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.

Welcome, new trustees!

This past Monday, we welcomed new trustees, Tracy Tapani & Wayne Wolden!  Here's a snapshot of them with our board chair, Linda Eich DesJardins (far left) & president, Kathy Gaalswyk (second from left).  You can learn more about them by reading the official news releases:

- Tapani Joins Foundation Board
- Wolden Joins Foundation Board

Inside a Trade Mission

On June 8, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton embarked on a trade mission to China. Fifty delegates--including St. Cloud State president & Initiative Foundation trustee Dr. Earl Potter--will travel to Beijing, Shanghai, and Xian (the capital of Shaanxi Province) for a ten day trip of networking events and meetings with U.S. and Chinese government officials.


Our latest issue of IQ explores the potential of exporting for Minnesota companies and gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at what it's like for the employees in charge of making sure these events go off without a hitch. (Hint: there's a mind-boggling amount of protocol.) Check out our profile of international trade representative Jeffrey Phillips.


You can read more about the trade mission and the representatives here.

Relationships Matter

We all know that meetings go better when we have face-to-face contact. But that can get complicated when your business partner is in Beijing or Bogota. When we were putting together our current issue of IQ about exporting, we were surprised to learn how much personal connections and relationships matter when it comes to doing business overseas. From navigating cultural differences (did you know that Koreans seat the most senior executive facing the door?) to understanding protocol it's clear that you can't just do business the way you would if you were shipping your goods and services from central Minnesota to Texas. 


Investing in relationships matters, particularly when you are taking your company global.

Exporting for the small business owner

Our latest issue of IQ is dedicated to how exporting goods and services can help central Minnesota businesses survive and even thrive in this uncertain economic climate. But understanding complex tariffs, international shipping and business regulations, and the cultural differences of countries you’d like to export to may seem daunting if you are a small business  and don’t have the resources of a 3M or Cargill.  


That’s why we put together an exporting resource list--think of it as your little black book to doing business abroad. You’ll also want to make sure to check out the opportunities offered by the Minnesota Trade Office’s STEP: ExportAssistance for Small Business Program, which provides financial and technical assistance to qualifying Minnesota small businesses who are interested in exporting to foreign markets.

The Select Six

“Nonprofits and communities can face a real dilemma when a building needs some TLC. They may have an army of volunteer painters, but they can’t afford the paint,” says Dan Frank, Initiative Foundation program manager.  “Valspar helps volunteers to help their communities and we’re grateful for their commitment.”

The Initiative Foundation, in partnership with the Minneapolis-based Valspar Corporation, selected six community and nonprofit organizations to receive more than 400 gallons of free paint and coatings.  Now in its 15th year, the “Minnesota Beautiful” program awards were based on community need, public benefit, visual impact and volunteer participation. 

Congratulations to this year’s colorful award winners!

• Oasis Central MN, Little Falls - exterior paint for the Community Paint-A-Thon for low-income or disabled homeowner-occupied homes.
• A Place For You, Pine City - interior paint walls, ceilings, and basement as well as exterior siding of a transitional homeless shelter.
• Leader-Poplar Senior Citizens, Staples – exterior paint for the Leader Community Hall.
• City of Maple Lake - exterior paint for the baseball park fence, grandstand, concession stand and dugouts.
• England Prairie Pioneer Club, Wadena - exterior stain and paint for the buildings.
• Mille Lacs County Agricultural Society, Princeton – paint for fairgrounds maintenance.