A Humbling Experience of Helping Those in Need
Volunteers from the Mountain Lake Food Shelf accept a check from SWIF Program Specialist Becca Bell.
The work our staff does on a daily basis is so important for people in southwest Minnesota—from donors to business leaders to our youngest children and many others. But this week, our staff and a number of current and former board members started something very special to help those in need in our communities.
SWIF began awarding Local Impact Grants, which represent a one-time opportunity for SWIF to support our southwest Minnesota nonprofits and address critical needs of the people they serve. Over the course of the next few months, we’ll be awarding $1,000 Local Impact Grants to 100 nonprofit organizations for a total of $100,000. There are ‘no strings attached’ to these grants. We are so grateful for the important role these nonprofits play in our communities and want to help them build capacity and leverage funds to make an even greater impact. Grant recipients are selected by SWIF (there is no application process) and will be awarded to nonprofits that address crisis assistance, diversity, environment, human services, youth and other regional needs. Funding for these grants was provided through a gift from the Minnesota Community Foundation as a way to help serve critical needs in Greater Minnesota. SWIF is distributing 100 percent of these funds directly to nonprofits in our region.
To start this effort, we’re giving $1,000 to every food shelf in our region. As part of the March FoodShare Month, many food shelves are able to leverage, often even double, the gift. There is an incredible need for food shelves throughout our entire region. While the number of people and families served varies by each location, stories shared by food shelf staff and volunteers have been similar from one community to another. Here are a few striking examples that were shared this week:
- As expenses—including food costs—rise and wages stay flat or even decrease, more people are living on very tight budgets. About 90 percent of Minnesotans are only two paychecks away from needing food shelf services.
- Rising gas prices have an impact on all of us, but especially those with lower incomes. How do you decide between being able to drive to work or purchase food for your family? Many people in our own communities are faced with this decision.
- With schools out for the summer, June, July and August become the busiest months for many food shelves with families having more mouths to feed all day. Gifts received now make a huge impact, but food shelves are already looking ahead to how they will meet needs in coming months.
Delivering these checks has been a humbling experience for many of us. While there are so many great things happening around us, there is still much we can do to help those in need. With just $5, a food shelf can usually provide about a week’s worth of food. A sincere thanks goes to all food shelf board members, volunteers and staff in all corners of our region. You are all leaders and are truly making a difference in our communities!
Manufacturing: We Can’t Live Without It
Enjoy this guest post from SWIF Program Officer Cheryl Glaeser.
SWIF Program Officer Cheryl Glaeser
I imagine that if each of us was asked to think of someone who works in manufacturing, it wouldn’t take much time to come up with a list; not just one person, but a list. My husband, two of my children, my son-in-law, and three siblings work for companies that do at least some form of manufacturing…just in my immediate family. According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, manufacturing in southwest Minnesota accounts for over 18 percent of all jobs. Our region boasts a strong industrial base with varied manufacturing from food to high technology and everything in between. Consider the things we need and use every day…we literally can’t live without manufacturing.
The Southwest Initiative Foundation has sponsored regional focus groups for Enterprise Minnesota’s State of Manufacturing® for the past few years. The 2012 survey was recently completed and interested business, education, and economic development representatives attended a roll-out of the results in Redwood Falls.
SWIF loan client Jonti Craft, located in Wabasso and owned by Don and Cathy Schwarz, is just one example of the region's many successful manufacturers.
Here are a few key points that stood out in my mind from the presentation, many of which resonated with those in attendance:
- Good news first: 82 percent are confident from a financial perspective about the future for their companies.
- The top four concerns for manufacturers were: health care coverage, government regulations/policies, taxes, and finding and retaining the workers they need.
- Health care costs are by far the top concern—as it has for four years in a row—and is strongly tied to recruiting new workers.
- Nearly six of 10 executives say it is difficult to attract qualified labor.
- Succession planning is important to companies, but the interest is not only for executive levels. There is growing concern about replacing all levels of employees with long-term knowledge/skills as they retire.
- 69 percent say recycling/reuse is important to their manufacturing processes and 18 percent plan to somewhat increase “green” initiatives. Larger firms are doing it because it makes economical sense and smaller ones because they feel it’s the right thing to do.
It’s encouraging that financially speaking, our manufacturers are confident about the future. I hope that decision makers and thought leaders from across our region and the state take the time to review the information gathered through this survey. The executives of manufacturing companies have offered valuable insight. Let’s use it!
There’s Something Special About Southwest Minnesota Entrepreneurs
A group of SWIF microloan clients and staff gathered last year to network and share stories about their businesses.
SWIF has always been committed to supporting entrepreneurs and economic development. We know that the health of our entire region relies on a strong economic base. And, we always hear stories about the amazing things our loan clients and other businesses are able to do from right here in southwest Minnesota. Lately, others have been taking note of these stories, too.
Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) has been running a series called Ground Level: Entrepreneurship and I’m so excited that many of these stories feature southwest Minnesotans. I believe there is no better place to do business. Our rich history of agriculture and innovation directly ties to our strong entrepreneurial spirit. Our region is home to smart, capable, creative and hardworking people who are willing to take risks to make things better for themselves and their families, businesses and communities—and we’re all better because of it!
Check out these stories that have a direct tie to our entrepreneurship and microlending programs:
- “Microloans and a hand to hold fill gap for startups” featuring SWIF’s microloan program and microloan client Chant and Amy Sinvongsa’s Jackson-based Wishy Washy Laundromat
- “Older, wiser Minnesotans turn to self-employment” featuring SWIF microloan client Chester Hoernemann and his Glencoe-based therapy practice, Step by Step Behavioral Counseling, and Greg Jodzio, former SWIF microloan client-turned staff member for our entrepreneurship and development teams
- “When starting a business is the only choice” featuring SWIF microloan client Greg Jenum and his Hutchinson-based business Atomic Tarp. The exercise studio and graphics company mentioned in the story are also SWIF microloan clients—Sarah Popp’s CORE Exercise Studio and AJ and Jessica Forcier’s Crow River Signs.
Many others in the region receive mention in the stories so far, including Granite Falls artist Brad Hall, Montevideo-based CURE, Worthington-based Newport Laboratories and Lac qui Parle EDA Pam Lehmann.
These stories also offer a perfect opportunity to recognize SWIF’s economic development team for their daily work to support businesses in our region. Our staff’s expertise, experience, support and connections help so many entrepreneurs through the many stages of doing business. Take a moment to thank our team next time you connect with them—Berny Berger, Greg Jodzio, Karen Larson, Scott Marquardt, Janet Menton, Kurt Thompson, Jackie Turner-Lovsness and Amy Woitalewicz.
What do you think makes southwest Minnesota a good place for entrepreneurs? Leave a comment to share your thoughts!
Reasons We Stay in Rural Minnesota
Over the last few months, I’ve shared highlights from community and business leaders about new things happening throughout southwest Minnesota. From bringing natural gas service to the Clara City area to capitalizing on Marshall’s Regional Amateur Sports Commission designation, our communities are tackling issues that affect so much in our rural region.
Our leaders are preparing for success by thinking not only about our needs today, but also about what we’ll need in the future—to attract new businesses, meet workforce needs, and provide reasons for families to stay. This means our communities need to be able to meet basic needs like good housing, schools and support services. It means our communities need to have good jobs available. And it also means our communities need to speak up about great local recreation and entertainment.
What’s so exciting to me is that I already see these things happing throughout our region! Our communities of course face challenges, but I believe they are outweighed by the opportunities and more importantly, the committed and capable leaders who are ready and willing to meet both head-on.
Here’s your chance, as leaders, to share what makes your own community a great and important part of rural southwest Minnesota. Post a comment telling us what’s new and/or exciting in your community, and we’ll feature it as a future Believe In Southwest blog post!
Clara City, Minnesota: A Truly Innovative Community
I’m continually learning new things about our southwest Minnesota region. Yesterday’s visit to Clara City for our bi-monthly Board of Directors meeting was no exception, as I learned about some amazing things happening in this bustling community.
Ann Jones Kazemzadeh shared samples from Kay's Naturals, a unique Clara City business, with our board and guests.
Did you know that Cara City—population of about 1,300—is home to a natural foods company, Kay’s Naturals? This is a perfect example of how our region’s agricultural industry and commitment to innovation have come together to create a unique business, providing natural snack foods marketed for sports nutrition, diabetic health and medical weight loss.
And, SWIF’s very first business loan in the late 1980s was made to a Clara City/Maynard company, Impact Innovations. From holiday products like window clings and gift wrap to food merchandise displays, this manufacturer is producing things that we see in Wal-Mart, Target or grocery stores, likely without even realizing they were made here in our region. President/CEO John Dammerman currently serves on SWIF’s microloan advisory committee and CFO Ron Noyes is a past SWIF board member. Both have played an important role in helping SWIF support many other regional businesses to create, retain and sustain local wealth.
Aside from business, the MACCRAY (Maynard-Clara City-Raymond) School District has been an innovator. In 2008, they were the first in Minnesota to implement a four-day school week as a way to better use district resources and provide an effective learning environment for students. They also recently implemented an iPad Initiative—all students in grades 7-12 have iPads as a way to use technology to enhance learning.
Two final things that struck me yesterday:
- Mike Tebben, owner of Tebben Enterprises—a manufacturer of industrial and recreational products—shared the need for employees, specifically welders. This presents a GREAT opportunity for our region’s skilled workforce.
- We also learned that not all of our communities have natural gas resources, which can be a road block to attracting new business and development. The city is working to bring natural gas service into Clara City and nearby communities.
There are so many things that make this a vibrant community—long-standing family businesses, a strong banking presence, quality long-term care facility and strategic partnerships and planning by city and other community leaders. It’s exciting to see the great people and great ideas coming together to create opportunities for this area of our region!
What else would you say makes Clara City one of many southwest Minnesota ‘gems’?
