Northwest Minnesota Foundation ~ Developing Community Assets ~ Serving 12 Counties SUMMER 2009
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Number 50
IDEA Competition Back for Another Year New Applications Accepted Now through November 30
Successful businesses start with a flash of inspiration, hard work, and the right connections. If you have a breakthrough idea and want to turn it into a profitable business, the IDEA Competition can help. Whether you’ve never started a company or you’re already in business, the competition can add momentum to your business strategy. IDEA (which stands for Ingenuity Drives Entrepreneur Acceleration) is a project of Ingenuity Frontier, a collaboration of partners joined by a common purpose – to grow the economy of Northwest Minnesota by outfitting the next generation of homegrown innovators for success in the global marketplace. Although IDEA can be described as a competition, it is a lot more. IDEA is about assisting the most promising local entrepreneurs in the commercialization of innovative products, processes and deliveries by connecting them to the best resources available, along with access to the capital it takes to launch a successful venture. Last year, 61 participants were narrowed to just four winners. Each was awarded $10,000 cash along with another $10,000 in technical assistance to help develop their business ideas.
Dan, left and Adam Zejdlik, right, a father and son duo from East Grand Forks, display their winning snowboard prototype. Photograph by John Borga
The winners are very pleased with the impact of the recognition, beyond the cash awards. Eric Thorsgard of the Forte Keyboard Company in Bemidji said, “The exposure my business has received from the IDEA Competition has been incredible.” Thorsgard invented two new keyboard instruments that feature key configurations that are easier to learn than those on a piano. “This competition is a great way to increase awareness of your products, add credibility to your business and facilitate cooperation
from other business professionals to help build your business bigger and better,” Thorsgard stated. East Grand Forks resident Don Zejdlik, designer of a snowboard component for improved performance said, “The IDEA group genuinely wants you to succeed, and they’re willing to help you any way they can.” He added, “The valuable marketing advice, effective business strategies, and prize money we received breathed new life into our business.” Todd Ham of Bagley developed the Ice Auger Shroud System, (Continued on page 2)
A Message from the President Nancy Vyskocil
The Northwest Minnesota Foundation invests resources, creates opportunities and promotes philanthropy to make the region a better place to live and work. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Eric Bergeson Chair Fertile Mark Hewitt Vice-Chair Park Rapids Gary Purath Secretary Red Lake Falls Dean Johnson Treasurer Mahnomen Terri Anderson Ogema David Bergman Thief River Falls Roger Malm Hallock Kim Wilson Fosston Robert Hager Greenbush Laurie Wilson Crookston Jody Horntvedt Baudette Judy Roy Redby
People often ask me what the foundation does and what my job is. In the simplest terms, I reply that we help Northwest Minnesota and its residents reach their full potential. When I get up each morning and start the day, I know my job is to strive to make Northwest Minnesota the best place to raise a family, work and enjoy life. The best part of my job is having many great partners on the same path, sharing a similar mission. Over the past year, a number of these partners have been coming together in a very intentional way to focus on the economic vitality of the region. Key stakeholders from education, healthcare, manufacturing, finance, energy, communications, tribal governments and nonprofits have formed an alliance. This group, known as the Regional Economic Alliance or REA, has been meeting quarterly to articulate a purpose, identify core values, and determine a primary focus. The group agrees that the time to plan for the future is today, that we need to capitalize on what we have and treasure within the 12 counties of Northwest Minnesota, and that we can and will work together to build on diverse strengths for common prosperity. The REA continues to develop. A key milestone of the group is the determination IDEA Competition
of three priority areas and the creation of task forces to develop goals and strategies for addressing these areas. The goals are: Education- The economic vitality of the region is dependent on having well educated residents. We need to partner with and support our fine primary, secondary and post-secondary education institutions to increase high school graduation rates and post-secondary education success. Workforce- The workforce of today and the future needs workers with strong computer skills and supervisors with strong managerial skills. Infrastructure- To compete in a global economy the people of Northwest Minnesota must have access to high speed internet. While this is a challenging time in so many ways, it is also a very exciting time filled with possibility. We have many true advantages in Northwest Minnesota. Topping the list is leaders who believe in the region and who will roll up their sleeves to make things happen.
