2023 Lakes Area Progress Edition

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Richardson

Renee

Brainerd Dispatch Brainerd

Another busy summer season draws to a close across the lakes region punctuating a year of growth and construction as area cities upgrade infrastructure, housing options rise and new businesses join the community while others expand.

“I’ve had lots of conversations with business owners and managers,” said Matt Kilian, Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce president, when asked about the lakes area’s economy and development. “By nearly all accounts, business continues to boom in the lakes area.”

Area resorts scrambling with the late snowmelt were ready for the start of the tourist season with Memorial Day weekend, Kilian noted. And the Highway 371 Welcome Center, south of Brainerd, had more than 2,000 more visitors in June and July than last year.

“The ability for people to work remotely has definitely extended our tourism season into the fall,” Kilian said. “... Overall, I don’t foresee any reason why our economy won’t keep going strong in 2024. We have a diverse set of industries so our eggs are not all in one basket. Through COVID, we’ve also learned how to quickly adapt and overcome challenges, which makes us more resilient and better connected as a community. I’d expect local business revenues and employee wages will continue to increase although maybe not quite at the rate we’ve seen over the past few years.”

In a regional profile of economic development of the multi-county area, the Department of Employment and

about the future

Economic Development reported wages were climbing across the board for all workers due to rising demand and a tight labor market.

“While wages were still lowest for the youngest workers who tend to fill lower-skilled, less-than-fulltime jobs in industries like retail trade and accommodation and food services, the two youngest age groups enjoyed the fastest percentage increase in wages from 2010 to 2020. Wages were highest for workers between 45 and 64 years of age,” DEED reported. Hiring signs dominate the landscape from manufacturing to service to fast food.

The inability to hire staff was a key piece in the closing of the Northwind Grille and the Sawmill Inn restaurants in Brainerd and listed as a reason for the closure of the Loide Oils and Vinegars store in

downtown Brainerd with the building now for sale, creating a new opportunity.

And there is renewed interest in reopening the Northwind Grille and providing another option for breakfast in the community.

In addition, more intrepid small business owners took a chance and opened stores with new shops like High Wheel Confectionary in Ironton, Wood, Wax and Wearables in downtown Brainerd or Play it Again Sports in Baxter and

other places gaining new owners like the 612 Station as it becomes the Blue Oyster in Brainerd and the former Baxter Cafe as it becomes Ippin Ramen and Sushi. Dunkin’ Donuts announced its plans to redevelop a corner in Brainerd with a new location.

In retail, Hobby Lobby and Michaels both opened their new stores in Baxter this year.

In manufacturing, Lexington Manufacturing celebrated 25 years

in Brainerd on June 1, 2023. Lexington Manufacturing makes parts and components for the largest door manufacturers in North America. “We love being a member of the Brainerd lakes community and being able to provide jobs for its hardworking people,” Mike Dillon, Lexington Manufacturing president, stated in a news release this summer.

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as upscale, the Pinehurst Apartments will include a state-of-the-art exercise room, pet washing

game room, community room, and

with in-home laundry and private balconies or patios.

Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

Lofts at Novotny will include a community room with serving kitchen, outdoor community patio, climate-controlled storage options for residents and 33 tuck under and detached garages.

Another manufacturer with a long history in the community broke ground on an expansion.

Clow Stamping in Merrifield, which employs about 500, broke ground in June on a 100,000-squarefoot expansion. The $18.9 million project is expected to be completed in 2024 and create an additional 65 jobs over the next two years. After the groundbreaking ceremony, CEO Reggie Clow said people and the good work ethic here are key to growth. “We need more,” he said. “We’re going through some automation — not to lay anybody off, we’re just trying to do more work with the same amount of people for about five years because there’s a labor shortage.”

Crow Wing County is hovering around 3.4% unemployment rate, and there are at least 2-3 open jobs for every applicant, Kilian stated.

“Some manufacturers are operating at peak levels while others have returned to more of a baseline with no mandatory overtime hours, which can actually be welcome news since our workforce is still very tight,” Kilian noted.

Where are the jobs?

According to DEED’s Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages program, “Region 5 was home to 5,221 business establishments providing 62,925 jobs covered by unemployment insurance, with a total payroll of nearly $3 billion. That was 2.3% of total employment in the state of Minnesota.

Average annual wages

were $47,061 in the region, which was about $20,000 lower than the average annual wage statewide.” In terms of employment, “Crow Wing County is by far the region’s largest economic center with 28,854 jobs at 2,227 firms, accounting for 46% of all jobs in the region,” DEED reported in its regional look at the economy. “Cass was a distant second with fewer than half as many jobs, but in 2021 had the highest average wages of the region’s counties.”

DEED reported Cass County experienced a 2021 employment surge, mainly in construction. Region 5 experienced significant swings in employment, DEED reported, noting the “Great Recession inflicted substantial employment declines starting in 2007, and the region experienced a final drop to reach the low in 2012. Then the region added jobs at a brisk pace until 2017 when it surpassed its 2006 employment level, four years later than Minnesota. Region 5 job growth continued more slowly to the peak of 2019. The pandemic recession caused a 6% job loss in 2020, on pace with the 6.7% loss statewide. However, the region’s employment sprung back faster than statewide.”

“Many businesses are making investments in technology so they can more effectively reach new customers and operate with fewer employees, given the tight labor market,” Kilian said. “I see this trend opening up more local career opportunities in the IT sector.”

Mann Lake Bee and Ag Supply in Hackensack, also facing a labor shortage, noted the

shortage of affordable housing, be that starter homes or apartments, made it difficult to attract employees.

In its IQ Magazine, the Initiative Foundation reported it helped community members

establish the Hackensack Lakes Area Community Foundation, which covers nine townships, including the city of Backus. “Supporters then created the Hackensack Game Changers —

a series of teams focused on community betterment projects,” the Initiative Foundation reported. “Kristine Biessener, an agent with the Hackensack area office of Edina Realty, is on the Resilient Housing

Team. Its focus is to identify land where a developer could stand up a 30-unit apartment building.” The city of Hackensack also commissioned a housing study, something other communities have also tackled. Workforce housing is a critical need for companies looking to grow.

“Despite higher interest rates, construction is still strong with several businesses building and expanding and a number of new apartment complexes popping up all over the area,” Kilian said. ”This is a good sign for economic growth and provides greater options for people to find affordable housing.”

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Brainerd was the final stop of the regular season for the PGA TOUR Canada’s Fortinet Cup Race. The 156 player field enjoyed the Tom Lehman newly renovated Dutch 18 which tipped out at 7,000 yards and a Par 70. The tournament was filled with drama and excitement as these players competed for a $225,000 purse, a $25,000 yearend bonus, and a chance to earn a spot on the Korn Ferry tour. The Korn Ferry Tour is the gateway to the PGA TOUR for many of these professionals. This was the PGA TOUR Canada’s only stop in the United States and the second time being played at Cragun’s Legacy Courses. Last year’s event was a tremendous success hosting over 9,000 spectators and donating over $50k to the CRMC Charitable Fund.

Tournament Director Jack Wawro said, “We are very pleased with our 2022 event and we really wanted to try to make this year’s event even better!” This year’s event added hospitality areas on both front nine and back nine, giving spectators a great place to enjoy a drink and watch the action up close. The Northern Pacific Center Pro-AM hosted the Travis Mathew semi named “Elenor” all the way from California which created an awesome buzz around the 18th green on Wednesday. Our sponsor’s exemption Matt Boldy from the MN Wild brought the hockey and golf communities together as kids from the area flocked to watch one of their favorite hockey stars tee it up.

“The additions to the event provided our spectators a new experience that we hope will make them keep wanting to come

back for years to come,” said Wawro.

