Believe in Southwest Blog

Congratulations, Sara Carlson!

Each year the Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health (MACMH) recognizes individuals who have shown extraordinary achievement and/or leadership in the field of children’s mental health. This year, the MACMH Board of Directors chose our own Program Officer Sara Carlson to receive one of the Outstanding Service Awards.

Read more about the honor and Sara’s work through SWIF and beyond and join me in congratulating Sara for this recognition! 

 

The Cheese Won’t Stand Alone Along the I-29 Corridor

For a long time, I’ve championed the impact of the I-29/1-90 corridor on southwest Minnesota and our greater rural region. This week, news from Brookings, S.D., highlights a perfect example of its significance.

The Brookings City Council approved a development agreement Tuesday with Bel Brands USA to locate a $120 million manufacturing facility in Brookings. Bel Brands is the manufacturer of Mini Babybel and The Laughing Cow Cheese Brands, as well as other natural and gourmet cheese products. Read the news release for full details about the company and project. 

Bel Brands USA is headquartered in Chicago and a subsidiary of a global, Paris-based company. They currently have two production facilities located in Kentucky and Wisconsin, and when looking for a new location, Iowa, Idaho, Michigan and South Dakota were under consideration. Their President and CEO Lance Chambers noted the “hard-working Midwestern values” as one of the factors to selecting Brookings.

I couldn’t agree more. With an economic history deeply rooted in agriculture and people with values and work ethic to match, our rural region is an absolutely ideal spot for this type of business expansion. And, it’s no coincidence that this 170,000 square-foot facility will be located on 48 acres near the I-29 corridor.

So what does this news mean for us? The estimated economic impact of a fully operational plant is $500 million annually. It also means that our friends across the border will be filling 200 positions by 2014 with the potential to create up to 400 jobs in a later project phase in the next four to five years.

Southwest Minnesota business leaders that I’ve connected with this week are very optimistic about the opportunities this presents. Here are a few of the comments shared:

• “This is good for the region. This probably has a great deal to do with the collective benefits of low taxation, public private partnerships, excellent SDSU dairy program, work force, etc.”
• “Bel Brands is a good customer…I hope this will leader to more opportunity for both companies in the future.”
• “Very exciting for our area. Confirms my belief that agriculture is the mainstay of our business climate…”
• “Could affect our labor force numbers. I did appreciate the connection with SDSU and I-29 corridor.”

What’s your reaction to this news? Post a comment to share here, or contact me at sherryr@swifoundation.org.

Where Are You Getting Your News?

Two weeks ago, I met with my colleagues from the six Minnesota Initiative Foundations for a presidents’ meeting. We had several guests including Steven J. Rosenstone, MnSCU Chancellor; Michael Langley, CEO of the new organization Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Economic Development Partnership; Bill Blazer, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Business Development at the Minnesota Chamber;  and Curt Brown, a staff writer at the Minneapolis Star Tribune. I’ve shared before just how valuable I find all of these connections and discussions.
 
For today, I really want to focus on the opportunity to work with Curt and build a better relationship with metro-based media, ultimately to make sure they know about of all the good things happening in our region.

This isn’t the first time news coverage has come up during conversations at SWIF. Southwest Minnesota boasts award-winning newspapers and top-notch radio stations and public access channels. And, Pioneer Public Television out of Appleton is a great regional asset. But unlike any other region in Minnesota, we don’t have one central news source that’s a go-to for our region.

If you live here, you might watch television news coverage from the Twin Cities, Sioux Falls or Alexandria. Newspaper coverage is likely local. But sources are unlimited if you pick up your smartphone or sit down at your computer. The news industry and the way we share information is changing so quickly.

So, how does this affect our region and the stories that are (or aren’t) told about it? This connection to a major Minnesota news source creates a great opportunity to share our stories, but we need your help. You know better than anyone about the amazing new things your business is doing, or about the person who stepped up to make a huge difference in your community.

What story do you want to hear told? Please share by posting a comment or connecting with me at sherryr@swifoundation.org.

photo credit: Mustafa Khayat

Ignore the Critics and Be Inspired to Listen

As leaders, we have access to so many resources—including plenty that come through our email inboxes—to improve our skills and change our thinking. Something that’s resonated with me was introduced by the International Listening Leadership Institute. Their e-newsletter is one that I always try to take time to read. It enforces great messages about the importance of listening to enhance leadership effectiveness. They offer programs and coaching all focused on being what they call a Listening Leader.

I truly want to be a Listening Leader and know I can always be raising the bar on this skill. There are just SO many distractions in our lives. And with technology, there are more than ever before. Effective leadership doesn’t just happen. Something as simple as a weekly tip, like one from earlier this month to “Ignore the critics and naysayers,” is just the spark I need to get through the daily distractions and get my focus back on my leadership and its impact.  

What is something that inspires you and your own leadership?

photo credit: Taylor Burnes

SWIF Board of Directors Welcomes Tim Connell

I’d like to introduce our newest-elected member of the SWIF Board of Directors, Tim Connell of Luverne. We are so excited to have Tim join this group of outstanding soutwhest Minnesota leaders.

Tim has a strong passion for his community and a perspective that makes him an excellent addition to our Board of Directors.  Through his experience as a judge, he brings important knowledge and insight about the needs of people in our communities and region. He is committed to southwest Minnesota and, along with the entire board, will help steer our organization in a direction that best serves our region.”

He is a retired judge of the Fifth Judicial District, Rock County, Luverne, Minn. Tim is also a high school graduate of Luverne High School, has a B.A. in Humanities from St. John’s University and received his Juris Doctor Degree from William Mitchell College of Law in 1976. He was in private practice for 11 years before being appointed judge and is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association.

Tim is very active in the Luverne community, serving as chair of the Rock County Children’s Justice Initiative and Rock County Collaborative 6-12 Work Team. He is also active in various civic groups including his church, Rotary Club, Rock County Community Education Board and many others. He lives in Luverne with his wife, Connie. They have three adult children.

Please join me in welcoming Tim to SWIF!

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