Music Street has been serving music education in Marshall and its surrounding communities since Lon Wright opened the store in 1985. When Wright decided it was time to retire, Music Street’s manager Zach Haltvick purchased the business with help from our Microenterprise Loan Program. Haltvick took ownership in January of this year. Music Street sells and services musical instruments and accessories, catering to school music education programs. The store specializes in band and orchestra instrument rent-to-own contracts for students.
News Releases
The YES! House major gift
Department of Public Transformation (DoPT) and Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) hosted a gathering at The YES! House in downtown Granite Falls on April 3 to honor and celebrate the contributions of many local and regional supporters and to announce a significant philanthropic gift that will help bring DoPT’s capital campaign closer to completion: SWIF administered a $250,000 grant, made possible by a gift from The Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Fund at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. The funding will be used specifically for the renovation of The YES! House.
Lac qui Parle Area Welcoming and Inclusive Communities Project
The Lac qui Parle area is participating in Welcoming & Inclusive Communities Project (WICP), a free nine-month initiative designed to empower rural communities to engage in welcoming and belonging efforts that spur economic development, promote community engagement and build thriving communities for new and current residents. Local organizers are looking for community members from Appleton, Dawson, Madison and the surrounding areas to be part of the WICP cohort.
Otto Bremer Trust Community Responsive Fund
Southwest Initiative Foundation has been selected by the Otto Bremer Trust as a philanthropic partner to award funds through its new Community Responsive Fund. SWIF will work closely with OBT to award $400,000 in grants of up to $75,000 each to support local organizations that directly respond to immediate challenges and opportunities in the community. The grant application deadline is 5 p.m. on April 19, 2024.
Briana Mumme
Briana Mumme has joined Southwest Initiative Foundation’s (SWIF) staff as economic development manager. In this role, Mumme will help craft and implement innovative programs spanning business finance, entrepreneurship, workforce initiatives and regional economic development. Prior to joining SWIF, she served as the economic development coordinator for Redwood County.
Concrete Joe Construction
Joe DeVlaeminck is building his own business on the foundation of the former Tom Bofferding Construction company, which he purchased last year. Southwest Initiative Foundation’s Microenterprise Loan Program helped DeVlaeminck complete the purchase and launch Concrete Joe Construction, specializing in residential concrete work, from putting up foundation walls to flat work such as driveways, sidewalks and stamped slabs.