Back to My Roots hair salon had its grand opening this weekend at 337 Main Street North in Renville. Entrepreneur Kirsten Bjorklund opened the business with help from the Southwest Initiative Foundation’s Microenterprise Loan Program. A licensed cosmetologist, she offers haircuts, colors, manicures, pedicures, massages and waxing. As her business name suggests, it’s a homecoming of sorts for Bjorklund. Growing up on a farm south of Sacred Heart, she attended and graduated from Renville County West High School, then went on to the cosmetology program at Ridgewater College.
Economic Development
Jackie Turner retires after 21 years supporting entrepreneurs
Jackie Turner is retiring from her role as an economic development officer at Southwest Initiative Foundation. Jackie has been a remarkable champion for entrepreneurs, and our region is better because of her commitment and expertise. During her tenure, our microloan program earned national, regional and state recognition. Jackie mentored more than 300 loan clients at the foundation, offering each one a relationship that extended well beyond a balance sheet or a business plan.
Prairie Support Services
Jessica Schoborg is now the sole owner of local small business Prairie Support Services in Walnut Grove thanks to help from the Southwest Initiative Foundation’s Microenterprise Loan Program. Jessica has worked for Prairie Support Services for the past 5 years. When the opportunity arose to purchase the business, she decided to buy it because she wanted to keep it in the community. Plans are under way to relocate the business to 422 First Avenue in Westbrook this December.
Promise Loan Program funding available
Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) has funding available for local economic development projects through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s (DEED) Promise Loan Program. The Promise Loan Program makes loans to businesses, nonprofits and developers in communities that have been adversely affected by structural racial discrimination, civil unrest, lack of access to capital, a loss of population or an aging population, or a lack of regional economic diversification.
Sunny & Sprout
Sunny & Sprout children’s boutique celebrated its grand opening this summer in Worthington. Shay VonHoltum and Alex LeBrun opened the new shop with help from our Microenterprise Loan Program. Sunny & Sprout is located at 922 5th Avenue in Worthington’s downtown and offers clothing for kids from size 2T to youth XL. Shay has had a passion for fashion and the retail industry as far back as she can remember. Her years of experience working in retail combined with becoming a mom herself inspired Shay to pursue entrepreneurship.
Cool things made in southwest Minnesota
Minnesota companies have a long history of innovation, creating some of the “coolest” products to fuel our economy. This year, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is launching a competition to highlight this innovation. In the spirit of the contest, we wanted to share some of the coolest items manufactured in southwest Minnesota by Southwest Initiative Foundation’s current and former loan clients. This is definitely not an exhaustive list of the innovations created in our region or even by our loan clients, but it’s a fun sampling of some that are truly unique!