A charity golf event of this size cannot happen without our tremendous group of sponsors. “The Cuyuna Regional Medical Center has been such an incredible partner and a first-class act as our title sponsor for the past two years. Gertens, our presenting sponsor, has also been a valuable relationship with so many offerings that can enhance our resort and our golf courses.”

“We have great sponsors like Northern Pacific Center paying for the admissions for all spectators and our Wednesday Pro-AM, Clow Stamping helping us through our Saturday Night Jam party, Dahlheimer Beverage enhancing all of our hospitality areas, Sazama Family Chiropractic handling

the players’ wellness needs, Grand View Lodge providing us a beautiful golf course for the Monday qualifier and Tito’s Vodka for all of their beverage support,” said Wawro.

The community has also stepped up in a big way with 200-plus volunteers handling 500-plus shifts during the tournament. The volunteer committee worked countless hours prior to and during the tournament on their own time. BLAEDC and CTC helped make things very easy by paying for all the uniforms and volunteer fees this season. “Our volunteers had so much pride in their work and truly made this such a wonderful event. We owe them such a big THANK YOU!” said Wawro We can’t wait to do it again on Labor Day Weekend 2024!

Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

New businesses continue to add to Crosby’s Main Street as vintage buildings are restored with The Lake and Co. Shop, the Crosby Lofts boutique hotel and Drunken Noodle opening this summer.

Once again Cragun’s Legacy Courses was proud to host the CRMC Championship presented by Gertens and support the CRMC Foundation

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Tight labor market will continue

On Labor Day, it’s also important to note the lakes area has challenges in terms of a tight labor market, which is a part of a much larger picture of changing demographics as baby boomers continue to retire across the country. From now until 2030, 10,000 baby boomers — those born between 1946 and 1964 — reach the retirement age of 65 each and every day. The 2020 Census counted the baby boomer generation to encompass 73 million people.

During a job fair in the Westgate Mall earlier this year, a recruiter noted it’s come down to the fact that businesses are vying for the same small pool of talented workers. Another mentioned poaching workers from other companies is no longer off-limits.

Kilian sign and options

“Our labor force has always been going to be tighter at this point in time,” said Cheryal Lee Hills, Region Five Development Commission executive director. “As matter of

fact, the critical year is 2030 when it gets to be extremely tight, so hang on, it just gets worse in terms of a labor force shortage.”

Region 5, based in Staples, includes Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties. Aitkin County is in Region Three and Mille Lacs County is in Region 7E. Hills points to a Department of Employment and Economic Development report written at the end of 2002 by Anthony Schaffhauser, DEED regional analyst for northwest Minnesota. The report looked at the economic development for Region 5, which is the seventh largest of the 13 economic development regions in the state.

All five counties in Region 5 increased in population since 2010.

Crow Wing County is the largest county and grew the fastest, adding 4,770 residents, matching the state’s pace of growth. Cass County grew almost as fast at 7.3%, but was less than half the size of Crow Wing County, so this growth added 2,072 residents. Morrison, Todd, and Wadena Counties also grew, but at slower rates and in smaller numbers.

The population of Region 5 is projected

to hold steady over the next decade. Population projections from the Minnesota State Demographic Center show an expected gain of just 337 residents from 2023 to 2033, a 0.2% increase. By comparison, the projected growth statewide from 2023 to 2033 is 5.6%. Then the region may start losing residents over the following decade.”

The population of Region 5 is projected to hold steady over the next decade. Population projections from the Minnesota State Demographic Center show an expected gain of just 337 residents from 2023 to 2033, a 0.2% increase. By comparison, the projected growth statewide from 2023 to 2033 is 5.6%. Then the region may start losing residents over the following decade.

DEED’s Quarterly Employment Demographics program adds numbers to substantiate an aging workforce in the region over the past 10 years.

One-quarter of workers in the region were 55 years or older, compared to 22% statewide. With retirement and baby boomers leaving the workforce, there are not just job openings, but a loss of experienced workers.

At Clow Stamping,

for instance, five people with over 40 years of experience retired last year. With small companies losing a number of older employees in a short time period, it can mean a loss of institutional knowledge as well.

The tight labor market means employees have options to shift careers, look for better fits and better pay or more flexible employers. Hills

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said employers are still trying to figure out how to navigate changes.

“This is the most challenging labor market any of us have seen in our lifetimes,” Tim Houle, Crow Wing County administrator told the county board in May when Commissioner Paul Koering worried about being able to retain good people and losing workers to the private sector. “I hope our kids understand

that this is not a normal labor market,” Houle said. “Jobs aren’t usually this plentiful. I remember, all of you remember trying to get your first job, you’ve worked a lot harder than we are today, that labor market has impacted county government just as surely as it has impacted every employer in our community.”

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Lexington Manufacturing on Thiesse Road, Brainerd, celebrated 25 years in the Brainerd lakes area on June 1. Lexington Manufacturing makes parts and components for the largest door manufacturers in North America.

Photos by Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

Downtown Brainerd continues to offer potential as some businesses leave and others move in.

Employment statistics

► With 10,844 jobs at 594 establishments, the Health Care & Social Assistance industry sector employs the most workers in Region 5, accounting for 17.2% of total employment.

► The second and third largest industries in Region 5 are Retail Trade and Accommodation & Food Services.

► Retail Trade regained nearly all jobs lost in 2020, while Accommodation & Food Services remained down 497 jobs from 2019. Despite rapid restaffing in 2021, this sector had the largest employment drop from 2019 to 2021.

► Construction was the star industry adding nearly 1,500 jobs at a blistering 44.5% growth rate over two years.

► Wholesale Trade also had significant growth, adding 196 jobs in 2021 to greatly overcome slight losses in 2020.

► The related Transportation & Warehousing industry also overcame 2020 job losses but netted more modest two-year growth.

► Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting was the only industry to gain jobs from 2019 to 2020 while losing jobs from 2020 to 2021.

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Houle noted in the past, the county could post a job with little advertising and get 50 applications and hire their choice.

“And that’s not what we’re seeing today,” Houle said. “And so I think it is a challenge for us, I don’t think we’re ever going to be able to compete with the highest private sector wages. And yet, I also don’t want us to compete at the lowest and have that competitive scale, either. …And so we’re trying to pick a reasonable degree of turnover that we can sustain. Too much is a bad thing. And some would argue too little is a bad thing as well. Great challenge.”

Where will workers come from?

Minnesota’s labor participation rate was about 70% before the pandemic and most recently was at 68.4%, above the national rate of 62.6%.

With low jobless numbers, the question often centers on how

many people are outside the labor force who are capable of working but are not seeking jobs.

Anecdotally, some believe a larger number of able workers are just checked out of the labor force and sidelining themselves.

Hills hears that comment as well from people who feel workers just became comfortable not working during the pandemic.

“There’s a lot of contrary data to that,” Hills said.

From an economic perspective Angelina Nguyen, DEED research director, said a healthy point for an economy is about 4-5% unemployment as there will always be people transitioning between jobs or not working. Statewide in June, the unemployment rate was 2.9%. Nguyen said that was past the point of a good balance creating a very tight labor market.

Nguyen said Minnesota has an aging workforce, something that has been the demographic trend for decades and more retirements around this time was expected.

“And the pandemic, you know, prompted earlier retirements, more retirements,”

Nguyen said, adding

there was a dip as women dropped out of the workforce because of child care issues or taking care of sick family members. But women returning to work is one of the growth areas.

Hills pours into the regional profile data DEED compiled for Region 5. Obstacles to employment may come from lack of child care, transportation, lack of broadband or internet connection and affordable housing.

“There are some other real infrastructure problems and challenges that are limiting our ability to have as many people into the labor force who are able and want to be in the labor force,” Hills said. “... If they’re at home, sometimes it’s because of other reasons. And that requires us to do what we have been doing as a region, working really hard on those hard infrastructure issues.”

