Annandale Community Field Day: Apr 27

The Annandale Area Community Team (ACT) and the Initiative Foundation would like to invite you to a Community Field Day on Saturday April 27th!

The event is designed to bring leaders together to share ideas in community and economic development and tour projects in the Annandale area.  These include recreational park amenities, downtown green space, bike paths, and a food shelf.

Annandale, with a population of about 3,000, began working on improvement projects in 2002 when they joined the Initiative Foundation’s community development program. 

The community has been had some significant successes and is willing to share their experiences with other civic minded groups as they attempt to improve wherever it is they call home!

“Our goal is to cross-pollinate ideas and learn from each other,” said Dan Frank, Senior Program Manager for Community and Economic Development.  “We’re hoping that Annandale’s successes and challenges will inspire those conversations and relationships.”

The free event, which includes a complimentary lunch, tours, and educational presentations, is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 27th.

To register or for more information, contact Robert Muschler at (320) 632-9255, rmuschler@ifound.org.

All you need to bring is comfortable weather-appropriate clothing and the knowledge you already possess about your community. You may be asked to share one or two things that you believe your town does well. What is the “shining star” in your community? In addition to food from a local eatery there will be door prizes from the ACT group!

Agenda

10:00: Welcome and Coffee at City Hall

10:15: Hear from Annandale representatives

- Town Description (history, demographics, etc)
- Issues

- TCI process experience 

- Projects- successful and otherwise

- Current projects, priorities and challenges
 

11:00: City Tour 

12:00: Lunch and Discussion, Your Community Successes

1:00: Adjourn

To learn more about the Annandale team, their past projects and their goals for the future visit: www.annandaleonline.com/ACT.  Or read an article in IQ Magazine, featuring Annandale's projects!

Snow Business

It's mid-March and winter is still going strong. That might be tough for those of us who could use a burst of warm air and sunshine. But for central Minnesota businesses that depend on snow, a white winter usually means a lot of green. From snow machine maker Arctic Cat in Thief River Falls to Little Falls Machine, which manufactures snow plows, to the 8,500 businesses statewide that depend on winter tourism, our region's businesses benefit greatly from good winters and have to find ways to adapt when mother nature keeps our lawns brown in January.


The latest issue of IQ takes a close look at the impact winter has on the region's businesses, from manufacturing to farming to construction. Learn more from this in-depth story by Laura Billings Coleman.

Welcome, Dan Meyer!

We recently welcomed Dan Meyer to our board of trustees, where he will serve a renewable three-year term. 

Dan is the board chair of Atomic Learning, Inc., which provides technology training services and products to schools, small businesses and individuals. Meyer was among a group of educators who launched Atomic Learning in 2000 and served as CEO from 2007 through 2012. 

“Dan’s passion for technology and education make him an excellent addition to our board as we address challenges facing central Minnesota businesses and communities,” said Kathy Gaalswyk, Initiative Foundation president. 

“The combination of changing demographics in the workforce, skills needed by an increasingly technological workplace and the globalization of our economy present significant challenges and opportunities for the Initiative Foundation to continue to positively impact the region,” said Meyer. “Being asked to be on the Board of Trustees is a significant honor.” 

Dan holds a BA in Business Education from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN and a MA in Technology & Learning from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN. Dan currently serves on the Brainerd YMCA Foundation Board and has been involved with many other organizations including the International Society for Technology in Education and Partnership for 21st Century Skills. 

Welcome, Dan!

Double Bottom Line

Central Minnesota's business landscape is dotted with coffee shops, energy companies and second hand stores. All sell a product in the hopes of turning a profit. Now, some are also fueling nonprofit organizations with their proceeds.

Nationwide, foundation assets--one of the primary sources of funding for many nonprofits--fell by an unprecedented 17 percent in 2008. Although grantmaking has stabilized, the long-term impact and outlook seems uncertain.

As more organizations compete for less grant money and government funding becomes less reliable, a growing number of nonprofits are turning to social enterprise to ensure their organizations' fiscal health. In basic terms, a social enterprise model uses entrepreneurial, revenue-generating strategies for earned income. Those strategies and activities are directly tied to the nonprofit's mission.

In the current issue of IQ, Rachel Reabe Nystrom profiles three outstanding central Minnesota models of social enterprise: Wadena's The Cyber Cafe; the Common Goods thrift store operated by Brainerd's Bridges of Hope; and the Rural Renewable Energy Alliance in Pine River. 