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which prevents ice chips and slush from falling into a newly drilled ice fishing hole. “This competition forced me to think about big- and small-picture strategies for improving my business plan and bringing my product to market.” Ham added, “I like to think that the competition provided me with an easy-to-follow roadmap on how to develop and launch my product successfully.” David and Bonnie Eckstrom operate
Ultralight Soaring Aviation, LLC in Bemidji. They created the StartStick, a rechargeable and recyclable energy pack that helps pilots start small airplane engines. “Not only did the IDEA Competition give me the funds to buy the tools I needed,” David said, “it provided me with the opportunity to meet face-to-face with people who could dramatically influence my business. I was able to make a bigger impression where it counted.”
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IDEA Competition
Center of Excellence; University of Minnesota Crookston; and Northwest Regional Small Business Development Center. Partners include Ingenuity Frontier, Bemidji State University, Center for Research and Innovation/Custom College, Enterprise Minnesota, Headwaters Regional Development Commission, Innovate ND, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and Northland Community and Technical College. IDEA was made possible through a generous grant from the Blandin Foundation.
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This unique competition offers: • Access to valuable business development tools and resources • The opportunity to refine your investor pitch • Attention in the media • A chance to pitch your idea to qualified potential investors and leaders in the business community • The chance to win substantial funding for launching your innovative idea, including individual funding awards of up to $10,000 each for up to five winners. There are a lot of good ideas out there, but only a handful of business people who are able to take a breakthrough idea and turn it into a profitable business. Whether you’ve never started a company or you’re already in business and generating revenue, if you’ve got a breakthrough idea, consider logging on to www.ideacompetition.org today to learn more about the exciting opportunities offered through the IDEA competition. Applications will be accepted until November 30th. Along with Northwest Minnesota Foundation, IDEA sponsors are Bremer Bank, Crookston and Warren; 360° Manufacturing and Applied Engineering
“I like to think that the IDEA Competition provided me with an easy-to-follow roadmap on how to develop and launch my product successfully.” TODD HAM, ICEHOGGER INDUSTRIES
Pictured, left to right, are NMF President Nancy Vyskocil, Don and Adam Zejdlik of Xtreme DnA of East Grand Forks, Bremer Bank Crookston President Rob Jacobson, Karen White of the 360-degree Center for Manufacturing and Applied Engineering Center of Excellence at Bemidji State University, Rick Kezar and Eric Thorsgard of The forte Keyboard Company LLC of Bemidji, Todd Ham of IceHogger Industries of Bagley, and David Ekstrom of Ultralight Soaring Aviation, Inc. of Bemidji.
Ingenuity Frontier Holds Video Competition $500 Cash Prize Offered for Winning Video Amateur filmmakers and videographers are invited to enter the inaugural Ingenuity Frontier Video Contest. A $500 cash prize will go the winning video. Videos should demonstrate why Northwest Minnesota is a great place to live and work, as well as a place where manufacturing innovation thrives. The competition opens on October 1 and the deadline for submissions is November 30. Ingenuity Frontier is a collaboration of several Northwest Minnesota companies and organizations, striving to attract and retain the best and brightest workers to share in the prosperity of our region. One of their key strategies has been to brand the region as a hub of manufacturing and engineering innovation
using multiple media outlets. The videos submitted as part of the competition will be used to further strengthen the brand and promote the region as a great place to live, work and do business. The winning videos will be featured on the Ingenuity Frontier website. Online viewing of the winning short video will be promoted further through newsletters and other publications. For more information on the competition and a copy of the application form, go to the Ingenuity Frontier website: www. ingenuityfrontier.com. 3
NMF Caring Communities Grant
Historic Camp Rabideau Transformed CCC Barracks to be Conservation Academy and Learning Center “The mission of the Academy and Learning Center at Camp Rabideau is to create pathways to jobs and education.” DAN EVANS
Youth workers removed and replaced more than 700 stones to restore the 1930s “C.O. 708” sign back to its original appearance. Back, L-R: Hope Bedeau, Jasmine French, Josh Hilmer, Joe Tate, Will Sellon, Greg Smith, Sydni Wind, Aubrey Aragon, Dan Aakus and supervisor Mary Nipp. Front L-R: Supervisors Brian Johnson and John Parmeter, Mike Undell and Dakota Johnson. Photos courtesy of Bemidji Pionneer
During the Great Depression when jobs were scarce and the economy was in a total shambles, government stepped in to form the Civilian Conservation Corps that put hundreds to work in Northwest Minnesota and across the nation. Camp Rabideau in northern Beltrami County operated as a CCC camp from 1935-1942. Now in the midst of the current recession, the camp is being reborn as the Rabideau Conservation Academy and Learning Center, a year-round facility for area youth and young adults. The camp consists of 13 buildings and encompasses 112 acres. Renovation to a modern, year-round camp is no small task, requiring hours of labor, and total utility and infrastructure upgrades. Planning for the year-round facility began when a group of community leaders, government agencies, nonprofit groups, school districts, tribal governments and citizens met to address the escalating violence and crime affecting youth in the region.