Others are struggling with adapting to a new economy and a technology based way of doing business with younger employees who may not be looking at a work life inside a cubicle that worked for previous generations. Hills said the race for talent may include changing

► The second and third largest industries in Region 5 are Retail Trade and Accommodation & Food Services. Retail Trade regained nearly all jobs lost in 2020, while Accommodation & Food Services remained down 497 jobs from 2019. Despite rapid restaffing in 2021, this sector had the largest employment drop from 2019 to 2021.

► Employment in Educational Services makes it the fifth largest sector but remained nearly as far below pre-pandemic levels as Accommodation & Food Services employment.

► Region 5 was home to 12,957 self-employed businesses or “nonemployers” in 2019. Region 5 saw a slight increase over the past decade and these non-employers generated sales receipts of over $645 million in 2019.

► Region 5 is not as large of an agriculture producer as other parts of Greater Minnesota, but there are 4,806 farms producing just over $672 million in the market value of products sold in 2017 according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Except for Morrison, the rest of the counties in the region rank in the bottom half of Minnesota counties in the market value of products sold.

policies where possible and appropriate, including having remote workers and figuring out how to build a culture with a more diverse workforce with women, more minority and immigrant workers.

In the fourth quarter of 2021, DEED reported there were an estimated 18,861 openings – a record high – compared to 7,904 unemployed jobseekers in the region.

“Household incomes were significantly lower in Region 5 than statewide,” DEED reported. “The median household income in North Central was $55,822 in 2020, compared to $73,382 in Minnesota. Additionally, 44.6% of the region’s households had income under $50,000, compared to 33.5%

statewide. A similar share of households had income of $50,000 to $74,999.”

Hills said that is an opportunity to think about different economic models, such as employee cooperatives, employee benefits and profit sharing. So perhaps a minimum wage employee will stay longer if they feel tied into an ownership model with profit sharing.

“We just have to be thinking about all those buckets to determine how we are going to win that race for the talent and attract and retain workers,” Hills said.

Looking at the DEED data, Hills said the region has some of the lowest numbers of minority workers.

“The population in Region 5 is less racially

diverse than the state overall but is becoming more diverse over time,” DEED reported in the regional profile. “Nearly 91% of the region’s residents are white, compared to 77.5% of residents statewide. However, while the region’s white population had no change between 2010 and 2020, every other racial and ethnic group had rapid growth.” Hills said the question to ask is what are the barriers and how can they be overcome. Is it a language barrier for a care worker who may excel at being a certified nursing assistant, or transportation issues and then look at addressing those barriers. Is it creating

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TCO Staples - Therapy, a onestop-shop for physical therapy and sports performance services, is on schedule to open in January 2024. A cornerstone of the new Plaza construction, this 7,000-square-foot facility owned and operated by Twin Cities Orthopedics, will offer top-of-the-line equipment and technology, providing the best possible care for patients while evaluating their outcomes.

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“This new facility is more than just a physical space, it represents a commitment to the community and our partners at Lakewood,” said Dr. Paul Diekmann, TCO orthopedic surgeon. “It’s been my privilege to serve patients in the Staples and Brainerd areas for over a year, and in that time, I’ve seen firsthand the need for TCO’s expanded services. Whether a patient is recovering from an injury, looking to improve athletic performance, or simply wanting to get back to their daily routine, TCO StaplesTherapy will have everything they need to reach their goals.”

Since partnering with TCO in September of 2021, Lakewood has seen a steep increase in the number of orthopedic patients served and according to Lakewood President and CEO Lisa Bjerga, it has also made Lakewood better.

“Partnering with TCO not only provides our patients with access to care unlike any in the region, TCO Staples - Therapy will also bring new, enhanced services, specifically sports performance. Whether you’re a joint replacement patient or a high school athlete looking to make athletic gains, both can feel confident in the care and services they receive. It’s a win for our entire region.”

Patients do not need a referral to schedule an appointment with a TCO orthopedic specialist at Lakewood and can do so by calling 218-8948259. With comprehensive care providing everything from diagnosis, to treatment and rehabilitation, Lakewood looks to continue this growth in the months and years ahead.

“It’s a win for our entire region.”

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One of the most iconic Downtown Brainerd buildings, once the Citizens State Bank, is for sale, providing an opportunity for an investor who may see the potential for loft apartments on upper floors as well as the commercial space on the main level.

Corp. to secure available funding and bring that money here so it can be put to use.

more workers and we’ll have less of those issues, but there are some really great opportunities in front of us,” Hills said.

The unemployment rates for June were:

► 4.5% for Aitkin County,

a climate where workers of diversity feel more welcome in the community? Maybe it’s a worker who had an addiction but is in a different place through rehabilitation but needs transportation to get to a manufacturing job. Is there a place in the private sector to provide that link to work? It’s a change of mindset for some businesses that were used to ample candidates to take a hard look at what barriers they are creating in this new labor market. Hills said one question for employers is where are their workers going to live. And if subsidized affordable housing is going to be part of it, does the area have the necessary infrastructure and organizations like the Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development

“And so it’s definitely an opportunity to put our skills to the test of what we say we’ve been doing in this region for quite some time, which is effective private, public, nonprofit philanthropic relationships,” Hills said. “I’m not seeing as much of the public funds come back to our region as we could bring in and I’m not seeing as much private sector. That’s an opportunity, engagement in these discussions and frankly, even if it’s a few hundred dollars a year, skin in the game.”

Hills pointed to the work of Ojibwe bands on a project in Bemidji for workforce housing.

“They built an affordable housing, workforce housing development. It is beautiful. I was there a couple of weeks ago,” Hills said in mid-August.

“The bands actually pay for specific units within that development. They pay for a unit for members of their tribes to live in those units. It is an amazing program. There is no reason that same structure can’t be replicated.” With local units of government and the private sectors, Hills said a manufacturer for example could say they want a unit so when they have workers who cannot find housing, they have a unit secured for their business. Hills said she isn’t sure the region is at the point yet to be hungry enough to try some of those models and different ways of doing business. The stage right now may still be about grieving the past when it was easy to fill a job opening or a blaming stage, rather than the point where necessity becomes the mother of invention.

“When we figure that out, we’re going to be able to attract and retain

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► 4.2% for Cass County,

► 3.4% for Crow Wing County,

► 4.6% for Mille Lacs County,

► 4.2% for Morrison County,

► 3.7% for Todd County,

► 4.7% for Wadena County.

► 4% for Brainerd,

► 3.6% for the Brainerd Micropolitan (Crow Wing and Cass counties).

Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

Cost of living

According to DEED’s Cost of Living tool, the basic needs budget for an average Minnesota family (which consists of two adults and one child, with one full-time and one part-time worker) was $60,540 in 2021.

“The cost of living for a similar family in Region 5 was $49,392 — which was the eighth highest of the 13 economic

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development regions in the state,” DEED reported in the economic profile. “The highest monthly costs were for transportation, food, and housing; though the region’s housing, child care, and taxes were significantly lower than statewide. In order to meet the basic needs cost of living for the region, the two workers in the family scenario described would need to earn $15.83 per hour working a combined 60 hours per week.”