Check out the full story here.

2013 Valspar Paint Program

In 2013 Valspar Corporation will once again be offering nonprofits and communities a chance to apply for free paint and coatings through its “Minnesota Beautiful” partnership with the Initiative Foundation.

Representatives from the Initiative Foundation and Valspar will select 8-10 restoration or beautification projects to receive paint and coatings based on their visual impact, public benefit, volunteer participation and support, intended use and benefit to the needy.  

Projects that may qualify for a grant include historic buildings, community centers, public buildings, facilities for seniors or people with disabilities, murals or other visual impact projects.  Ineligible projects include denominational churches, city maintenance, schools (except murals) and privately owned buildings.  Projects must take place in one or more of the counties in the Foundation's service area.

Applications are due by March 4, 2013. For more information or to apply download the fact sheet/application or contact Dan Frank at (877) 632-9255 , dfrank@ifound.org.  

Bare Market

Rural grocers are crucial to their communities. Not only do they provide jobs with steady incomes, but they also give residents easy access to fresh and healthy food and community connections. Today, as this article by IQ writer Andy Steiner demonstrates, many rural grocers are having a hard time competing with discount retails such as Walmart and Target, which sell food in addition to consumer products.

Fortunately, there are several central Minnesota grocers who are surviving and even thriving in this increasingly difficult business. From Chris' Food Centers in Sandstone and Pine City to Gosch's Store in Randall, enterprising grocers are drawing customers with their personal service and commitment to quality.

Read more...

The Economic Forces of Air Travel

How does access to top-quality air service impact the economy of central Minnesota? That's the question IQ reporter Laura Billings Coleman set out to answer in our latest cover story.

For businesses, tourism, and retirees with second homes in warmer climates, airports matter. In fact, industry statistics show that every daily flight represents $4 million in annual economic impact for a community. When customers who could have boarded planes in their own regions fly out of Duluth or Fargo or the Twin Cities, millions of dollars in potential revenue are lost. "Better air service is a hidden piece of our economic development," said Kathy Gaalswyk, president of the Initiative Foundation.

Find out what central Minnesota cities, including St. Cloud and Brainerd, are doing to make their air service offerings more robust in this extensively reported story.

Welcome to the New IQ

The Initiative Foundation is delighted to announce that the first issue of the redesigned and refocused IQ magazine is now available. Our new magazine reflects the Foundation's increasing focus on economic development in central Minnesota.

In addition to a new look, you'll find stories that matter not only to business and community leaders, but also anyone with an interest in philanthropy, community engagement and leadership. In every issue you'll be kept up to speed with the news and trend stories that most impact our region and meet the people behind them.

We're looking forward to hearing from you, so please feel free to send your thought or comments.

The healthcare industry leads the way in central MN

The healthcare business is the largest industry  in Minnesota, employing about 427,000 people--or 16.3 percent of total state-wide employment. In central Minnesota, there are 45,500 healthcare jobs, representing 17.5 percent of total employment.

And those numbers are expected to climb still higher. Over the coming decade, healthcare is estimated to provide about 103,000 new jobs statewide and about 14,500 new jobs in central Minnesota. That's growth of 25.5 percent statewide and 33.6 percent in central Minnesota.

To learn more about how the healthcare industry is contributing to central Minnesota's economy, take a look at John Reinan's story in the latest issue of IQ.

And be sure to keep an eye out for the new IQ in early November. We'll be eager to hear what you think of our new look and focus.

Wellness at Work

Did you know every dollar that’s invested in employee wellness programs returns between $3 and $6 in reduced absenteeism, improved productivity and avoided medical costs? In our recent issue of IQ devoted to health care, Laura Billings Coleman highlights several local companies who are leading the way in keeping employees happy and healthy.

One standout is Becker Furniture World in Becker. “We feel our employees are our most important assets, but most of the time you do more maintenance on your trucks, furnace, and air conditioning.,” said Brian Huseby, the owner of Becker Furniture World. In addition to onsite fitness centers, biometric testing, chiropractic services, and even vitamin recommendations for all employees, Becker also has a prescription for success that you can read here.

St. Cloud-based ING Direct and Clow Stamping in Merrifield are also profiled in the story.