EDGERTON, Minn.— Edgerton’s bakery is a Main Street mainstay, and it will stay that way thanks to Carl and Stacie Nagel. The couple purchased the Edgerton Bakery with help from Southwest Initiative Foundation’s (SWIF) Microenterprise Loan Program.
Stacie and Carl have a passion for baking and serving people, so when the bakery went up for sale it seemed like a great opportunity.
“I grew up baking with my mom and always enjoyed it. Previously, I worked as a supervisor for a company that helped people with mental illness, and it was a very stressful job. Baking became my therapy, and I would bring the baked goods to work the next day. People started ordering from me and so I baked out of my home until we bought the bakery here,” Stacie said.
Nagels closed on the bakery in May. Carl is also connected to the food industry, working in direct store delivery for Deli Express and Old Dutch the past six years.
Inside the bakery case, customers will find buns, bread, donuts, cookies, cakes and cupcakes. Edgerton is a Dutch community, and Stacie tries to offer a variety of specialty treats to honor that heritage, including crimp bread, almond patties and St. Nick cookies.
Loan funds from SWIF helped purchase the bakery building. Loan programs have been a key function of SWIF since its inception to support communities and businesses throughout southwest Minnesota. In 2001, microlending was added to existing programs as a tool to support small businesses and people looking for self-employment opportunities.
“Helping Carl and Stacie go into business supports not only their future but also the future of Main Street and the local economy in Edgerton. We’re happy to be part of this project,” said SWIF Economic Development Officer Jackie Turner.
Microloan clients also receive free technical assistance from SWIF staff to improve their business management skills. Areas of support include business planning and financials analysis, QuickBooks training, marketing assistance and other training opportunities for the life of the loan.
This microloan program receives funding assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture. For more information, contact SWIF at 800-594-9480, 320-587-4848 or [email protected].
LEARN ABOUT OUR LOAN PROGRAMSAbout Southwest Initiative Foundation
Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) is a nonprofit community foundation connecting people, investing in ideas and building communities to create a southwest Minnesota where all people thrive. Since its founding in 1986, SWIF has distributed more than $107 million through its grantmaking and business finance programs.
