put a damper on fall hiring in Duluth. The region had its best September for job growth since 1992 with a spike of 2,200 jobs compared to August, according to a new state report, the Duluth News Tribune reports. It was welcome news after a general slump in job growth that has stretched for more than a year.

New cargo is arriving in the Twin Ports. Ships are delivering "frack" sand from Russia bound for western oilfields. Hydraulic fracturing, which is used to break up rock and release oil and gas, has stirred up some controversy because of environmental worries.

The Minnesota company is expanding with a new facility in Bemidji. The Pioneer reports many of the new jobs will involve customer service work in a call center. The company's president said the firm chose Bemidji because of the number of people in the area looking for work, the communications infrastructure and the variety of training and educational opportunities.

Much of the credit goes to the successful effort to draw United Airlines to the international airport. “That’s what happens when you have competition in a market,” said Brian Ryks, executive director of the Duluth Airport Authority.

The company says it’s looking for people from all backgrounds for a wide variety of technical jobs based out of its corporate headquarters in Richfield.