This page covers what is specific to Winona: local employers, seasonal hiring, and where to get help. For the statewide rules, see the Minnesota Secure Choice requirements and deadlines.
ZIP codes with a Winona mailing address had 853 business locations in 2023, with about 21,538 people on payroll in the March pay period.
At least 474 of the 853 locations had 5 or more employees on site, the headcount at which Minnesota Secure Choice starts to apply. The law counts all of an employer's Minnesota employees, not one location, so treat this as a local indicator.
The most common types of business in these ZIP codes are health care and social assistance (113 locations), retail trade (104 locations) and accommodation and food services (103 locations). Across Winona County, the largest industry by employment is manufacturing (5,606 jobs), and private leisure and hospitality employment ran from 2,730 in January 2024 to 3,072 in October 2024.
138 of the 853 business locations in Winona's ZIP codes are in accommodation and food services or arts, entertainment and recreation, the leisure and hospitality industries where staffing levels tend to change with the season. Minnesota counts employees under Minn. Stat. §187.03, subd. 6. The rule reads: “employs five or more covered employees”. If your Winona business's headcount rises and falls during the year, that wording decides whether you meet the threshold, so confirm your status with Minnesota Secure Choice.
Free one-on-one advising for Winona businesses is available from the Small Business Development Center - Southeast Region (RAEDI), the Minnesota SBDC Southeast Region center at RAEDI in Rochester, which lists Winona County.
Local business network for Winona: Winona Area Chamber of Commerce.
Minnesota Secure Choice employer assistance: 1-855-938-1474.
If your business has 5 or more employees in Minnesota and offers no qualified retirement plan, Minnesota Secure Choice requires you to register or certify an exemption. Upcoming deadlines: 50–99 employees by December 31, 2026; 25–49 employees by June 30, 2027; 10–24 employees by December 31, 2027; 5–9 employees by June 30, 2028.
Full Minnesota Secure Choice requirements, deadlines and penalties
Book a free 15-minute compliance audit. We'll show your exact requirement, your real exposure, and whether your own plan saves you money.