Loan Client Outland Energy Services of Canby Receives State Recognition
Outland Renewable Energy's team is made up of industry-leading professionals, including Field Technician Jordan Bielefeld, pictured at a wind farm near Luverne.
Congratulations to Outland Energy Services of Canby on recently being recognized by the Minneapolis Star Tribune as one of the Top Workplaces in Minnesota! Outland Renewable Energy was founded in 2005 and commissions, operates, and maintains wind energy facilities throughout the United States and abroad. With over 145 technicians, Outland has more than 900 megawatts of wind turbines under long-term service agreements.
According to a company press release, “The accreditation recognizes Outland as a workplace that rewards individual achievement and promotes personal development. Employees nominated their employers and were surveyed about several topics, including practices and policies that make these companies the top places to work. The companies were ranked based on leadership, compensation and training, workplace flexibility, and diversity.”
SWIF proudly featured Outland in our Winter 2010 Connect Newsletter and partnered with them in 2010 to provide funding for a major business expansion at their Canby headquarters.
Congratulations to Steve Scott and the team at Outland on achieving this honor, and thank you for the tremendous impact you are making on our region.
For more information, visit www.outlandenergy.com
Capture Your Best Business Moments
After a long winter and virtually non-existent spring, warm weather has arrived. Southwest Minnesota is a flurry of activity from the farmers in the fields to coffee shops setting tables outside. Many small businesses and organizations choose to hold after hours events, golfing fundraisers, customer appreciation events, open houses, summer promotions or sidewalk sales, and more. We can expect to hear about lots of upcoming events to take place in the warm months ahead.
Each event presents opportunities to grow your business. Whether your business hosts an event or participates in a community event, one thing is certain. We put time, energy, resources, and money into business events, so it’s important to capitalize on your investment by capturing as many photos, stories and networking opportunities as possible. One way to do this is to assign someone from your team to be in charge of taking photos.
You can use these photos later in thank-you cards, press releases, news stories, website, blog posts, or Facebook. You can even create a simple online video to post to YouTube that captures the essence of your best business event moments. One easy to use tool is Animoto, which allows you to upload photos and video clips, add text and music, and then rendure a video that you can share via email, enewsletter, YouTube and Facebook.
This past May, Southwest Initiative Foundation celebrated its 25th Anniversary. Many people from southwest Minnesota attended the event, and we took hundreds of pictures which were added to this video to help share our story with you. We invite you to watch the video, and then leave your best marketing tip for upcoming summer business events. We’d love to hear from you.
Chant and Amy Singvongsa Purchase Jackson Laundromat with Loan Assistance from Southwest Initiative Foundation
Local Business Renamed Wishy Washy Laundromat, Benefits from Microenterprise Loan Program
Chant and Amy Singvongsa recently received loan assistance from the Southwest Initiative Foundation’s (SWIF) Microenterprise Loan Program for the purchase of the Jackson Laundromat from Dave and Ester Bargfrede, who owned the business for many years. The new owners renamed the business Wishy Washy Laundromat. It will offer full laundromat services with a number of new machines, a laundry drop-off service, and a pick-up and delivery service for wind project worksites.
Chant has been working in the business for the past several months in training to take over the business. The Wishy Washy Laundromat will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Contact Chant or Amy Singvongsa with questions about their services at 507-847-4276.
“We are pleased to assist Chant and Amy with the purchase of the laundromat,” said SWIF Program Officer Kurt Thompson. “It will keep a vital community service business in operation.”
Proceeds from the loan will be used to purchase equipment and provide working capital for the start up of the laundromat. SWIF’s Microenterprise Loan Program offers loans of up to $35,000 for starting or expanding for-profit small businesses located within the 18 counties of southwest Minnesota that have a need for additional sources of funds. In addition, technical assistance is available from SWIF as needed for the length of the loan. The program receives funding assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration, as well as from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Southwest Initiative Foundation is a regional community foundation dedicated to advancing southwest Minnesota through leadership, relationship building, program development and philanthropy. The Foundation has contributed more than $53 million through its grant and loan programs in southwest Minnesota. It has also helped more than 510 businesses start or expand through its business finance programs, which have created or retained more than 7,900 jobs. The Southwest Initiative Foundation is an equal opportunity provider. To learn more, visit www.swifoundation.org.
Goals for Planning Succession Forum – March 29
Start planning today for the next phase of your business.
GPS, Goals for Planning Succession, is a one day forum that is dedicated to providing business owners with an introduction to the tools that they will need as they start preparing for the next phase of their business and personal life. This forum is presented by the Southwest Initiative Foundation and Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation.
March 29, 2011
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Registration starts at 8:30 a.m.
Verizon Wireless Center Mankato, MN
Get directions.
Cost $49.00 per person and includes lunch
Register online or email melissal@smifoundation.org. Please let us know if you have any diet restrictions.
