Southwest Initiative Foundation
we do good work to help great people succeed.
Over the past five years, the annual growth rate in the number of women-owned businesses in the U.S. has been more than double that of all businesses. But women still face significant barriers as entrepreneurs, including securing funding, assembling a good team and finding the tools to grow and manage their business. Southwest Initiative Foundation supports women-owned businesses in our region with access to capital and one-to-one business coaching. And it’s not just at the start-up phase: We’re here for southwest Minnesota’s entrepreneurs in the wake of challenges and change, as their businesses grow and evolve. This collection of stories, told by women business owners, highlights the importance of creating equitable access to resources, capital and networks so that every business owner has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
I think of everything as a challenge and an inspiration to me. Above all, I’ve never been one to not achieve what I seek. When I decided I wanted to be a veterinarian, I went against what people told me.
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I’m proud we opened a venue during COVID. If we can do that, I think we can really do anything. I have no doubt in my mind that we’re going to be successful.
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It’s a rebirth for me, for the communities. It’s not just about food. We are the leaders in bridging the gap between people, knowledge, cultures, food and much more.
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There’s no such thing as The Workroom without all the people who are members. What keeps me motivated is people coming in and saying, “Thank you. You have changed my life.”
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That’s the reason I love chiropractic so much. It’s not me fixing you, it’s just me helping your body heal itself. I manipulate the spine to help the nervous system and the brain work together.
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I knew Pipestone had a need, and truthfully, I needed a community like them to get my dream off the ground. The community has been wonderful to us.
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One of my proudest achievements is just getting the positive feedback from my families. It melts my heart that I’m able to give these kids this kind of care away from home.
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What motivates me in my business is making sure I can provide for my family, being able to work for myself and have my own schedule and control how much money I’m bringing in.
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You get to be a part of so many intimate moments with people. I’m pretty proud that that’s our job. We’re the last person with that bride before she’s walking down the aisle to get married.
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Photography by Jess Gorman of Jess Gorman Arts. In addition to her art, Jess is opening Falls Cafe and Canoe with help from Southwest Initiative Foundation’s Business Finance Program.
Southwest Initiative Foundation champions people and projects that advance entrepreneurship, business retention and expansion and the creation and retention of good jobs. Loan programs have been a key function of the foundation since its inception to support communities and businesses throughout southwest Minnesota. The foundation has distributed more than $53 million in loan funds over the last 35 years, creating and retaining a total of more than 9,600 jobs.
Find out how to apply for a business loan.We relied on data from The State of Women-Owned Businesses, a 2019 report commissioned by American Express, for this feature.