The tragic school shootings at Red Lake and a series of homicides in the Cass Lake area focused attention on the need for new programs for youth and young adults, said Dan Evans, project developmental consultant. A feasibility study conducted in 2006 identified Camp Rabideau as a possible site for a new program, which was funded by NMF, the Initiative Foundation (another Minnesota Initiative Foundation), Cass Lake Partnership and US Forest Service. New NMF Caring Communities grant funds and an Initiative Foundation grant were directed toward a Youth Garden program and conservation programs. The committee also received Blandin Foundation support to develop the camp into an Academy and Learning Center. This created Evans’ job to develop test pilot programs for the Academy and create a nonprofit organization to manage the programs. (Continued Next Page) 4
Rabideau
Beltrami and Cass counties. Their employment was administered by Rural Minnesota CEP. “All of the projects allow youth to learn new skills, experience new environments, and new career opportunities in conservation and environmental fields,” said Evans. The United States Forest Service recently received $1.5 million in funding to complete the renovation of the Rabideau campus, which is expected to be completed in 2011. Evans added that the Rabideau Center will follow in the footsteps of the CCC era when Camp Rabideau was providing income to men and their families through tough times. “As far as I’m concerned, the Great Depression is still found on the reservations,” Evans stated. “This will allow us to give youth and young adults a chance at better jobs and higher education.”
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“The mission of the Academy and Learning Center at Camp Rabideau is to create pathways to jobs and higher education,” said Evans. Projects this summer include painting, gardening, installing a solar electric fence, Dan Evans renovating buildings, construction of a greenhouse, weaving a fence made of tree saplings and redoing the original 1930s CCC sign. Evans said all youth participants have come from low-income, disadvantaged households in
Bemidji Pioneer, used with permission
Business Development Activity Business Loans
D&D Sports, Inc., Thief River Falls To support business growth and expansion
One loan was recently made from the Rural Energy Development Initiative Fund totaling $12,500
Technical Assistance Five businesses from Waubun, Park Rapids, St. Vincent, Waskish, and Bemidji and one regional business support agency received a total of $15,379 in outside consulting for management and technical assistance.
Northwest Windpower, LLC, Thief River Falls To provide technical assistance for the development of wind energy projects
Microloans
IDEA (Ingenuity Drives Entrepreneur Acceleration)
Business counseling and loans are available to help entrepreneurs develop small business and self-employment opportunities.
Four $10,000 awards were given for the IDEA competition to: Forte Keyboard Co, Bemidji
Five loans were recently made totaling $59,100
Eric Thorsgard
Ice Hogger Industries, Bagley
Big Bear Sealcoating & Striping, Bemidji (2 loans)
Todd Ham
To support business growth and expansion
Ultralight Soaring Aviation, LLC, Bemidji
H3 Performance, Park Rapids To support business growth and expansion
David & Bonnie Eckstrom
Adventure Entertainment, Baudette
Xtreme DnA, East Grand Forks
For purchase of an existing business
Don & Adam Zejdlik 5
“All of the projects allow youth to learn new skills, experience new environments, and new career opportunities in conservation and environmental fields.” DAN EVANS
Grants Grants Totaling $292,939 were made from June through August 2009 Caring Communities Total: $41,000
Crookston Early Childhood Initiative Fund ........................................... $1,143
Children, Family & Elderly Component funds use interest earnings from their endowments to fund projects, programs, or for scholarships, all supporting the mission of the fund.
