By Joshua Schuetz
Thirteen innovative rural businesses from Minnesota and Wisconsin have been selected for the Rural Business Innovation Lab’s (RBIL) 2025 cohort.
RBIL helps rural startups scale by providing one-on-one consulting, specialized training, and networking opportunities. Over the next eight months, members of RBIL’s newest cohort will receive these services at no cost to them. Since CEDA launched RBIL in 2023, the influential program has supported 20 businesses across two cohorts.
The 2025 cohort represents a diverse range of industries and products:
- Impacks (Waite Park, MN): A tech-driven company simplifying back-to-school shopping for families and educators nationwide.
- Carlson Roasting Company (Houston, MN): A small-batch coffee roaster sourcing Fair Trade and Organic beans from around the world.
- Clear View Regenerative Farms & Services (Altura, MN): Providing agricultural support and lab services to promote ecosystem regeneration in the Upper Midwest.
- Tiger Trail Lefse Chip Co. (Peterson, MN): A family-run business crafting flavorful lefse chips.
- Salt of the North (Northfield, MN): Producing natural dyes while fostering community education on sustainable textile practices.
- Ty’s Ginseng (Morristown, MN): Growing premium ginseng in Minnesota’s ideal climate.
- Prairie PROducers, LLC (Olivia, MN): An industrial hemp fiber producer helping diversify crop options and reduce reliance on petroleum-based plastics.
- Small Town Vibes (Hutchinson, MN): Enhancing rural talent attraction through immersive tourism experiences.
- Sweet Haven Tonics (New Ulm, MN): Crafting premium cocktail concentrates and hosting community events.
- Oh, Beehave! Goods (Hudson, WI): Offering organic, sustainable skincare and lip balm kits.
- American Hazelnut Company (Gays Mills, WI): A grower-owned business building a sustainable Midwest hazelnut industry.
- Tortilleria Zepeda (Lone Rock, WI): Producing authentic Mexican corn tortillas using traditional nixtamalization techniques.
- Woollets (Argyle, WI): Repurposing unused wool into a sustainable alternative to peat for soil renewal.
These businesses reflect the strength and innovation of rural entrepreneurs. RBIL looks forward to
supporting their growth in 2025 and beyond!
To learn more about RBIL, visit our webpage at: https://www.cedausa.com/ruralinnovation/
Contacts:
Cameron Payne, Entrepreneurial Programs Manager
– Email: cameron.payne@cedausa.com
– Phone: 304-941-6006
Joshua Schuetz, Entrepreneurial Programs Specialist
– Email: joshua.schuetz@cedausa.com
– Phone: 507-841-2139
