GreenSeam Tiered Booklet

What is GreenSeam?

GreenSeam is an economic development nonprofit organization and region that encompasses counties in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa.

With a mission of elevating the area as a world-class food and business epicenter, GreenSeam embraces this region’s natural strengths to shape a thriving economic future for agriculture, businesses, and communities in this area.

If you live or work in this area, you are a part of the GreenSeam!

GreenSeam is an industry cluster, similar to Silicon Valley and Wall Street. We welcome food and ag businesses to expand and relocate here to be a part of a richly-connected ag industry.

We focus on four key areas:

Business Retention & Expansion

With more than 1,000 ag and ag-related businesses in the region, our best opportunities for growth are already here. By addressing supply chain opportunities and issues, exploring new markets, products, and technologies, as well as navigating legislative and regulatory challenges, GreenSeam helps ensure the growth and retention of businessess already present in the region.

Business Attraction & Creation

Inviting, attracting, and supporting start-ups is key to enhancing economic vitality. GreenSeam provides resources, technical consulting, strategy, and connections to help entrepreneurs establish new businesses and current business owners thrive.

Talent Development, Retention & Attraction

People are the most valuable asset and the lifeblood of our region. We must drive awareness of careers in agriculture and help prepare skilled talent to join the workforce. GreenSeam partners with educational institutions to implement ag programs and to create synergies with businesses to develop the talent needed to support future growth.

Regional Branding & Promotion

Building awareness of the GreenSeam and sharing the impact of agriculture shines a light on the value this region naturally brings to the table. Showcasing the GreenSeam, our people, and the passion we have for agriculture helps make this region the clear choice for growing any ag-connected business.

Goals & Impact

5-Year Strategic Goals

CONVENE AND BUILD THE REGIONAL ECOSYSTEM

Build collaboration as the food and ag ecosystem conductor.

ENHANCE STRATEGIC LEVERAGE AND INFLUENCE

Position GreenSeam as the “go-to” voice for bio, food, ag innovation, investment, and policy.

DRIVE WORKFORCE ATTRACTION AND TALENT DEVELOPMENT

Build the talent pipeline and attract global skills.

AMPLIFY THE GREENSEAM BRAND

Expand and amplify the GreenSeam brand and profile as a purpose-based consortium.

Recent Impact

Tracked $850 million in new economic investments for businesses and organizations across the region.

Helped initiate ten new ag-related programs in K-12 schools and colleges within the region.

Assisted in the creation of new ag-focused programs, which resulted in more than 3,000 students enrolled.

GreenSeam Futures

To help foster creative and meaningful collaborations between the agribusiness community and educational institutions in southern Minnesota, we established GreenSeam Futures, a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization.

Mission & Vision

To be the gateway for resources to educate, launch, and grow tomorrow’s ag and food leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs. The primary focus of GreenSeam Futures is fostering creative, meaningful collaborations between the agricultural community and educational institutions of southern Minnesota for the benefit of local students and the community at large.

FOCUS AREAS

WORK-BASED LEARNING SUPPORT

GreenSeam Futures will create opportunities for students pursuing degrees not traditionally linked to agriculture to learn about the wide range of careers available in modern food and agribusiness.

CLASSROOM PARTNER PROJECTS

GreenSeam Futures wants to help agribusinesses formulate project proposals and integrate these projects into class curriculums so students can learn through hands-on work.

PUBLIC RESEARCH

GreenSeam Futures and our educational partners will fund research to help solve pressing issues affecting agricultural communities. Research results willl be shared with the public.

BEING A GATEWAY

GreenSeam Futures will focus on helping individuals find resources to best support their needs without duplicating resources already available to area students, innovators, and entrepreneurs.

Our current educational institution partners include Minnesota State University, Mankato and South Central College. Scan the code to learn more about GreenSeam Futures and how you can get involved.

Showing Up in Communities

Here are a few of the ways GreenSeam shows up in communities throughout

the region.

Global Workforce Program

The Global Workforce Program launched in June 2023, providing technical assistance to food & ag businesses seeking to hire non-U.S. citizens to meet their talent needs. It served half a dozen regional food and ag businesses with HR and legal guidance for hiring and retaining international employees. The program was a capstone to a series of global workforce opportunities events hosted by GreenSeam over the last two years to educate our business community on the potential of international hiring to address regional workforce challenges. This work was made possible by the SBA’s Community Navigators program and our hub and spoke grant partners in Mainstreet Businesses Focused on Food and Agriculture.

Business Retention & Expansion Visits

The Business Retention & Expansion Committee conducted two outreach visits in 2023, spending a full day in both New Ulm and Waseca. Committee members met with over a dozen food and ag businesses to hear about the challenges they are experiencing and opportunities they see for growth. They also meet with local chambers and city administration to enhance ongoing partnerships and align economic development efforts. These visits are an important way for GreenSeam to keep a finger on the pulse of our business community and connect food and ag businesses to the resources they need to be successful.