Forum Agenda
- Opening Keynote
“Legacy & The Last Challenge of Entrepreneurship.” Thomas Hubler, President, Hubler for Business Families, Minneapolis. Mr. Hubler will focus on legacy and what it means to define your legacy in the context of the family-owned business. In addition, his presentation will focus on defining the role of owner-entrepreneur when it comes to the issue of succession planning, the four challenges of an owner-entrepreneur and what are the four areas of planning that companies need to have in place in order to have a succession plan. - Three Learning Tracks
A Business Transition Case Study – Featuring a prominent Midwest company led by Pat Edeburn, Succession Strategies Forum Leader with Anderson Center in St. Cloud, MN. Pat will present the case study that he has written which will allow us to learn and understand what it is like to be in the middle of a business transition. Talent Development – Preparing for Succession - Don Jones of Don Jones Consulting in Marshall, MN along with Vicki Prock of Enterprise Minnesota will dive deep into the concept of having the right person doing the right job. Their combined experience will let us learn first-hand the importance of talent development of current staff as well as the search for talent to lead your organization before, during, and after transition.Passing on the Family Farm – led by Cathy Olson, Lookout Ridge Consulting and Luke Robinson, Thrivant Financials for Lutherans.
- Luncheon Keynote Speakers
“After 135 Years and Six Successions, Did We Get it Right?” Denny Dotson, President was the 5th generation and had five years working with his father before becoming CEO, but from the day Denny started he was to be CEO. Jean Bye, CEO worked with Denny 35 years before becoming CEO and only in the past few years was it decided that she would be CEO. It took Denny many years to understand the CEO role and responsibilities while Jean was totally prepared for the position. Denny and Jean will concentrate on the years just before and after their successions describing both the personal challenges and the satisfactions of the transitions. - Afternoon Speakers
Learn from Experience - Led by Tim Penny, President of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation will moderate a panel discussion to share rewards, challenges and lessons learned from those who have experience succession planning and work with companies to achieve.Sustaining Area Businesses through Succession Planning – Cathy Enerson, Spring Valley EDA director; Abby Hellickson, Workforce Development at Rochester Community and Technical College; and Connie Kotke, instructor and consultant; will showcase how a community can create a partnership approach to building and sustaining a community culture which embraces business succession as a key economic development strategy. - Final Comments – Tim Penny, President of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
Lyndwood Tex-Mex Bar & Grill to Host Grand Opening Feb. 11 and 12
Lynd business benefits from Southwest Initiative Foundation Microenterprise Loan Program
Vicente Hernandez recently received loan assistance from the Southwest Initiative Foundation’s (SWIF) Microenterprise Loan Program for the start up of the Lyndwood Tex-Mex Bar & Grill in Lynd. Vicente reopened the Bar and Lynd ballroom complex in October. In addition, he now offers a full restaurant menu, including appetizers, steaks, burgers and Mexican specialties including enchiladas, flautas, fajitas and chimichangas.
The Lyndwood will also feature Tex-Mex entertainment, providing a dance theme venue with live music and DJ entertainment. The Lyndwood Tex-Mex Bar & Grill will be celebrating its Grand Opening Feb. 11 and 12 with food and drink specials. Hours for the business are Wednesdays through Sundays, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Vicente can be reached at 507-865-4000 to inquire about upcoming entertainment, or to book events in the ballroom.
Hernandez has been employed most recently as a shift manager for five years at Logic, Inc., in Montevideo. He has always been interested in having a restaurant/entertainment venue, and worked as a cook for four years in a restaurant. Hernandez felt the opportunity was right when the Lyndwood came up for sale this year and decided to purchase the business.
“SWIF is pleased to assist Mr. Hernandez with opening the restaurant in Lynd, which has been a long-time asset to the community and surrounding area,” said SWIF Program Officer Kurt Thompson.
Together with primary financing from Klein Bank of Montevideo, proceeds from the SWIF loan will be used to purchase the equipment for the start up of the Lyndwood. SWIF’s Microenterprise Loan Program offers loans of up to $35,000 for starting or expanding for-profit small businesses located within the 18 counties of southwest Minnesota. This program also now serves Wright, Carver and southern Stearns counties.
In addition to financing, SWIF provides free technical assistance to all clients who have received a loan through the Microenterprise Program for the life of the loan. SWIF staff and business consultants provide one-to-one business planning, accounting, marketing and other training opportunities that will help entrepreneurs succeed in their venture. SWIF’s Microenterprise Loan Program receives funding assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Southwest Initiative Foundation is a regional community foundation dedicated to advancing southwest Minnesota through leadership, relationship building, program development and philanthropy. The Foundation has contributed more than $53 million through its grant and loan programs in southwest Minnesota. It has also helped more than 510 businesses start or expand through its business finance programs, which have created or retained more than 7,900 jobs. The Southwest Initiative Foundation is an equal opportunity provider. To learn more, visit www.swifoundation.org.