Apartment building projects abound

Apartment buildings are going up in multiple places this summer offering more housing options than ever before, but they may not be meeting all the affordable housing needs for workers. The Lofts at Novotny are going up on Novotny Road in Baxter not far from Jack Pine Brewery. The three-story 64-unit apartment building will feature studio, one- and two-bedroom apartment homes from 495 square feet to 1,212 square feet. The apartment building will have 72,445 square feet of rentable

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space. Miller Architects & Builders report the units are expected to be available in the spring of 2024. The Lofts at Novotny will include a community room with serving kitchen, outdoor community patio, climate-controlled storage options for residents, 33 tuck under and detached garages. Also in Baxter, the Pinehurst Apartments are under construction. The Campbell Properties reported plans to build five 50-plus unit apartment buildings. When complete, the three-story Pinehurst apartment buildings would include attached multi-stall garage buildings and plans call for a 5,166-square-foot clubhouse building. Three buildings would have 57 units each in the plans and two would have 59 units each. The development would include 289 residential units. Campbell Properties also owns the Cypress Court and Clearwater Estate apartments in Baxter. At a Baxter City Council meeting in 2022, David Campbell, a representative from Campbell Properties said

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Interesting facts

► The Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area, which was established in 1993, contains six natural lakes, plus an additional 15 deep lakes that were former mine pits. The lakes are 100 to 535 feet deep. The rock stockpiles, created with the open pit mining, were 200 feet high.

► The Cuyuna Range had about 20 mines operating in the 1950s but the area was largely shut down with mines abandoned by the early 1960s. Nature reclaimed the area. In the early 2000s, a tiny group of dedicated individuals started what would become a juggernaut of a grassroots campaign fueled by volunteers and fundraising to create the mountain bike trails. In 2011, federal funding was designated with the help of the late Congressman Jim Oberstar and the trails opened. In 2017, the state Legislature granted the project $3.6 million in bond funding plus $500,000 from the DNR.

► The rec area has 25 miles of natural shoreline.

► The area is named for Cuyler Adams and his faithful companion, a St. Bernard named Una. Adams discovered iron ore in the area in 1904. By 1909, about 2,000 drill holes were completed and the towns of Cuyuna, Crosby, Ironton, Manganese, Riverton and Trommald were established. Adams, who bought land that he would later plat into the city of Deerwood, was an early resident and admirer of the Deerwood area. Adams had a remarkable life story.

► The Cuyuna Overlook provides a mountainous view of the area, at least in Minnesota terms, which is dotted by lakes and connected by forests. The Overlook, about 250 feet high, now has picnic spots and a paved parking area,

PROGRESS

their vacancy rate has been zero percent for five years.

“We have nothing available ever,” Campbell said at the meeting. “So we decided (Baxter would) be a great spot to build.”

The Pinehurst Apartments on Hinckley Road in Baxter are slated for a fall 2023 opening. Described as upscale with stateof-the-art exercise room, pet washing stations, game room, community room, and with apartments with plank flooring, walkin closets, in-home laundry and private balconies or patios. The complex has heated attached garages. The company’s website offers a one bedroom, one bath apartment of 778 square feet at starting at $1,460 with a two bedroom,

two bath and 1,057 square feet as starting at $1,750. There are several floor plans to choose from.

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roofs the a Brainerd Often tires earth Range trails. stay or shopping lodging hard down.

► Man High II mission launched a 280-foot plastic balloon and a gondola the size of a vintage phone booth with a researcher inside from the mine pits. The balloon and company was launched Aug. 19, 1957, from the Portsmouth open pit mine. The researcher, Air Force Maj. David Simons spent 43.5 hours in the capsule with 32 of those hours at the edge of space gaining information used for space exploration.

Another proposed apartment complex before the city of Baxter was a sketch plan presented by Matt Davis, one of the owners of Fortress Holdings and listed as chief operating officer, that called for four, three-story apartment buildings with 70 units each at the southwest corner of Hastings Road and Evergreen Drive in Baxter.

In Brainerd, a housing project will create 78 units of marketrate housing with commercial space in the former Thrifty White building at South Eighth and Laurel streets. Developer DW Jones plans to demolish the existing building, which has been vacant for years, and rebuild a mixed use building with 65 units of underground parking and 26 parking

spaces at the back of the building. Planned apartments on the second, third and fourth floors of the building include 12 studio units, 29 one bed/one bath, nine one bed/one bath plus den, 14 two bed/one bath and 14 two bed/two bath. Many of the upper level apartments would have their own private balcony and patio areas. With some projects nearing completion, more coming in phased construction and others still on the drawing board, there could be a lot of apartment units available in a short space of time, but whether that means they’ll be affordable is another question.

The federal government considers housing to be affordable if a family spends no more than 30% of its income on housing costs, including utilities. The Initiative Foundation reported using this benchmark,

a family earning the central Minnesota median of $62,000 a year could afford to pay up to $18,600 a year (or $1,550 a month) on housing. It also puts pressure on single people who may want to relocate for a job, but who can’t find decent housing or housing they can afford on an individual paycheck, let alone leave them money to put aside for savings, student loan repayments, a car payment, emergency funds or ultimately a downpayment on a home of their own.

There are 2,553 units licensed for rental in the city of Brainerd through May 31, 2024. Of those, there are 183 duplexes, 185 properties labeled as three or more units and 635 labeled at single family homes. The city does not separate rentals by house versus apartment building.

In Baxter, there are 1,449 rentals not counting the ones under construction. Baxter breaks its rental units down by address and then notes the number of units at each address. There are 100 single units; 44 multiplexes with two, four, six or eight units; six rentals ranging from 10 to 24 units per address, 20 units with 29, 30 or 35 units each; and 10 addresses with at least 50 rental units per address.

From Page 5 PROGRESS

Nate Grotzke, senior adviser at Close Converse in Brainerd, has been active in the Destination Downtown committee in Brainerd and part of the downtown business challenge that helped launch new businesses in Brainerd. Grotzke specializes in leasing and sales in office, retail, industrial and investment properties.

Grotzke also recently participated with a group looking at workforce housing in the Brainerd lakes area. The group is looking at barriers to affordable housing.

“I’m very optimistic about the future of the area,” Grotzke said. “I think we’ve had strong growth in the last two years.”

Grotzke said there will be an increase in medical services because of the demand as people move to the area, particularly retirees with an increased need for senior and continued care services.

Cuyuna continues to see economic expansion

Can Brainerd benefit from a robust recreation bike economy? Vehicles with bicycles on their

expansion bicycles change making and from as make connection to be those intensity downhill, a another enthusiast. and over on morning into lake Raven coffee told that time as because wasn’t to we Rafferty’s Drunken do often that involves continues intrigued Brainerd such to right

When I started in the glass business, I had not envisioned myself making this my longterm dream. Well, here I am some 30-plus years later. I started at the very bottom and worked my way to owning my own business. I met my wife because of it and in turn had two wonderful children.

Along the way I have worked with and beside some very wonderful people. When my wife and I purchased Brainerd Glass in 2009 we had visions of growing the company and in doing so also creating a bond and trust with not only our clients but also with our employees.

Treating people with respect and listening to what their needs are is the foundation of what we do at Brainerd Glass. Integrity, hard work and going the extra mile is not only sound business practice but the right way to do things.

As we look to the future, our hope is to not only grow our business, but to also maintain up-to-date standards. We will embrace and utilize all the new technology that increases the value of our products and services. Our bottom line is to create a positive work environment for our employees and a quality product and service for our customers.

In today’s economy, unfortunately, the products we purchase have run into some time delays. Whether it is a lack of workers from our suppliers or lack of material, our lead times have grown. When you work with Brainerd Glass you will get full disclosure on the status of your project. Our goal is to work as quickly and efficiently as humanly possible. Sometimes the path may get crooked, but the result will always be for us to give the highest quality product and service available.

I personally want to thank all my employees, both present and past. Brainerd Glass is more than just a name; it is a reputation that has stood the test of time. It is a tradition that was started in 1943 and continues to this day. We consider it a blessing to live and work where we do. We actively take part in the community both physically and monetarily. We look forward to the future and will always strive to be the very best that we can be.

I had not envisioned myself making this my longterm dream.

Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

Second story decks are part of the Crosby Lofts with two buildings across from each other on one side of Main Street providing a boutique hotel for the booming mountain bike and outdoor recreation market with the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area.

recently area. at strong continues recreation Vehicles

roofs or attached to the back of cars is a common sight in Brainerd and Baxter.

