SWIF hosted a series of five listening sessions across southwest Minnesota to gather regional feedback on the draft standards. More than 150 child care providers, directors, economic development professionals, employers, parents and community leaders attended these sessions to voice their concerns and recommendations. Cheryl Glaeser of Achieve TFC, LLC. facilitated the sessions and developed a summary report in partnership with SWIF to highlight the key challenges noted in the listening sessions and a summary of recommended changes to the standards.
Economic Development
Gnometown Grounds’ grand re-opening
Gnometown Grounds — a locally owned café, bakeshop and gift shop — recently celebrated its grand re-opening in Dawson with help from our Microenterprise Loan Program. Emma Weber started this small business last year in the former Marc’s on Main gift shop. Following a brief soft launch, Weber had a planned closure starting in January 2024 to make major renovations, including adding a coffee bar and kitchen.
6th Street Logistics
Willmar-based trucking outfit 6th Street Logistics is expanding with help from our Microenterprise Loan Program. The company is owned by Krista and Chris Nehk. Founded in 2021 with one semi, the company now has a fleet of trucks hauling a variety of freight from live birds to refrigerated goods. They have routes locally, within the Midwest and down to Texas.
Blush & Bliss Med Spa
Maisie Hagert has opened Blush & Bliss Med Spa in Redwood Falls with help from our Microenterprise Loan Program. This beauty and wellness destination offers a wide range of medically guided cosmetic treatments and procedures, also known as medical aesthetics. Maisie’s interest in entrepreneurship started young, influenced by her parents’ successful businesses. The growing medical spa industry presented a unique opportunity for Maisie to merge her passion for business ownership with her nursing expertise, knowledge and compassion.
Listening sessions for draft licensing standards for child care providers
Southwest Minnesota child care providers and child care champions are invited to attend a listening session to provide feedback, ideas and concerns regarding the draft licensing standards for family child care and child care centers published by the Department of Human Services as part of the Child Care Regulation Modernization Projects. One of SWIF’s priorities is supporting the growth and retention of child care programs in the region because we know access to quality child care is critical to community vitality and economic mobility. We are seeking the engagement and participation of child care providers and child care champions across the region to ensure the perspectives of southwest Minnesota are represented.
Tortilleria El Maná
Fresh tortillas are now available in Worthington thanks to Maynor Lopez. He recently opened Tortilleria El Maná on Oxford Street with help from Southwest Initiative Foundation’s Business Finance Loan Program. A tortilleria is essentially a tortilla bakery. Tortillerias are common in Mexico and Central America and usually sell corn tortillas by weight. While Maynor is new to business ownership, he has plenty of experience making tortillas in his home country of Guatemala. Now he makes 80 pounds of them every day at Tortilleria El Maná.
