Northwest Minnesota Foundation
RESOURCE
WINTER 2015
The Northwest Minnesota Foundation invests resources, facilitates collaboration and promotes philanthropy to make the region a better place to live and work.
Number 67
Board of Directors Pete Haddeland, Chair Tom Anderson, Vice Chair Faye Auchenpaugh, Secretary Leah Pigatti, Treasurer Judy Roy Jody Horntvedt Jon Quistgaard Jon Linnell Tom Anderson Cathy Forgit
CHILDCARE IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA There is a joke in northwest Minnesota that many parents can relate to: “The first person you should call after learning you’re pregnant is a child care provider.” Once you learn of the long waiting lists or even total lack of spaces available, it isn’t a laughing matter at all. The Northwest Minnesota Foundation has been working with First Children’s Finance for two years on the >MN (Greater Than Minnesota) Project, an innovative initiative that works to address the challenges of rural child care and early education in Greater Minnesota. This project, involving all six Minnesota Initiative Foundations recognizes that too often, decisions about early care and
education are made in the Twin Cities metro area, while communities in Greater Minnesota are left out of the conversation. The populations may be smaller, but the stakes are just as high. In October 2013, the >MN project was introduced and launched at a town hall meeting in Fertile with the help of Heidi Hagel-Braid, who is the regional director for First Children’s Finance. Quality child care was a major talking point, but so were successful businesses, to whom rural child care providers are a necessity. “What these providers are doing is twofold,” said Hagel-Braid. “They are providing a public good – allowing parents to increase Continued on page 6
Kristin Eggerling Edie Ramstad Steven Anderson
Developing Community Assets Serving 12 Counties
Pictured left to right: Bonny Stechmann (MN Department of Employment and Economic Development), Heidi Hagel-Braid (FCF), Rep. Dan Fabian (MN House District 1A), Vicky Grove (NMF), Rep. Debra Kiel (MN House District 1B).
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Nancy Vyskocil With frigid temperatures in the North Country this winter, NMF staff kept the fire burning! We have been immersed in several projects, most centered on community. In January, the board and staff hosted Red Lake, Leech Lake and White Earth band members for a luncheon meeting to discuss the role of the foundation on each reservation and to learn how we can better serve our American Indian population. Conversation revolved around best ways to partner and keep the channels of communication open. We look forward to future opportunities to get together and continued progress. We need to enhance the social assets of people and organizations in the region. Northwest Minnesota enjoys strong networks of individual leaders, public agencies, and nonprofits. These allow us to work together to address common challenges and opportunities. Nevertheless, the divide between the haves and have-nots seems to grow wider every day. We must increase our investments in closing this gap, in building the capacity of nonprofits and community leaders to more effectively improve the economic status of our less-well-off neighbors. The Nameless Coalition for the Homeless Fund is being housed at NMF. We are partnering with caring, compassionate community members who are working to find immediate solutions for emergency shelter for chronic inebriate homeless individuals.
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We are working with the Headwaters Regional Development Commission (HRDC), city and county officials, and other concerned leaders in the community to address the long-term needs of our homeless population in northwest Minnesota. We are painfully aware of the shelters being at capacity. I was shocked to find out that there are about 275 homeless children in the Bemidji School District at any given time. NMF will host a tour of the San Marcos apartments in Duluth on March 26, 2015. Center City Housing Corp., which owns and operates the San Marcos property, is a private, non-profit housing developer with a focus on serving homeless individuals. The San Marcos apartment complex provides housing stability for chemically dependent homeless and others experiencing chronic homelessness. This 70 unit complex consists of 30 single room units and 40 efficiency units. The tour will showcase a successful business model that provides shelter and supportive services to homeless individuals. Center City Housing is in development talks with advocates in the Bemidji area to open a similar complex. We hope by working together, we will find the best possible outcomes for the entire region.
ASSET BUILDING GRANTS Grants totaling $1,068,816 were awarded from December 2014 – February 2015 COMPONENT FUNDS TOTAL: $949,666
SCHOLARSHIP AWARD TOTAL: $141,250
73 GRANTS AWARDED
159 SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS CARING COMMUNITIES
TOTAL: $25,000
Students First – Beltrami Area Service
Collaborative
NATURAL RESOURCES TOTAL: $5,000 ILIDS Automated Boat Inspection –
TOTAL: $45,000
Girl Scouts in ACTION – After School Program – Girl Scouts of Minnesota &
Wisconsin Lakes and Pines
Little Brother/Little Sister of Pennington County – Thief River Falls School
District
Grace Lake Watershed Improvement Association
COMMUNITY PLANNING TOTAL: $44,150 Red Lake Falls Comprehensive Plan –
City of Red Lake Falls
Norris Camp Long and Short Range Plans for Restoration and Interpretation –
Giziibii RC&D
County Museum Grounds Enhancement Plan – Lake of the Woods County
Historical Society
Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention and Education Monitoring Project
PHILANTHROPIC SERVICES – NEW COMPONENT FUNDS Georgia Hickey Memorial Fund
Evans Charitable Fund
Support for the Soroptimist Club of the Milwaukee Area to assist women by providing resources to improve their education, skills, and employment prospects.