Often those bikes have tires covered in the red earth of the Cuyuna Range mountain bike trails. How many people stay or come to Brainerd or Baxter for expanded shopping or additional lodging options is a hard number to pin down.

But the anticipated expansion of electric bicycles could also change the equation by making it a much easier and quicker trip on trails from Brainerd to Crosby as the trails currently make it an easy connection from Baxter to Nisswa. They may not be the same bicyclist as those looking for the intensity of hurtling downhill, but it could be a crucial connection for another type of outdoor enthusiast.

Grotzke said friends and family enjoy going over to Crosby to run on the bike trails in the morning and then jump into Pennington mine lake and go to the Red Raven in Crosby for coffee or hot chocolate.

“If you would have told me 20 years ago that we’d spend as much time over in Crosby as we do, I’d say ‘no,’ because Crosby just wasn’t a place you’d go to hang out … and now we go often and eat at Rafferty’s and eat at Drunken Noodle. We do get over there quite often to do stuff like that but mostly it also involves the trails.”

Grotzke said he continues to be intrigued by downtown Brainerd but Crosby has such a growth, it’s hard to compete with that right now.

Once a hidden gem, the jewel-hued Cuyuna mine pit lakes and the red earth of the mountain bike trails are bustling with activity. On an overcast mid-August Saturday afternoon, Cuyuna Outfitters of Crosby was making regular trips to the Pennington access to pick up and drop off kayaks, and people were in their notable clear kayaks cruising along the Mahnomen mine lake.

Early vision for Cuyuna

In June of 2005, Jenny Smith was starting her business Cycle Path and Paddle with a visionary eye toward recreational opportunities in the Crosby and Ironton areas. A year later, Smith was paddling in a kayak next to a pontoon taking people out onto the mine lakes in a familiarization tour to connect people from lakes area communities with Cuyuna Range communities and what the Cuyuna Rec area had to offer in their own backyard. Nature reclaimed the open pits with clear water and the discarded earth piled high during the open

pit mining became the perfect playground for mountain biking.

On that summer day 18 years ago, Smith pointed to the anticipated opening of the Cuyuna Lakes State Trail, expected to attract bikers along a trip from Crosby to Riverton, and expanding knowledge of the 5,000 acre Cuyuna Country State Recreational Area — dubbed a miniBoundary Waters.

As word of the mountain bike trails grew and people experienced the rec area — by water or wheel — new businesses continued to open in the Cuyuna lakes area geared toward outdoor recreation and specifically mountain biking. Bikeconomics brought cafes, bike shops, lodging, camping and more to the area. Crosby’s main street, once dominated by antique shops with the city designated as the antique capital of the lakes area, continues to evolve, innovate and remake itself.

In June, the Drunken Noodle restaurant, Lake and Company retail store and the Crosby Lofts, a boutique hotel,

Ourstaf fisthebest inthebusiness!

all hosted open houses along Main Street in Crosby. Drunken Noodle features fresh, traditional, Thai dishes with locally sourced ingredients, and other innovative southeast Asian cuisine.

Thamrong “Keng” Dechawuth, owns the Thai restaurants, the Drunken Noodle

in Fargo, North Dakota, and Tara Thai in Bemidji, has a mushroom farm in a small community north of Bemidji and is the new owner of 612 Station, transitioning to the Blue Oyster, in downtown Brainerd.

Susan and Doug Arndt, partners with Nick and Sandra Summers, in the 30 West Main

project that created the Crosby Lofts, a boutique hotel catering to the people being drawn to Cuyuna. A multi-story brick building across the street has two residential floors in the restored 120-yearold building with a Rafferty’s restaurant on the main floor.

PROGRESS : PAGE 8

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the

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During this Labor Day weekend, we wish to salute the Good Neighbor Home Health Care staff, which is second to none. Their dedication, compassion and professionalism –day in and day out –is why Good Neighbor has been so successful during its 40 years of service to the Brainerd Lakes Area. Whether it’s nursing care, therapy, home health aide, homemaker or companion services, our employees provide the highest level of care. We’re proud of our employees and thank them for their loyalty and service to Good Neighbor Home Health Care.

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Good Neighbor’s approach to home health care has always been one that resembles being a good neighbor, and that approach dates back to 1983 when Sherrie Christensen started the business out of the basement of her home. Whether her neighbors needed medical care, homemaking services or companion care, Good Neighbor has been and always will be committed to bringing compassion, respect, professionalism and a personal touch to its clients. And with a wide range of services, Good Neighbor is able to tailor its services to each client’s individual needs.

Good Neighbor sets itself apart from its competition by offering a full range of skilled medical care as well as nonmedical services, all of which are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Its medical services, which are administered by registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, include pain

Good Neighbor’s staff also is experienced in caring for clients with dementia, as well as many other chronic diseases.

“We’re really proud of Good Neighbor’s history and the many employees who helped us get to this point,” Christensen said. “Health care is continually changing. We’ll address the changes just as we have in the past, with compassion and respect, just like a good neighbor.”

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“It’s been going very well in Crosby with the Lofts and our tenants,” Arndt said in an email in mid-August. “Both Drunken Noodle and Rafferty’s have been very busy.”

Arndt said the Crosby Lofts boutique hotel is booked full weekends through Labor Day, although there are lots of openings weekdays for those who want to experience the area and have the comfort of a hotel room in a historic building with a rooftop deck and with storage space for all their outdoor gear.

And it’s not just the businesses geared more directly to the mountain bike trails that are making their mark. Victual in Crosby won the 2022 Retailer of the Year from the Minnesota Retailers Association.

“It’s not necessarily uncommon for the Retailer of the Year to be a small store, however Crosby is the smallest area where we have recognized a Retailer of the Year since we began the program in 2017,” said Bruce Nustad, President of Minnesota Retailers Association when the award was announced.

“From specialty cheese to chocolate, cards to serving pieces, and homemade, lactosefree ice cream to specialty liquors, their store truly has it all. They have created a unique, successful store with a one-of-a-kind shopping experience that showcases what is great about retail in Minnesota.”

Paul Kirkman

co-owns Victual with Paul VanderWaal. This summer, Victual was continuing its work on an expansion doubling its size on Main Street

in Crosby. Kirkman credited the Small Business Development Center as a major factor in their business launch,

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their store’s staff and their focus on customer service.

“From neighborhood residents and the medical professionals

of the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, to the surrounding lakes community, and most importantly the tourists brought in by the

mountain bicycle trails of the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area,” Kirkman stated in a news release after the announcement of the Retailer of the Year award in the fall of 2022. “We’re a unique business outside of a regional metropolitan area. We’ve been laserfocused on creating a store, an environment, and a product assortment that is out of place for its locale in north central Minnesota — yet something that was clearly needed and wanted based on sales results.”

Renee Richardson, managing editor, may be reached at 218-855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch. com. @DispatchBizBuzz.

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The Lofts at Novotny on Novotny Road in Baxter off Highway 371 are expected to open in the spring of 2024.

Protecting the flock

Sheepdogs raised to guard livestock at Stoneybrook

By Theresa Bourke Brainerd Dispatch Pequot

Lakes

Colleen Williams didn’t plan to breed and raise livestock guardian dogs.

“For me it was purely accidental,” she said in August, while surrounded by some of her nine Maremma sheepdogs.

But she’s been doing it for more than 15 years now at Stoneybrook, her 240-acre farm in rural Pequot Lakes.

About 100 sheep roam in the vast field, the occasional bleats piercing the peaceful countryside. A few brown horses trot up to their owner while big, fluffy white dogs bound all around, looking the picture of happiness with their breed’s classic “smile” etched onto their furry faces.

