Allison Whalen

By Joshua Schuetz

A decade of organizing, planning, fundraising, and advocacy brought a veterans home to Fillmore County. On July 27th, the Preston State Veterans Home in Preston, MN, was officially dedicated.

Governor Tim Walz, State Senator Jeremy Miller, State Representative Greg Davids, a Veterans Affairs representative, veterans from across the state, community members, and CEDA team member Cathy Enerson attended the ceremony. Enerson’s efforts, along with those of local veterans like Don Gildner and Ron Scheevel, and other stakeholders such as Rep. Davids and Bob Maust were essential in bringing the Preston project to fruition.

“First, the Preston EDA surveyed the community to see if they wanted a veterans home and there was a 96 percent response rate in favor of the EDA purchasing land donating it to the state of Minnesota for that purpose,” Enerson said. “With that response, we moved to determine the economic feasibility for the project, and in the end, 15 acres were purchased by the community and donated to the state.”

The demand study indicated significant need; veterans homes in the region had waiting lists, and Preston alone could serve at least 250 people in total.

Enerson worked to obtain funds for the project, testifying at the state capital and advocating for the project and the veterans whom it would support. In this, she was joined by the Preston community and Fillmore County as a whole.

“I had an epiphany when I mentioned in Greg David’s office that we should partner with Bemidji, because they and Montevideo have been trying to get veterans homes for years, and our legislators immediately said we should fund all three,” Enerson said.

Enerson explained that they presented their case to the state bonding committee, requesting $10 million to cover about one-third of the project’s cost. This funding was provided through the state construction bill signed by Governor Dayton in 2018, with additional funds approved by Governor Walz in 2022.

Federal funds would provide support for the remaining two thirds, and the community worked to raise additional funds as well.

“The community and surrounding area raised $1.2 million,” Enerson said, “It was an emotional time, our local veterans home committee chairs were not sure they would see the home built, but they wanted to lay this foundation for a home in Preston for the brothers and sisters they serve, and for those who will serve in the future”.

The building is complete, and while there’s more work to be done, Enerson’s efforts-and those of the community members and legislators who initiated and supported the project, will help veterans in southeast Minnesota receive the quality care they need.

“My job, as Don and Ron emphasized, was laser-focused. The community wanted this project, and I was determined to deliver it for them and our veterans,” said Enerson. “With 110 employees, the project serves 54 veterans and their spouses, who will receive the finest care.”

By Joshua Schuetz

Signage is the face a community puts forth to the world. For small communities like Murdock, signage is key to attracting people to visit town, shop and tour points of interest.

CEDA team member Laura Mitteness helped the city obtain $20,000 in funding to get a new city sign for the community and renovate city hall’s bathrooms to be more accessible and usable for members of the public.

“The sign they had before needed an overhaul-it hadn’t been updated in 25 years; it was outdated, and didn’t light up at night so travelers could see what city they were in,” she said. “With this project, the goal was really to invite more people to come to town.”

As it happened, an opportunity arose to acquire new signage and renovate city hall’s bathrooms to be more accessible to the public. Swift County established a grant program aimed at encouraging tourism.

Mitteness applied for the grant on Murdock’s behalf and served as project manager for both projects. “We turned in the grant on December 29th, just after Christmas, and the work was just completed this spring,” she said. “In addition to the $20,000 from Swift County, we received $3,000 in funds from Pioneer Seeds.”

The sign is an important advertisement for the community, since it sits alongside Minnesota State Highway 12, which passes through the center of the city.

Mitteness said while the city does want to promote tourism and business, another goal is making sure people from around the area keep Murdock in mind when looking for a place to live in the future. The city’s elementary school is seeing an increase in enrollment, something community members hope may lead to more families moving to town in future years.

“We want the city to be more inviting to everyone, so in addition to the tourism aspect, we have a resident recruitment angle as well,” she said.

By Chris Hahn

Next time you stop in at Sunshine Foods in Spring Valley, you may notice something as you walk up to the door, specifically a rack full of brand-new bicycles.  These bicycles might look familiar if you have spent time in other Fillmore County communities, including Chatfield, Fountain, Harmony, Peterson, Preston, and Rushford.

The new bikes, eight in all, are part of the Root River Trail Towns bike fleet.  “The goal is to get people physically active as part of a healthy lifestyle,” said CEDA team member Chris Hahn. Hahn applied for and received funding from the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) and the Osterud Winter Foundation.

