Kevin Veldhuisen is reimagining his small business with help from Southwest Initiative Foundation’s (SWIF) Microenterprise Loan Program. Veldhuisen opened Woodgrain Custom Builds (originally named The Creation Workshop) in 2015. His woodworking career started even earlier in 2007 when he bought his first miter saw and started building simple furnishings for his wife, Anne, and their family.
Economic Development
Falls Boutique has what it takes to be a successful small business in rural Minnesota
When Falls Boutique opened, the focus was more on clothing. But shoppers gravitated toward gifts and home essentials like detergent and hand soap. Some items are still for fun: The store sells just as many Christmas ornaments throughout the year as it does in December.
Fellowship empowers social entrepreneurs in southwest Minnesota
Are you an entrepreneur with a passion for tackling social or environmental challenges in southwest Minnesota? The Initiators Fellowship is here to support you! Designed for idea- and early-stage entrepreneurs, this fellowship helps foster the development of social enterprises—ventures with social or environmental good built into their mission and operations.
El Chilero Auto Repair
Entrepreneur Jose Lopez is expanding his auto repair business with help from Southwest Initiative Foundation’s Microenterprise Loan Program and DEED’s Minnesota Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program. El Chilero Auto Repair is located in the heart of Litchfield at 526 North Ramsey Avenue.
The Coffee Corner
Cassie Carlson moved and expanded her coffee shop this year thanks to help from our Microenterprise Loan Program. Cassie opened The Coffee Corner in March 2021 inside another business — Sieverson’s Pharmacy in Hendricks. In July 2022, she expanded for the first time, opening a consignment shop in her space at the pharmacy. But there still wasn’t space for everything she wanted to do. Then earlier this year, the opportunity arose to purchase a former bank building next door to her location, and Cassie jumped at the chance to have room to bring to life more of her original business plan.
Back to My Roots
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.
