By Lindsay Hammer Bartley
On May 18th, the Envision Plainview team hosted a SPARK session at the Plainview Public Library to launch their collaboration with Kindling (Shantelle Speedling) in the Entrepreneur Navigator role (E-Navigator), and to reveal a Business Toolkit. Allison Whalen, Community and Business Development Specialist supporting the Envision Plainview group demonstrated the web-based toolkit which can be accessed from the City’s website under the EDA page: www.plainviewmn.com/o/eda/page/plainview-business-toolkit2.
Shantelle Speedling, Kindling consultant, shared her scope of services and was available to answer questions of those in attendance. In her E-Navigator advisory role , she is available to help aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs clarify business ideas, assess readiness, and connect with appropriate resources. The role is intended to complement existing economic development programs by serving as an accessible entry point for entrepreneurs prior to engagement with formal programs or services. Shantelle will collaborate with Trisha Hess, Plainview Economic Development Authority (EDA) Director when entrepreneurs are ready to advance their business plans. Meg Curtis, Programming and Outreach Librarian, shared resources, and services the library can offer entrepreneurs and business owners, including printing services and a new reservable private workspace.
The business toolkit and Kindling partnership is the culmination of nearly 3 years of dedicated work from the Envision Plainview team. The team is composed of select members of the EDA , City Council, and community members who conducted a thorough assessment of the local entrepreneurial climate. This included interviews with business owners to identify resources that could support the needs of entrepreneurs in various stages of business planning. Based on feedback and themes gathered from those conversations, Envision Plainview created the Business Toolkit for both existing business owners and individuals who are considering starting an entrepreneurial venture.
The work conducted by Envision Plainview, the toolkit creation, and partnership with Kindling is funded through a grant from Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF). The grant funds have been used to provide outreach, education, and advisory support services that strengthen the entrepreneurial and small business environment in Plainview.