Support for programs, projects, and activities to include but not limited to supporting sports, fitness, health and education to enhance the physical and mental fitness of Roseau County community members.
Component Fund Grants are now found online at
WWW.NWMF.ORG under Component Fund menu.
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BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM BUSINESS FINANCE
MICROLOANS
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Two loans were made in the amount of: $475,000
Business counseling and loans are available to help entrepreneurs develop small business and self-employment opportunities.
Three businesses from Bagley, Fosston, and Bemidji received a total of $3,170
Hillcrest Senior Living, Red Lake Falls
Capital to build an assisted living facility. Armory Square, Park Rapids
Capital for building improvements.
Four loans were made totaling: $74,400 Full Throttle Garage, The Dive Depot, North Country Food & Fuel, Inc., Rejuv Salon and Spa Inc.
HALL OF FAME Steiger Family
Douglass Steiger accepting the award on behalf of the family
www.ideacompetition.org
FEATURED SPEAKER Brian Berdahl
2013 IDEA Competition Winner The IDEA Competition has announced the names of its 2015 finalists who will now move into the final phase of the competition:
• Paul Eickhof, Eickhof Columbaria, Inc., Crookston • William Weaver, LitWeaver, Inc., Bemidji • Eric Niskanen, NISKY LLC, Bemidji • Mychal Stittsworth, Stittsworth Meats, Bemidji • Edwin Dale Hahn, Trinity Land Craft, LLC, Thief River Falls • Adam Wagner, Wagner Malting & Brewing Inc., Fisher 4
This year’s winners will be selected by a judging panel comprised of members from three area equity funds, bankers, successful entrepreneurs, and business development professionals. The panel will choose up to three winners who will each receive $10,000 to advance their business idea, plus additional technical assistance. Winners will be announced at the IDEA Competition Awards Banquet to be held April 22, from 5:00-8:30 p.m.at the University of Minnesota Crookston. Through an annual process, IDEA provides training, business coaching, and capital for northwest Minnesota entrepreneurs who want to turn an idea into a fast-growth business. For more on IDEA, go to www.ideacompetition.org.
NORTHERN ADVANTEDGE CAREER EXPO
OCTOBER 28, 2015 JOHN S. GLAS FIELDHOUSE BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM Exhibitor registrations are open for the 2nd Annual Northern AdvantEdge Career Expo. Companies in Northwest Minnesota are invited to use the event as an opportunity to attract their future workforce by showcasing career opportunities they can offer. The Expo is designed to educate high school students who are beginning to explore career paths about opportunities available with Northwest Minnesota employers. In addition to career specific breakout sessions, regional businesses will have hands-on exhibits on a showcase floor that will allow students to experience the type of work they could be performing for their companies. The Expo will also address the skills and education necessary to become a future employee in specific careers.
$150 per booth Includes 10x10 space with two tables, internet and electricity Sponsorship opportunities range from $500 - $2,000 For more information contact: Ashley Johnson Northwest Minnesota Foundation 218-759-2057 • ashleyj@nwmf.org
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productivity at work and be less absent, plus they are preparing future learners to enter school equipped.” The project has three distinct components that build on and intersect with one another to create a comprehensive approach to addressing rural care and education needs.
Photo credit: Jamie Swezey, First Children’s Finance
Community Solution Action Plan It takes a community to create a community plan. That is why each regional process begins with a Town Hall. Concerned community members, elected officials, lenders, school superintendents, family child care providers, child care centers, small business owners, large employers, teachers, Headstart, rural economic development representatives – and anyone interested in discussing child care is invited to participate. During the meeting, participants are encouraged to explore data about their community, look for gaps and opportunities for improvement, and start to build the basis for a Community Solution Action Plan.