FutureSolvers Cultivation Challenge

Last November, GreenSeam Futures partnered with Minnesota State University, Mankato’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship to engage entrepreneurially-minded students with the real-world opportunities for innovation in our industry. The FutureSolvers Cultivation Pitch Challenge invited undergraduate students in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa to compete in teams to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to a common challenge in the food and ag economy. Six finalists delivered their pitches to judges at a live event on the final day of Global Entrepreneurship Week, and over $14,500 was awarded to the winning teams.

Crystal Valley Feed Mill

GreenSeam supported Crystal Valley in the construction of a state-of-theart feed mill in Trimont. Through strategic initiatives and industry expertise, GreenSeam played a crucial role in securing more favorable financing rates for Crystal Valley, ensuring the success of the project. GreenSeam aided Crystal Valley’s access to USDA funding options, maximizing the feed mill’s local economic impact and delivering long-term benefits to farmers, businesses, and the entire region.

GreenSeam Events

Attend some of the many GreenSeam events and network with business and community leaders.

Get To Know the GreenSeam

Want to learn more about GreenSeam, the people involved, and get connected with other business leaders in the region? Join us for a casual gathering to gain insights, network, and explore how GreenSeam can support your growth.

Celebration of Ag

Investors and partners are invited to celebrate the success of agriculture, hear about GreenSeam’s accomplishments over the past year, network with key ag leaders, and enjoy a Mankato MoonDogs game. With food, drinks, and conversations included, it’s a fun way to connect with others in the industry and take in a summer pastime.

Rural Forum

This signature event connects public leaders with farmers and a wide range of professionals from across the ag industry. Topics addressed at Rural Forum revolve around key issues facing the rural community and offers an opportunity to brainstorm solutions.

State of Ag Report

Share your insights and experiences through our annual State of Ag Survey and focus groups. Each year, we talk with key stakeholders about issues they see impacting their organizations, communities, and the ag industry. We compile the results to create a State of Ag Report which helps us better serve and support the future of food and ag in our region.

Invest in the GreenSeam

The benefit of investing or partnering with GreenSeam is the versatility. Our team is passionate about strategically attracting, building, and empowering new and existing businesses, their employees, and the communities they call home. No matter the size of your business or your connection to agriculture, GreenSeam makes it easy to get involved.

Who Should Get Involved?

Business professionals, entrepreneurs, educators, university representatives, chambers of commerce, community leaders, and more. GreenSeam offers something for everyone, including many ways to show your support.

What Does it Cost?

A minimum financial investment in GreenSeam is $1,000 a year. We are also looking for people who are passionate about agriculture and to engage in our work. GreenSeam Futures, GreenSeam’s new 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm, presents opportuntiies for additional tax-deductible, charitable contributions.

CONTACT A GREENSEAM TEAM MEMBER TO INVEST TODAY!

The Value of Your Investment

Every investment matters and helps make our region and communities stronger. In return for your support, GreenSeam offers several benefits:

Make Connections

Connect with talent, policy makers, and local leaders to help your business thrive. Attend a GreenSeam event or reach out to our team for a consultation.

Find Resources

Think you’re dealing with a unique business challenge? Our team of experts can work with you to find a solution.

Build Your Talent Pipeline

Learn about opportunities like Global Workforce and GreenSeam Futures, which can help your business connect with the right talent to fuel future growth.

Grow Your Network

Get added to our business directory and attend events with other leaders and professionals who can help enhance your business.

Stay Informed

Sign up for our gNews and follow us on social media for timely news, information, and insights you can use to stay ahead of issues.

Hear from Investors

““I have spent my life’s work supplying electrical and automation solutions to agricultural operations in rural America from hog production, grain handling systems, corn and soybean processing, and fertilizer/herbicide delivery systems across the United States.

I invest in GreenSeam to help current students become aware of the interesting and exciting career opportunities that are available in the ag industry and how they can prepare for one of the many high-tech positions constantly opening up in rural America.”

- Wayne Kahler, Kahler Automation Investor since 2015

““We invest in GreenSeam because many of our clients are tied to agriculture and want to see growth of the industry in the region. I recommend investing in GreenSeam because it’s one of the few agricultural advocates in the area.

I also appreciate what GreenSeam is doing to bring agriculture programs back into classrooms at high schools and colleges. This helps us prepare and keep talented individuals in the region. When local businesses struggle with issues, GreenSeam helps work toward a collective solution.”

- Jerad Michels, Eide Bailly Investor since 2015

Thank You to Our Investors & Partners

Our accomplishments would not be possible without our investors, partners, and volunteers who share our vision of a connected and thriving agricultural epicenter. These companies and institutions span an economic continuum which includes production, processing, manufacturing, professional services, technology, education, and more, showcasing that, in the GreenSeam, ag touches everything

SCAN HERE TO SEE OUR MOST UP-TO-DATE LIST OF SUPPORTERS.