CEDA

Goodhue County engaged CEDA to create and implement a small business and nonprofit relief grant program utilizing funds the county received through the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act legislation. Businesses (including farms, assisted care, hospitals, and clinics) and nonprofits (including churches) that experienced business interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic were eligible  to apply for up to $10,000. CEDA was asked to manage, review, and award these grants.  During the 12 week application window, 292 applications were received and of those applicants, 231 grants totaling $2,217,620 were deemed eligible for funding! Businesses and nonprofits from Bellechester, Cannon Falls, Dennison, Goodhue, Kenyon, Lake City, Pine Island, Red Wing, Wanamingo, Welch, and Zumbrota were among the communities that received funding. 

The goal of the small business relief fund grant was to provide local businesses and nonprofits with federal CARES Act funds for emergency financial assistance needed due to the pandemic. These funds are meant to help businesses pay for critical business operating expenses and take measures to keep their employees and customers safe as they reopen. Laura Qualey, CEDA Community and Business Development Specialist stated, “It was amazing to be part of a team to help facilitate these funds for Goodhue County. I live in Cannon Falls, so it became a personal mission to get out there and promote the grant program to not only Cannon Falls businesses, but our other surrounding communities in Goodhue County.” 

CEDA marketed the program via press releases to local media, created a program handout, distributed program information to each local city and Chamber of Commerce within the county, purchased advertising through Facebook,  conducted other free social media advertising, went door to door to businesses, and hosted several virtual seminars to discuss the program.  

The program opened on August 7, 2020 and initially closed on October 31, 2020. 220 applications were awarded in the initial period, then the county board allocated an additional $100,000 to the program and additional 11 applications were funded.  CEDA reviewed each application, collected and reviewed supporting documentation, and helped walk applicants through any questions.

Article By: Laura Qualey

Cannon Falls prides itself on the local producers and recreation available in their community. This past October, Laura Qualey, Economic & Community Development Specialist for CEDA and the Economic Development Authority in Cannon Falls, launched a website and social media platforms focused on their local foods initiative called Cannon Roots. Qualey was also part of the brand creation process before she had started working with CEDA for the community. 

Back in 2014, five local food producers in Cannon Falls attended the FEAST! Local Foods Marketplace Event in Rochester. At the time, someone had mentioned that Cannon Falls had good representation for local foods and they made a comment that Cannon Falls seemed to be the “local food capital of Minnesota”. That simple comment got the ball rolling.

With some grant funding and matching dollars from the Economic Development Authority in Cannon Falls, the Cannon Roots brand was created. Two other CEDA team members, Courtney Bergey Swanson and Nicholas Ouelette, were recruited once the brand was created to determine how the brand could be used to help promote the local foods initiative. 

The brand is that it is dedicated to all things local. From the award-winning Cannon River Winery and CannonBelles Cheese, to Tilion Brewing Company, Ferndale Turkey, Sweet Harvest,  Churchill Reserve Grass-fed Beef, Lorentz Meats, Santa Martha Café coffee bean roaster, pet food company Raw Bistro, and most recently added Minny Grown; Cannon Roots is all about showcasing the local flavors and experiences you can have while in Cannon Falls. 

Tourism plays a huge part in the economic success of the area, so that is why Cannon Roots brand also features the adventures you can have during your trip to the town. There is the Mill Towns State Trail that connects to the Cannon Valley Trail as well as the Cannon River, Lake Byllesby and also Welch Ski Village that is only seven miles away!  Cannon Roots has also partnered with SHRPA which is a platform that helps you find entertainment and share things to do within your community. Cannon Roots has their own personal ‘Sherpa’ or ‘influencer’ that creates adventures in the Cannon Falls community and partners the adventures with local food experiences. 

So whether you’re looking for a fun way to spend the day, weekend or a lifetime, it’s worth experiencing the Cannon Roots that makes Cannon Falls so special.

Article By: Rebecca Charles

It is thanks to the generosity of institutions like the Hayfield City Council and the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation that local businesses in Hayfield are able to continue operating through this pandemic.  The Hayfield Economic Development Authority (EDA) was able to construct two separate grant programs, making funding available to all local business owners.  CEDA team member and Hayfield EDA Director, Rebecca Charles, authored and implemented the two programs to local for profit and non-profit businesses.  All applicants were encouraged to spend their grant dollars locally if possible to help stimulate the local economy.

The first program, the Healthy Hayfield Reimbursement Program, was created in an effort to provide the resources necessary to make doing business in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic safe for all existing Hayfield area businesses.  The program was made possible through a $10,000 grant awarded by the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF). To date, the program has assisted more than ten small businesses in the Hayfield area. In addition to assisting applicants, funds are also requested to be spent locally.

While the extra funds were effective in providing PPE, cleaning supplies and other resources for doing business safely, many businesses were still in danger of permanent closure because of decreased business and temporary shut downs due to State mandates.  With the help of Charles, the City Council allocated $30,000 for the purpose of creating the Small Business Retention Grant program. “It is extremely comforting to see local businesses getting the funding that they need to stay afloat” said Charles.  “It is the job of every local government to do all that they can to safeguard their local economies”.  Applicants only needed to show their loss of income or costs associated with the alteration of their physical location to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions in order to qualify. The Small Business Retention Grant provided necessary funds to more than a dozen local businesses through the Hayfield EDA. 

All details regarding both grant programs can be found on the city website at hayfieldmn.com or by contacting CEDA associate Rebecca Charles at rebecca.charles@cedausa.com.

Article By: Chris Hahn

Businesses in Grand Meadow Minnesota, will now be able to apply for financial assistance to repair, preserve, and update commercial properties within the city limits. A newly created Structure and Façade, Improvement Forgivable Loan Program sets aside a total amount of $45,000 that allows for external maintenance and repairs to existing commercial structures.

“Grand Meadow has some truly unique and historic commercial properties that have incredible potential for our community and businesses,” said Chris Hahn, the CEDA team member currently serving as EDA Director for City of Grand Meadow. “This is a matching funds program, where the EDA will match dollar for dollar up to the maximum loan amount upon project completion, and that match is forgivable over five years as providing the building does not change ownership.”

Businesses who qualify can apply for either a $5,000 or $10,000 matching loan. There are three available awards of $5,000 and three awards of $10,000. The program requires that at least 25% of total project funds (owner’s investment plus the EDA match) be used for street-facing, façade improvements such as windows, doors, entryways, etc. It also requires that street-facing façade improvements be completed in an “era-appropriate” manner, as Grand Meadow has a combination of both modern and historic properties. 

“It is both a joy and an enormous challenge to restore the historic buildings in our rural community,” states Shawn Vogt Sween, owner of several historic commercial properties in Grand Meadow. “We are thankful the City of Grand Meadow is joining the effort by committing funds and attention to the issue of historic building preservation. Together, we’ll leave a lasting legacy for future generations.”

The Structure and Façade Improvement Forgivable Loan Program was created through a continued desire to invest back into the Grand Meadow community and offer a program that allows owners of historic & commercial properties to invest in space that facilitates small business and economic growth. This program’s funding comes from existing money set aside by the City of Grand Meadow for distribution by the Economic Development Authority for community investment and enrichment projects.  The EDA will begin reviewing applications in January of 2021.