The brood of dogs is large and friendly, yet noticeably

By Tim Speier Brainerd Dispatch

With the influx of people moving to the Brainerd lakes area, others staying in their cabins fulltime and those who do not feel like spending thousands of dollars on equipment they’ll use once, home improvement services in the area are in high demand.

Those in the area who have sought out help to make improvements or add to their house have found they are among many in the Brainerd lakes area who are waiting weeks or months for skilled laborers.

Some got into the home improvement trade years ago and others got

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quiet, even when visited by newcomers. That’s just the way of the Maremma.

A business by chance

Williams’ first sheepdog pup, Snow, was part of a package deal in 2004 when she purchased a flock of replacement ewes for the farm.

“I knew nothing about the breed,” she said. “I was completely unfamiliar with them. So when she came to live with us, I learned a lot about how livestock guardian dogs interact with the animals, and I was completely blown away.”

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into the business more recently. Some specialize in installing or working with only specific areas while others will work on just about any room in the home and outside of it.

Ben Schrader started his own business last September and tackles most things in the home his clients ask for. In business for a few years

is Zach Gates of Gates Installations and Repairs, specializing in installing quartz countertops.

Snow spent the better part of her time with the sheep — she slept with them, ate with them and went out into the field with them.

“She didn’t know she was a dog,” Williams said. “... She

And coming up on two years of owning his own business is Seth Srock, who runs Overhaul Mobile Sand Blasting and has worked with Gates for about four years.

Ben Schrader Handyman

Working on tiling a bathroom, Schrader said he went to college for corporate finance and landed a job as a financial adviser.

Schrader said he was in finance for about seven years and would finish work, and go home to work on his own house in the evening and on weekends, slowly learning along the way.

HANDY: PAGE 12

was a sheep in every sense of the word.”

From there, she fell in love with the breed, and her first litter of puppies came in 2006.

“I’ve just continued to learn every day from them,”

she said. “They’re just really incredible dogs.”

Not to be confused with herding dogs — which are actually quite different from livestock guardians — Maremmas are raised to protect other animals and keep predators like wolves and coyotes away in a humane way.

In Williams’ case, that’s typically sheep and poultry.

The dogs bond with their charges and keep them safe by performing perimeter checks around the fields, urine marking and occasionally barking if absolutely necessary.

They have a very low prey drive and will avoid a fight whenever possible.

The even temperament of Williams’ Maremmas was put to the test last summer, for example, when a family of foxes made their home just across the fence from her animals.

SHEEPDOGS: PAGE 10

Photos by Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

Colleen Williams, owner of Stoneybrook, talks about her farm while petting Maremma sheepdog Allessia on Aug. 3, 2023.

If you’re handy, there’s plenty of work in the Brainerd lakes area

Colleen Williams, owner of Stoneybrook in Pequot Lakes, talks about the farm while petting one of her fjord horses on Aug. 3, 2023.

SHEEPDOGS

From Page 9

The foxes stayed on their side of the fence, away from the farm, and Williams enjoyed watching the little kits grow all summer.

That’s where the Maremmas come in.

Living in harmony

“That’s the whole point behind having these dogs — so you can provide a humane source of predator control,” Williams said. “I really don’t like trapping. I think those animals and wildlife have just as much right to live here as we do. They were here before us. We kind of have encroached on their habitat, so I feel like we can live in harmony without being destructive.”

That’s certainly one of the reasons Katie Kelley became interested in having Maremmas on her regenerative farm in northern Illinois.

“I was researching using an LGD (livestock guardian dog) to help deter predators rather than shooting them or anything else like that,” she said, noting her farm had problems with coyotes and aerial predators.

Her research on guardian dogs brought her to Stoneybrook and Williams’ Maremmas.

“I was just really impressed about the depth of knowledge that she had, the things that she said about them and also how long she’s been doing this,” Kelley said during a phone interview in August.

With a long waiting list at Stoneybrook, Kelley had to look elsewhere for her first Maremma, but Williams helped her along the way, and Kelley now raises the dogs herself and finally bought her 18-monthold Bernadette from Williams last year.

“It’s rare to find a person who has that kind of ability and expertise and love of the breed, but also the respect for people,” Kelley said of Williams, who works hard to match the right dogs with the right people and places.

Bernadette and Kelley’s other three Maremmas are perfect for the 80-acre farm

that hosts a lot of visitors. They’ll bark if a stranger comes up to the fence and the owners aren’t there. But they’re exceptionally friendly to anyone and everyone who comes in with their owners’ permission.

They’re happy and affectionate but also do their jobs well.

A combination of instinct and proper raising, Maremmas typically have their territory and guard everything inside of it. They know what belongs and what doesn’t.

“When vultures come in, or eagles or owls, then the dogs do chase them off because they know that they’re not a normal part of their environment,” Williams said.

Raising them right

Work begins when the Maremmas are young. They’ve got to bond with the animals they’ll be guarding early.

A 6-week-old puppy, for example, might start out in the poultry pen and graduate to larger livestock as they age. Yearling ewes might be next — something a

little bigger that’s not going to put up with any “puppy nonsense,” as Williams puts it, but also that’s not going to harm

the little dogs.

At about a year old, the dogs can go out into the pasture with the adult flock of sheep.

There isn’t a lot of actual training involved, aside from learning basic obedience.

“Most of it is instinct that plays a role,” Williams said. The critical socialization time for Maremmas is between 8-16 weeks, Williams said. When raising pups for clients, she typically tries to get them in their new homes by at least 10 weeks so they can start bonding with the animals they guard.

But even with training and natural instinct, every now and then a dog just doesn’t work out.

And that’s OK.

Some work better on smaller family farms or simply as a companion dog.

“There are definitely dogs that are too rambunctious. And she’s probably one of them,” William said while petting Allessia, a 4-year-old Maremma who isn’t necessarily a total failure as a guardian dog but makes a great companion.

Every now and then — though not often — Williams might have to take a dog back.

One client about 10 years ago had to sell her sheep and move into town, no longer having room for her Maremma,

SHEEPDOGS: PAGE 11

so Stoneybrook. male, exceptions, didn’t his now place at Williams’ Maremmas, sheep, chickens, and Beyond Minnesota breed puppies Stoneybrook’s she all Sheepdog America breeders States that organization’s ethics. the Minnesota. sent every have Puerto and up with work the at Care at Foundation

That’s the whole point behind having these dogs — so you can provide a humane source of predator control.

Colleen Williams

Photos by Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

Maremma sheepdogs play around on Aug. 3, 2023, at Stoneybrook in Pequot Lakes.

Colleen Williams, accompanied by two of her 12 dogs, talks about her farm, Stoneybrook, on Aug. 30, 2023.

Sheep graze out in the pasture on Aug. 3, 2023, at Stoneybrook in Pequot Lakes.

STONEYBROOK MAREMMA

SHEEPDOGS

Where: 6737 29th Ave. S.W. Pequot Lakes.

Number of employees: 1.

Interesting fact: The full name of the Maremma is Maremmano-Abruzzese sheepdog. They come from Italy, and Williams tries to honor that Italian heritage by giving her dogs Italian names, like Allessia and Elena.

SHEEPDOGS

From Page 10

so he went back to Stoneybrook.

Ole, a large, friendly male, is one of those exceptions, too. He didn’t work out with his new owner but now has cemented his place among the flock at Stoneybrook with Williams’ eight other Maremmas, four collies, sheep, horses, cattle, chickens, guinea hens and goose.

Beyond Minnesota

Williams will typically breed two litters of puppies a year. Through Stoneybrook’s website, she garners clients from all over the world.

The Maremma Sheepdog Club of America lists only 37 breeders in the United States and Canada that live up to the organization’s code of ethics. Stoneybrook is the only one listed in Minnesota.

Williams figures she’s sent dogs to nearly every state, and some have gone as far as Puerto Rico, Denmark and Brazil.

