Southwest Minnesota rocks! Last week was perfect for traveling throughout the region – absolutely beautiful! Blue sky, crops just starting to peek through in the fields and spring colors abound.
And here’s some of what I heard:
- There will be more than 50 new jobs in Jackson. Businesses there are expanding and adding jobs. Jackson County had the lowest unemployment rate in the state from February to March. This beautiful community is adding a rock step dam and has a new apartment building going up as well.
- In Worthington, the city has issued more than $30 million in new building permits through April. The reason this is so significant is that the previous record for a full year was $22 million.
- The Windom Education and Collaborative Center has a regional multi-cultural education and technology center serving all ages. It’s also providing critical space via their new computer lab for the area’s workforce. Significant donations from the community and users made it a reality without spending any tax dollars.
These are just a few of the reasons southwest Minnesota rocks!
I also had the opportunity to:
- Have lunch at Vinnie’s and stock up on greeting cards at the Brandenburg Gallery, both in Luverne
- Drive through Camden State Park where I snapped a few photos like the one shown
- Have coffee at BenLee’s Café in Worthington
- Take advantage of shopping Marcy Costello’s beautiful silver business, Dellapina, which you can read about here
I HIGHLY recommend others take advantage of these great places in southwest Minnesota. They are truly gems. It was my first time to both BenLee’s and Vinnie’s and trust me – once you are in these communities you will uncover even more gems.
It had been awhile since I’d been to Camden State Park. This park is a treasure – an absolutely beautiful place with over 14 miles of hiking trails, four miles of bike trails, 10 miles of horseback trails, spring-filled swimming pond and more. It’s a great place to camp and/or have a picnic. Nestled in our beautiful prairie, the wooded valley of the Redwood River is a perfect get away for resting, rejuvenating the soul and spending time with family and friends.
Some of you may be wondering if I got any work done this week. That answer is YES; but remember, my job is all about southwest Minnesota. And my job rocks, too.
Thanks for letting me share a little of my week.
Sherry Ristau is the President/CEO of the Southwest Initiative Foundation, where she oversees more than $55 million in total financial assets. Sherry is highly committed to rural Minnesota. She especially strives to celebrate, inspire and advocate for southwest Minnesota’s many great social and economic assets.