“Spring Valley, like many of our neighboring Fillmore County communities, offers a variety of trails, parks, and fun outdoor recreation activities and the Root River Trail Towns bike program provides a great way to take advantage of them,” he said.

There is no cost to rent the new bikes.  People wishing to check out a bike and explore Spring Valley will need to provide a driver’s license, complete the rental agreement, grab a helmet (or provide their own), get a key for the bike lock, and head out on the bike trail just behind Sunshine Foods off of North Park Drive.

“These programs only happen with the support of our community businesses and organizations,” Hahn added. “The EDA is especially thankful to Sunshine Foods and the Osterud-Winter Foundation for their generous support and involvement in making this a reality for our community.  We could not offer this program without them.”

Bikes are readily available for check out at the Sunshine Foods Service Counter, 501 North Park Drive during regular store hours.

By Joshua Schuetz

 

The Pelican Rapids EDA and the Pelican Rapids Economic Development Corporation (PREDC) teamed up to provide grants to businesses affected by a major downtown road construction project.

CEDA team member Jordan Grossman, who spearheaded the program, said it offers $500 to approved businesses, building on the city’s marketing, outreach, and signage efforts over the past year.

“The state has a two-year construction project on both of our intersecting highways within city limits, and the city is also updating old infrastructure under the road,” Grossman said. “The majority of our businesses are right along the highway, and we see that sidewalks are torn up and it’s impossible to drive downtown.”

Grossman has worked extensively with local businesses and the EDA to mitigate the impact on local entrepreneurs, but she noted that many downtown businesses are still experiencing drops in sales ranging from 30 to 50 percent due to the project.

“Our banks and pharmacy are doing well, but we’re seeing that our restaurants and retailers are really struggling,” she said.

While the city’s EDA lacks funds to assist businesses, the PREDC had dormant funds available. Grossman’s board allocated some of her time to the PREDC to create a framework for the grant program.

“The idea came from a CEDA colleague who shared her draft application with the team,” Grossman said. “I considered the idea of a small local grant specifically to support businesses that are struggling right now.”

Since launching, the city has received more than 25 applications from local businesses for the grant program. Grossman said the response has been positive and appreciative, similar to reactions to other efforts to help businesses affected by the project.

“All of our businesses are working hard to market themselves, and we have set up signage to let people know that we are open for business,” Grossman said.

 

By Joshua Schuetz

In 2020, Jason Schaefer embarked on a mission to reduce livestock feed costs for his company, Abundant Ag LLP. “Feed typically accounts for 70 percent of the cost of raising a pig,” Schaefer explained. “I wanted to shave off 5-10 percent from that number.”

To achieve this, Schaefer developed an innovative approach: turning processed food scraps into feed. “We take food manufacturing processed scraps, mix them, dry them, and feed them to our pigs,” he said. This method proved to be a superior alternative to conventional feed. Schaefer started out with a small, 4,000-square-foot facility dedicated solely to his pigs, aiming to evaluate its effectiveness compared to a traditional corn-soy diet.

After two successful years, Schaefer decided to scale up. He connected with CEDA team member Hillary Tweed in Benson, who helped them locate a building in town. By March of this year, Abundant Ag had commenced operations in their new 48,000-square-foot facility. While the company is small, with two full-time employees and additional part-time help, Schaefer is optimistic about future growth. “As we grow, we need to ensure we can sell our product and secure a steady supply. I’m hopeful that in five years, we will have 10 full-time employees.”

Schaefer said Tweed’s assistance was invaluable. “She was my go-to person for everything from the initial steps to closing and continues to support us today,” Schaefer praised. Her guidance was crucial in overcoming numerous obstacles, making her an integral part of the project’s success.

The city’s support has benefited both Abundant Ag LLP and the local community. “There’s hardly a day that I don’t go out into town to buy something, whether it’s food or tools,” Schaefer shared. This local spending highlights the positive economic impact of the business on Benson.

Abundant Ag LLP’s innovative approach not only reduces feed costs but also promotes sustainability. “Most of our product, the processed waste, would go to the landfill. Instead, we pay for what comes to our plant, turning a cost into revenue for manufacturers,” Schaefer explained. This process results in pigs consuming 50 pounds less feed to reach market weight, achieving the same growth efficiency.

Reflecting on the city’s business environment, Schaefer expressed his satisfaction with Benson’s focus on fostering business growth. “I live in a bedroom town with very little business. Benson, with CEDA and Hillary’s support, truly understands the benefits of business and helped me overcome the obstacles I faced.”