It’s a trade that takes up a lot of time along with all the other farm work Williams has and the other jobs she works at Home Instead Senior Care and as a vet tech at the nearby Babinski Foundation animal

shelter. But after growing up on a hobby farm in Mora, it’s the life she’s used to and the one she loves.

“I’ve always loved animals, and even from childhood I always wanted to be a veterinarian when I grew up,” she said. “But I’m kind of glad now that I’m not. This is better.”

THERESA BOURKE may be reached at theresa.bourke@brainerddispatch. com or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ DispatchTheresa.

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Cheer up your home with a visit to Lonesome Cottage

BY SUE SMITH-GRIER (WITH EDITS MADE BY ADVERTISER)

When you hear the name Lonesome Cottage, it may evoke thoughts of a movie featuring a character starting out a new life in a small woodland cottage outside of a small town and looking at the empty rocking chair next to them, longing for love. You wouldn’t think it would be the name of the largest manufacturer of handcrafted rustic furniture in the country and based out of the Brainerd lakes area no less.

produced by Wooded River, a sister company based out of Caldwell, Idaho. Wooded River offers unique custom drapes and bedding along with other products to make your home special. Wooded River is known for its excellence in design and craftsmanship with the finest Italian produced fabric that is brought to its final form in Idaho. The designs of their products perfectly pair with rustic furniture which pulls together a cozy look ideal for homes and cabins.

Looking for wall paneling, barn doors, or mantels? They can help with that too through Signature Woods, another sister company that Lonesome Cottage purchased back in 2020.

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•Interiordesigneronstaff

•Somuchmore!

Our6,000+squarefootshowroomisfilledwithjustabout everythingtocompleteyourspace! 9am 10:15

While this would be an entertaining film, Lonesome Cottage is indeed a family-owned and operated business which employs local artisans and craftspeople to work out of their production facility in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota. The company not only produces furniture that is sold across the world, but Lonesome Cottage is also a retail space that is a onestop shop for home furnishings and decor. The design center, with a 6,000-square-foot showroom, is much larger than any cottage. Lonesome Cottage offers everything you need to make your home, cabin or cottage unique and offers products for every room like bedrooms, dining rooms, gathering rooms, and even bars and bathrooms.

From vinyl plank flooring to rugs to blinds, the design center makes creating the perfect space exciting and rewarding. With professional designers on staff to help, they can help you from start to finish with your project with samples from our various business partners.

In addition to the Lonesome Cottage rustic furniture enterprise, you will also find bedding, throws, cuddles, pillows, and more top of bed items

Signature Woods specializes in making and selling wall paneling, sliding doors and mantels from reclaimed barn wood, a perfect match to Lonesome Cottage which in addition to cedar log and hickory log furniture, also sells barn wood furniture made from authentic barn wood harvested from 1800s tobacco barns. This means no matter what look you are going for, Lonesome Cottage can help.

Whether you are looking to furnish a room, an entire cabin, a home, or your business, Lonesome Cottage Furniture Company is there to help with everything from beds, bedding, couches, chairs, rugs, wall art, gifts, and more.

They’re located next to the DQ in Pequot Lakes.

For more information about Lonesome Cottage, visit lonesomecottage. com. 218-568-8223

Left: Allessia smiles for the camera on Aug. 3, 2023, at Stoneybrook in Pequot Lakes.

Above: A goose wanders the farm on Aug. 3, 2023, at Stoneybrook in Pequot Lakes.

Photos by Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

HANDY

From Page 9

“My wife and I, we refinished the basement,” Schrader said. “So we went down the block with everything. I did all of the framing, electrical and plumbing.”

Working on his basement, Schrader was able to build an assortment of tools and skills he said he needed to change careers. When he found something he

did not know how to do, he would research it.

Deciding to switch gears during the pandemic, Schrader said he left the financial industry and started working in the construction field.

Schrader worked with a couple of different people doing construction. He said he helped build a carwash in Garrison.

“I helped re-side a house, we redid a kitchen,” he said. “There was a house in Grand Rapids that had a tornado come through last

summer, this beautiful log home, I helped put the roof back on.”

After some time, Schrader said he saw the need in the area for handyman services and decided to take a leap of faith.

Starting in September of 2022, Schrader said he was able to fill his schedule relatively quickly thanks to his skills learned as a financial adviser and “the fact that I’ve lived in this area most of my life.”

“As an adviser, your job is really largely to

A Sincere THANK YOU to all of our Patients and Staff for another great year.

build your network,” Schrader said. “I spent a lot of years getting to know people and forming new relationships, so I think that just kind of helped fuel things.”

Schrader said there has been no shortage of work as he has been fortunate enough to have a few jobs flourish, leaving him progressively busier.

“I think it was probably February when I just got a huge influx of work but I operate a little bit differently than most,” Schrader said. A lot of handymen

charge hourly for a job, Schrader said, where he provides customers with a job estimate in writing instead of telling a potential customer an hourly rate. After a customer accepts the estimate he takes a down payment for the work to put them on the schedule.

“If somebody comes up and says, ‘Hey, this is my hourly rate,’” Schrader said. “Well, what people really care about is, what is that going to translate to in the end. What is that invoice going to look like.”

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Taking a down payment on the work also keeps people from canceling on him at the last minute as they, too, have resources on the line.

“I just am providing people what I would want as a customer,” Schrader said.

When asked about the demographic of his customers, Schrader said it’s everyone from people who are older and need help maintaining their homes to younger people

HANDY: PAGE 13

The Home of Eye Health –Midwest Family Eye Center

We live in a big, beautiful world and the professionals at Midwest Family Eye Center help make sure you and your loved ones see it clearly.

With more than 35 years of experience, our optometrists have the skills required to ensure optimal eye health. Dr. Jackie McCall and Dr. Torvin Rajala are committed to providing patients with information and care that will keep your eyes as healthy as possible.

Hectic schedules can make it easy to put off vision checkups and yet, without good vision, everything else suffers. At Midwest Family Eye Center, we help you achieve the best eye health and maintain your vision to the highest level possible. Here, you receive personalized attention as we make sure your visit is comfortable and relaxing.

As with other areas of health, prevention is key when it comes to maintaining healthy vision. With the proper information and excellent eye care, many vision issues can be minimized or avoided altogether. Routine, preventive eye care is important in achieving and maintaining vision that functions well.

Dr. Jackie McCall

Dr. Torvin Rajala

Midwest Family Eye Center provides comprehensive eye health examinations along with visual field screening. We screen for various eye diseases such as glaucoma and provide treatment and management for such conditions. We provide on-call emergency care for trauma.

We also provide a wide range of styles for those needing glasses. Knowledgeable and friendly staff can help you make the perfect choice for your best look. We have an extensive selection of name brand frames, designs, coatings and materials to choose from.

We also have a wide selection of contact lenses. You can choose specialty contacts and those that work best for your lifestyle. Make an appointment for a consultation and get the contacts that fit your needs. We also have a constantly updated online contacts store for your convenience.

Midwest Family Eye Center offers special savings on optical products. Ask us about the discounts we have available.

A special thanks to our patients, new and familiar who look to us for eye care. We appreciate your trust in our expertise.

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Zach Gates grabs tools out of his trailer on July 21, 2023, as he works on installing some countertops for a customer in Pequot Lakes.

too, want Schrader said people people

who don’t have the time or tools to do the work.

“I think there’s a pretty big need across the board,” Schrader said.

As he was prepping the tiles for finishing, Schrader said he can do almost anything, from smaller projects such as repainting a room or changing a light socket to larger jobs such as installing a tub or remodeling a bathroom.

With his last few jobs dealing with bathrooms, Schrader said he has been getting more calls for bathroom repairs or remodels. He pointed out a few happy customers spread the word better than any advertising he could ask for.