Fertile-Beltrami Early Childhood Initiative Fund .................................................$538
Minnesota Fathers & Families Network...... $1,000 For the Minnesota Fatherhood & Family Services Summit
First Care Medical Services Fund......................... $1,331
Northwest Community Action, Inc........... $25,000 For the Northwest Youth Intervention Project
Fosston Area Community Fund Fosston 21st Century Fund...............................$3,000
Rabideau Conservation Academy & Learning . ............................. $15,000 For Rabideau Youth Project
Fosston Education Foundation Endowment and Project Fund.................................................. $109 Greenbush Area Community Fund ............ $2,500 Greenbush Community Education Fund.................. $500
Community Planning Total: $75,000 Economic & Community Development
John and Eloise Ostrem Charitable Fund ........................................ $1,000
Northwest Minnesota Foundation............. $25,000 For Regional Economic Alliance
Lake of the Woods County Historical Society Fund................................. $192
Northwest Minnesota Foundation............. $25,000 For IDEA
Marshall County Early Childhood Initiative Fund ....................... $20,000
Wells Academy, Inc.................................. $25,000 For Wells Academy Training and Capacity Building Project
Norman County East Early Childhood Initiative Fund........................... $9,286
Natural Resources Total: $27,500
Northwest Minnesota Women’s Fund ......... $7,900
New Technologies
Park Rapids Area Community Fund Heartland Homes Endowment and Project Fund...............................................$3,594
Northwest Regional Development Commission............................................. $25,000 For Northwest Minnesota Renewable Energy Template
Hewitt Family Charitable Fund.........................$5,000
University of Minnesota –Crookston........... $2,500 For A Climate Neutral UM-Crookston: Vision and Action
Roseau Area Community Fund .................. $1,500
Early Childhood Initiative Total: $5,000
Ruth Edevold Endowment for Excellence....$2,500 Ruth Edevold Awards for Excellence . ..................$2,000
Clearbrook-Gonvick/ECFE-SR.................... $5,000 For Project Implementation
Upper Mississippi Watershed Fund................ $500 Warroad Area Community Fund................. $6,500 Gaylord A. Gunderson Education and Scholarship Fund.......................................$3,500
Component Fund Total: $137,140 Bagley Area Community Fund....................... $600 Bagley Beautification Fund - City of Bagley
Margaret Ann and Paul Samuel Johnson Family Charitable Fund ..................................$9,000
Bemidji Area Parks and Trails Fund............ $1,500 Bemidji Sculpture Walk Fund Sculptors’ honorariums
Warroad Education Endowment and Project Fund...............................................$2,950
Bemidji Area Public Library Foundation Fund........................................ $3,200 Kitchigami Regional Library fixtures
Warroad Point Area Restoration and Community Recovery Fund.................... $17,700 Warroad Women of Today Community Project Fund..................................$2,168
Bemidji Lumberjack Foundation Fund Rick Lee Memorial Fund..................................... $254 Tom Gardner Memorial Fund.............................. $254 First National Bank Bonspiel Fund....................$4,762 Security Bank USA Lumberjack Scramble.......$9,669
Scholarship Fund Total: $7,300
Bridges Therapy and Rehabilitation Fund... $2,093
Bagley Education Endowment and Project Fund Bagley General Scholarship Fund............................ $300
Clearbrook-Gonvick Early Childhood Initiative Fund ......................... $2,200
Fosston Area Community Fund LuVerne Trogstad Scholarship Fund (2)...............$6,000
Clearwater Health Care Fund .................... $2,700 Clearwater County Emergency Services Fund..... $147 Clearwater Hospice Fund.................................$5,300
Warroad Area Community Fund Gaylord A. Gunderson Education and Scholarship Fund................................................ $1,000