Business Advisory Council After the framework of the Community Solution Action Plan is developed, the >MN Project recruits the business community to review the plan and start engaging in the development of solutions. Engagement of the private sector is a critical component of implementation of the Community Solution Action Plan. Local business community members shape, inform and advocate for the plan, provide business expertise to child care business owners and identify community resources that support successful implementation of the plan. 6
Learning Cohorts Based on the priorities established in the Community Solution Action Plan, learning cohorts are established. Learning cohorts contain 6-8 child care and early education programs within the region. For approximately one year, the cohort has access to training, business consultation and technical assistance from First Children’s Finance to build their capacity to improve their business operations. By building on these three areas, the outcome will strengthen existing early care and education businesses, so children are prepared to enter school. It will expand the availability of quality child care by creating new and innovative community partnerships. Plus, it would increase regional and statewide public awareness of early care and education’s role in rural economic development. The >MN philosophy is very much in line with NMF’s Business Development Program and our Early Childhood Initiative. “In the 90’s we piloted a small loan program, specifically geared to the needs of residential child care businesses,” said NMF Senior Program Officer - Business Finance Diane Morey. “These loans were modest, but the capital was useful for those child care providers who needed to acquire assets or make modest improvements, such as egress windows, to maintain their license.”
Photo credit: Jamie Swezey, First Children’s Finance
The pilot program was eventually folded into the foundation’s small loan program (Entrepreneur Development Program). This loan program is ideally suited to provide loan capital to any sized child care business, including non-profit child care centers. Paired with the loan is a staff person, skilled in business development, who can provide ongoing coaching and mentoring. For larger projects, such as a new child care facility, the Business Finance Program works collaboratively with other lenders to provide the loan capital needed. “First Children’s Finance and >MN has helped to bring the child care issues to the forefront in the communities they serve,” said NMF Program Specialist- Early Childhood Vicky Grove. “Providers are receiving quality training to sustain and improve their services. They are able to access training in the business side of child care close to home from experienced leaders at First Children’s Finance.”
Investing in early childhood care and learning pays big dividends for communities and businesses. Scientific research confirms that children’s earliest experiences, starting even before birth, dramatically affect their ability to succeed. Unfortunately, every year about half of Minnesota’s children enter kindergarten not fully prepared to succeed, according to recent studies by the Minnesota Department of Education. The Northwest Minnesota Foundation, along with the other five Minnesota Initiative Foundations, and generous support from the McKnight Foundation, has made an ambitious commitment to the Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative. Our purpose is to promote high-quality early care and education for children from birth to age five throughout the state, while supporting parents in their important work. Local early childhood coalitions design strategic action plans to improve outcomes for their youngest children. Eighty-six community coalitions are now meeting and working statewide.
NMF supports their efforts by providing quality child care training throughout the region. The upcoming United for Children child care conference in Park Rapids April 17th and 18th is a prime example of quality training for providers close to home. Although rural communities face many challenges, they are also resilient. They have the innovation it takes to develop nimble, creative solutions that will be effective in rural areas. The >MN Project leverages small communities’ independent, can-do attitudes to address early care and education in Greater Minnesota. 7
NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Mailed From Zip Code 56601 Permit No.36
201 3rd St. NW
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Bemidji, MN 56601
UPCOMING EVENTS APRIL 15 & 16 – LEGACY FUNDS TRAINING
Locations: Bemidji and Thief River Falls Learn how Legacy Funds can help your project! Local experts will share their knowledge of Legacy Amendment Funds and how to navigate the application process. The Northwest Minnesota Foundation, the Northwest Regional Development Commission, and the Headwaters Regional Development Commission have partnered to offer this training at no charge. The training is for public agencies and non-profits that work in the fields of arts, culture, and environmental issues.
APRIL 17 & 18 – 2015 UNITED FOR CHILDREN’S CONFERENCE
Location: Park Rapids Making Lemonade: An entire early childhood conference dedicated to helping you turn lemons into lemonade!
APRIL 28 - ENGAGING VOLUNTEERS ACROSS GENERATIONS
Location: Crookston Help your organization be successful recruiting and retaining volunteers. Plus, listen to others’ experiences with volunteers from different generations and how they engage people of all ages.
MAY 12 – FRANKLIN COVEY’S LEADING ACROSS GENERATIONS WITH KEVIN ENNIS
Location: Bemidji This four-hour, leadership-development module, provides leaders a profound understanding of the differences between generations. Great leaders don’t just understand the differences, they also recognize the importance of putting those differences to work in finding more creative solutions to problems; fostering robust, productive dialog; and engaging team members in giving their highest and best contributions.
JUNE 2 & 3 – SOCIAL ENTERPRISE WITH JEAN BLOCK AND KELLY GREENLEES
Locations: Crookston and Bemidji It’s no secret that many traditional funding sources are shrinking. Nonprofit organizations can no longer rely on the same old way of developing financial resources. So enroll in Social Enterprise training to learn about earned income and following the road to self-sufficiency and sustainability.
For more information and to register – visit www.nwmf.org.