Archives for May 2024

By Joshua Schuetz

Entrepreneurship is the engine that drives many small communities forward. In April, the Madelia EDA organized an Entrepreneur Roundtable event in partnership with the local Chamber of Commerce and Area Redevelopment Corporation to recognize the city’s entrepreneurs and introduce entrepreneurship to other community members.

“We had six panelists from Madelia discuss their journeys to entrepreneurship, with a range of experience from 3 months to 20 years,” said CEDA team member Celia Simpson, lead organizer for the event.

The event was held on April 17th at Inspire Weddings and Bridal Events Center, a new business in downtown Madelia that opened in April. The panelists were: Lynne Speckman from Sweet! Indeed, LLC; Katie Sorenson from K Marie’s Pizzeria; Dustin VanHale from Total Lawn Care & Landscape; Laura Sorenson from Linden Sky Boutique; Cody Eager from Minnesota Golf & Outdoor; and Krystal Hernandez from La Plaza F!esta.

“The talk was focused on why they wanted to be entrepreneurs, why they chose Madelia, some of the surprises they faced when they became business owners and advice they had for potential entrepreneurs,” Simpson said. “A majority of panelists were from Madelia, and some had come back to the city to start their businesses.”

Simpson said one challenge was engaging students, as the event took place in the evening, which is a difficult time to reach them. Nevertheless, the event was a success, with nearly two dozen attendees from different walks of life taking the time to learn about the experiences of local entrepreneurs. Simpson credited the panelists with providing an informative and friendly environment for attendees.

“One of our goals with this event was to celebrate our entrepreneurs and support their role in the community,” Simpson said. “Our panelists were really friendly and willing to step up and speak-they’re strongly connected with Madelia, and we saw that front and center at this event.”

By Joshua Schuetz

Downtown Spring Grove will soon be awash with music and the smell of craft beer and homemade barbeque, thanks to CEDA and the Spring Grove and Houston County EDAs.

Fat Pat’s Brewery, a local food truck specializing in Texas-style barbeque and craft brewing will have a location in downtown Spring Grove. CEDA team members Courtney Bergey Swanson and Allison Wagner worked with the owner of Fat Pat’s, Patrick Longmire Jr. to secure more than $100,000 in loan funding from the two EDAs for the new location.

Longmire Jr. comes from a family of entrepreneurs-his father owns the city’s grocery store-and he was inspired to try his hand at cooking barbeque after working in Texas.

“He started smoking barbeque out of the store and that grew into a food truck business, which in turn grew into a restaurant wing added onto the store,” Bergey Swanson said. “They were selling out regularly, so they were trying to figure out the next step.”

As conversations evolved, so too did the project, resulting in a plan to renovate a former auto mechanic shop in downtown Spring Grove. The project cost more than $1,000,000, with the Spring Grove and Houston County EDAs contributing $40,000 and $80,000 through their respective revolving loan funds. Fat Pat’s also received an additional $15,000 in grant funding through the Spring Grove EDA’s Restaurant Challenge program. “It’s been so fun to see this project evolve and we’re very excited for their opening,” Wagner said.

While the brewery does have a restaurant component, Bergey Swanson said it can also be considered a manufacturing business, due to the products it will create at its location. “We started to think about it as a manufacturing project, because they’re producing their own barbeque and brewing their own beer onsite,” Bergey Swanson said.

Fat Pat’s is also partnering with another local entrepreneur to create craft pizza, which will also be served at the brewery. Bergey Swanson said Fat Pat’s is a great example of the next generation forging a legacy in small-town Minnesota. “It’s cool to think of ways to help people grow in your community, and I love the story of how we can help the people who come back to our communities,” she said.

By Joshua Schuetz

CEDA’s Rural Business Innovation Lab (RBIL) has announced the selection of its second cohort, comprising eleven innovative companies across Minnesota and Wisconsin. This diverse group of businesses and organizations has been chosen based on their commitment to innovation, sustainability, and impact on rural communities.

RBIL is a cohort-based entrepreneurial development program that seeks to dismantle the false narrative of rural decline by fostering a vibrant ecosystem of rural entrepreneurs. Through the program, these innovators will access a robust network of peers, industry experts, and resources essential for starting and scaling their businesses.

The 2024 RBIL cohort spans a wide array of industries, reflecting RBIL’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity in rural entrepreneurship. From agriculture and sustainability to farm-to-table food and herbal remedies, these ventures embody the spirit of innovation and resilience.

Meet the members of the 2024 RBIL cohort:

• Baptism River Barbeque (Silver Bay, MN) – Crafting authentic Northwoods barbecue using locally sourced ingredients from Lake Superior’s north shore.
• Rustic Roots Farm (Alexandria, MN) – Balancing sustainable farming practices with innovative techniques to produce high-quality agricultural products.
• Simple Cider Co. (Annandale, MN) – Creating a family-friendly space offering both hard cider and non-alcoholic juice, redefining inclusivity in beverage culture.
• Lavender Barnyard (Farmington, MN) – Cultivating native Minnesota lavender while providing a serene retreat for visitors seeking tranquility.
• Bayl (Northfield, MN) – Crafting heirloom-quality woolen goods and reimagining ethical apparel production.
• Cannon Valley Graziers (Northfield, MN) – Specializing in adaptive grazing and targeted vegetation management for ecological impact in Southern Minnesota.
• Get Bentz Farm (Northfield, MN) – Raising Icelandic sheep and producing a range of wool products sourced from local fibers.
• Lakota Made (Mankato, MN) – Offering indigenous herbal remedies and eco-friendly personal care products rooted in sustainability and cultural heritage.
• Fiddlehead Knob (Le Roy, MN) – A solar-powered family farm specializing in mushroom cultivation and foraging for local food sustainability.
• Embark Maple (Viroqua, WI) – Harnessing organic maple syrup for energy and nutrition in innovative food products.
• Driftless Seeds (Ferryville, WI) – Providing high-quality, locally adapted seeds and supplies for Midwest growers, with a focus on sustainability.

The formation of this cohort represents a pivotal moment in rural economic development, aligning with RBIL’s mission to empower entrepreneurs from all backgrounds. RBIL is committed to providing equal access and support, particularly for diverse individuals in rural communities.

Throughout the eight-month program, cohort members will receive personalized coaching, industry workshops, and access to a comprehensive network of resources and experts. With financial support from both Compeer Financial and MN Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), RBIL aims to catalyze entrepreneurship-led economic development (ELED) by fostering sustainable business growth and job creation in rural areas.

For more information about RBIL and updates on the cohort’s progress, visit:
https://www.cedausa.com/ruralinnovation/ and follow us on Instagram @ruralbusinessinnovationlab