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McKnight Foundation Board and Staff Tour White Earth and Red Lake Reservations The McKnight Foundation Board Chair Bob Struyk, Board Member John Natoli and his son Charlie, along with Vice President of Program Neal Cuthbert, traveled to northwestern Minnesota because of a desire to learn more about our region’s Indian Reservations and the efforts of NMF and West Central Initiative on their behalf. Over the course of two days, they crossed the region with NMF staff and Board Chair Eric Bergeson as guides, meeting first in Bemidji with Andy Wells at Wells Technology, then on to the White Earth Reservation for a tour of Naytahwaush’s Charter School and Early Learning Center. During a visit with the White Earth Early Childhood Initiative coordinators, the group was joined by Nancy Straw, WCI president, and Don Martodam and Christobal Valdez, two of their board members. Together, they were led on a tour by NMF Board Treasurer and White Earth member Dean Johnson, walking through the new tribal council building and to see local, tribally-run projects. The following day, the group caravanned across the center of the NMF region, up to the Red Lake Reservation. They were led on a bus tour by NMF Board Member and Red Lake member Judy Roy, visiting the Red Lake Fishery and the New Beginnings Child Care Center, both tribal businesses. The highlight was having access to a Tribal Council meeting, where the group was able to meet the dignitaries and ask questions. Finally, they traveled back to the American Indian Resource Center in Bemidji for a presentation by Don Day about
Shared Visions, a community race relations project funded by NMF. “We appreciate the interest in learning first hand about Northwest Minnesota that was shown by the McKnight board members and staff,” At Red Lake Fisheries said President Nancy Vyskocil. “During their two day visit, we were able to share a little of the history and the strong culture of residents of the White Earth and Red Lake Reservations, as well as the showing them in a personal way the special challenges caused by remoteness and poverty.”
Wells Technology employees demonstrate the pneumatic poultry shears to Jim Steenerson, Bob Sturyk, Neal Cuthbert and Nancy Vyskocil.
Red Lake Foods Joel Rohde (far left) handed out gifts L-R: Bob Sturyk, John Natoli, Jody Beaulieu, Neal Cuthbert, Judy Roy, Charlie Natoli, Eric Bergeson, Nancy Straw, Nancy Vyskocil
At Naytahwaush Charter School
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“We appreciate the interest in learning first hand about Northwest Minnesota that was shown by the McKnight board members and staff.” NANCY VYSKOCIL
NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. Postage PAID Bemidji, MN 56601 Permit No. 36
4225 Technology Drive NW Bemidji, MN 56601 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
CONTACT US: 218-759-2057 • 800-659-7859 • nwmf@nwmf.org
Upcoming Events Business Development
StrenghQuest III – October 28, 2009 StrenghQuest IV - November 18, 2009 Please contact Jane McKelvy for information about registration and fees.
Courses are being held at locations throughout the region from September through December. Please go to www.nwmf.org Events and Workshops for information and the schedule, or contact Diane Morey at 218-759-2057 or email dianem@nwmf.org.
NMF LeaderImpact
Core Four Succession Planning, Market Planning, Cash Flow Planning, and Operations Planning
Opening New Doors to Nonprofit Collaboration
September 23, 2009 8:30-12:30 Beltrami Electric, Bemidji $10 fee per agency - Call NMF to register
StrengthQuest
All Classes Held at Beltrami Electric, Bemidji from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. StrengthQuest I - October 7, 2009 StrengthQuest II - October 21, 2009
Session I: January 27, 28, & 29, 2010 (11:30 a.m. start time on the 27th through 4:30 p.m. on the 29th) Session II: April 28, 29 & 30, 2010 (Starts with dinner on the 28th) **Participants commit to both sessions Location: TBD Deadline to register is December 1, 2009. Forms are available at www.nwmf.org, Events & Workshops contact Jane McKelvy (218-759-2057 – e-mail janem@nwmf.org) for more information.
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www.nwmf.org