It took several years, overcoming a few unexpected challenges and a change in location, but last Thursday, dignitaries from Dairyland Power, the City of Harmony and building contractors celebrated the opening of the Dairyland Service Center in Harmony. The 23,000-square-foot facility is located on 10 acres of land in the northwest edge of Harmony. The majority of the building … [Read more...]
SMIF invites the public to attend Sprout events this June
OWATONNA, MN, May 10, 2022 – Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) is pleased to announce the launch of three Sprout events this June. Attendees will learn about the many resources SMIF has to offer organizations, businesses and communities in its 20-county region. Early Childhood professionals, entrepreneurs, community volunteers and community leaders are strongly … [Read more...]
Sally’s Art Scene
Owner of Sally’s Hair To Dye For, Sally Gibson, has been painting the town of Preston for the past few years. She’s always loved painting her salon window, and other business owners began to take notice. So, she has shared her passion, creativity and talent with the rest of the community at businesses like Trout City Brewing and Al Larson & Sons, just to new a few. For … [Read more...]
Dinner on the Bluff presents: Forty Years of Peregrine Research Event features Jacquelyn Fallon from the Midwest Peregrine Society
Jacquelyn Fallon, VP of Field Operations & Minnesota State Coordinator for the Midwest Peregrine Society, will be the featured speaker at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center’s Dinner on the Bluff event on Saturday, May 14! Fallon’s talk, “Celebrating Success… Continuing the Work! Forty Years of Peregrine Research,” will explore the remarkable success of the … [Read more...]
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation announces first Prosperity Initiative cohort of 2022
OWATONNA, MN – April 19, 2022 – Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) is pleased to announce the members of the first Prosperity Initiative cohort of 2022, a program which provides free coaching and training to minority entrepreneurs. Ten entrepreneurs have joined the first cohort. Prosperity Initiative clients commit to a six-month period of working directly with … [Read more...]
No fooling—The Creamery and Nordic Lanes are under new ownership!
On April 1 Dean and Kim Mierau and Tony and Jessica Heiden officially opened the doors of The Creamery and Nordic Lanes in Rushford, as the new owners. Jessica quipped that April Fool’s Day was a good day to take over — if it didn’t work out, they could just say it was all a joke. The couples are not going to be claiming it was a joke; they are off to a great start in their … [Read more...]
Keep Company Co-Working Space seeking businesses to offer technical services
The Houston County Economic Development Authority (EDA) in partnership with the La Crescent Chamber has been awarded a Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) grant to open Keep Company Co-Working Space in La Crescent, Minn. Oftentimes it can be hard for start-ups and small businesses to afford working space and justify expenses on technical support. Additionally, many … [Read more...]
What’s new at the Ma Cal Grove Country Club?
The Ma Cal Grove Country Club clubhouse rose from the ashes after the fire on February 2, 2019, destroyed it. The new clubhouse opened last year during the second year of the pandemic. Guests to the new clubhouse will first notice that the new clubhouse is set farther back from the road than the former building was. As a result, there is plentiful parking in front of the … [Read more...]
Ladd K9 offers training, boarding, and more
LADD K9, a dog training facility located in Southeast Minnesota, could not have a better sales team than four-legged Dingo, Luna, and Tater. Seeing first-hand how these three furry friends listen to their owner/trainer, Carla Ladd’s voice and sign commands, it is clear that Ladd knows what she is doing. Ben Jacobsen left a five-star review on Google, stating, “Carla is full … [Read more...]
Convergence CiderWorks A celebration of local
By Tanya O’Connor Convergence CiderWorks is a great spot for “a date night in tennis shoes,” says co-founder Natalie Naber. But there’s more. Naber’s quick to add that Decorah’s growing cider house also serves as a stop while biking, a family getaway, somewhere for “noshing on good eats” or looking for live music. It is, she says, about “just enjoying each other’s … [Read more...]