“I have only one guy,” Schrader said. “So if I get a bathroom remodel, it ties me up for, all depending on what I’m doing, 1-2-3 weeks. It doesn’t take a lot of jobs to tie me up.”

Schrader said he has a retired man who helps him a few days a week, so he schedules what he is going to do around the extra help.

“There was a house I was working on this winter and I was redoing the bathroom and then the flooring throughout this cabin,” Schrader said. “It turned out to have a whole lot of structural issues that were not anticipated. We had to lift up walls, lift up the entire corner of a house about one and a quarter inches. I’ve never done it before, but we just used our critical thinking skills and we’re able to get it done.”

Schrader said he sees the need for handymen in the area as people work to turn their cabins into their homes.

“I do continue to fill my schedule with

bathrooms, which is just kind of what’s coming my way,” Schrader said. “But I see such a need for others in the handyman space, just being able to replace doorknobs and adjust doors and paint this, paint that, and whatever little maintenance items. Yeah, at some point, I’ve been kicking around a couple of ideas to try to service that need. But I’m not quite to that point.”

Gates Installations and Repairs

Being the jack-ofall-trades is not for everyone, however. Zach Gates specializes in installing quartz countertops and cabinets.

“I’ve been doing this

Employees

work for about four years and specifically dealing with quartz for three years now,” said Gates, owner of Gates Installations and Repairs.

Gates is not new to the construction industry as he worked in the field for about 18 years. And installations were not his first attempt at starting his own business.

“I had to have a job when I was younger,” Gates said. “One of my first jobs was washing dishes and I knew early on that that wasn’t for me. So through my dad and some people he knew, at kind of a young age I jumped on a roofing crew as a laborer and just kind of went from there.”

ADVERTORIAL

Pequot Lakes Supervalu, Your Place for Quality Goods

Who said great customer service is hard to come by? That is definitely not the case at Pequot Lakes Supervalu. Our legacy of putting customers first continues as we provide the best in produce, meats and groceries to our community.

We Take Pride in Offering Friendly Service

Whether you visit us when the doors open at 7 a.m. in the morning to get your shopping out of the way, or in later in the evening when the daytime crunch is over, you can expect friendly, helpful service. You will always find our store in tip-top shape, clean and orderly so customers can feel comfortable and valued.

Our team members know the importance of helping patrons find the things they need. High quality customer service is as vital to our brand as high-quality food. You deserve the best and that is what we strive to give you.

We Have What You Need

Satisfy your sweet tooth with a variety of delectable pastries from our bakery. Need a special cake? Just put in your order and we will make sure it is to your satisfaction.

Our artisan breads will make any mundane meal extraordinary. Check out the deli for a selection of fresh cold cuts and cheeses. We also have a variety of prepared foods for those busy days when you need a quick lunch or don’t have time to make dinner.

When you need a prescription filled, the Essentia pharmacy provides fast, professional service. It is all about convenience and customer service at Pequot Lakes Supervalu.

Our floral department has a wide range of flowers and plants to brighten anyone’s day. If you have something special to say, even if it’s just “Hello, thinking of you!” Why not say it with flowers?

We Make Grocery Shopping Easy

It is not just in the big cities that customers have the option of easy convenient online shopping. Pequot Lakes Supervalu continues to make grocery shopping a breeze when you access our website at pequotlakessupervalu.com. You can order everything you need for that special dinner, your fall cookout, camping trip or daily necessities. We do the shopping for you, freeing up extra time for you to do those things you really want to do.

If you are shopping in-store, you have a choice of traditional or self-checkout lines. Enjoy the streamlined self-checkout experience for no-contact convenience; or have a quick chat with one of our team members at the traditional checkout for a more personal experience.

Be sure to check out our weekly ads to find out what’s new and on sale. Don’t forget to browse the Private Brands section for savings and recipes and save even more with our Pump Perks.

Pequot Lakes Supervalu team members thank all those new and familiar customers who depend on us to provide the best in fresh meats and produce, convenience and customer service.

Photos by Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Seth Srock cleans the graffiti off the wall behind the Brainerd Public Library on July 25, 2023.

Zach Gates, left, and Seth Srock work together on July 21, 2023, as they set in a new quartz countertop in Pequot Lakes.

HANDY: PAGE 14

From Page 13

Before installations, Gates operated a power washing business for a while. Though he tried, the business never took off and he ended up selling it.

“So when I started doing this I was kind of nervous about it, that investment I mean,” Gates said. “I had to invest for my very first job. I wasn’t just going

to wing it. So I guess that part was a little nerve-wracking, taking that leap.”

Gates works a bit differently in that he gets most of his referrals from Menards as he is on their contractor list.

“So I mean, this type of stuff I just kind of fell into it,” Gates said. “I was doing some remodels for a property management company pre-COVID and they could not get any contractors for any of the water damage work. So I took on all four of those water damages

and through all my trips and Menards, picking up cabinets and countertops, they just continued to ask me if I was interested in being on the list.” Though Menards gives his information out to potential customers, Gates said he is not associated with the company. “I don’t work for them,” Gates said. “I don’t get anything from them. They don’t get anything from me. It’s just, it gives them the opportunity to sell their product and say, ‘Hey,

here’s some contractors that will help you install this product if you need.’ Most time they won’t even offer it unless a customer asks. Not many people are set up to handle stone and countertops like this.” And finding work is no problem, Gates said as he picked up a call from a new customer looking to get his install on the books.

“I get calls every day taking jobs and I’d say two to four installs a week is a full week, depending on what that install

entails,” Gates said. “Cabinets, booked out at least a month for cabinet installs. Countertops, I’m only booked out for maybe one to two weeks because, just the way they come in.”

From the time an order is placed, there are about two weeks spent in design and templating. And about three to four weeks to receive the product.

“If somebody wants a countertop, the first thing they can do is go shop for their product, you know, pick what they want,”

Gates said. “And then it’s always recommended to have a contractor do their measuring. I’d say having us measure at least a month before they actually want it installed.”

Explaining why he would recommend being called prior to someone ordering, Gates said it’s easy to miss things. For instance, sometimes people want seams in a specific spot, depending on how their cabinets are built.

HANDY: PAGE 15

Viking Label & Packaging extends a sincere THANK YOU to each of our 51 fantastic employees!

On this Labor Day, we continue to celebrate our phenomenal team members!

THANK YOU for your efforts and outstanding teamwork! It’s because of each one of you that we achieve success and make a difference in the industry. As we honor this special day, we encourage you all to take some well-deserved time off to relax, recharge, and enjoy the long weekend with your families and friends. Have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!

We wish you and your families a safe and enjoyable Labor

A Commitment to Quality Products

Viking Label & Packaging extends a sincere THANK YOU to each of our 51 fantastic employees!

PRODUCTION

Your dedication and commitment to excellence is second to none!

We wish you and your families a safe and enjoyable Labor Day holiday!

Viking Label excels in meeting the challenges of demanding delivery schedules. We are able to manage these challenges through continued improvement initiatives, utilizing just-in-time suppliers, and implementing the Six Sigma methodology.

CAPABILITIES

• 4 Color Process

• 12 Color Capability

• Cold Foil Stamping

VSequential Numbering & Barcode

• Embossing

• Multi-Panel Booklets

• IRC Coupons

• Custom Die Cutting

• Backprinting

• Roll Form/ Sheet Form/ Fanfolded

• Shimmer

• RFID

COATINGS:

• Aqueous or UV

• Adhesive Patterning

• Laminating

PRINTING METHODS:

• Flexography

• UV Flexography

• Digital

MATERIALS:

• Paper

• Prime Film

• Foil

• Tag

• Non PS

• Pressure Sensitive

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

Viking Label and Packaging, located in Nisswa, is a printer of labels for all industries. There is no order too large or too small for their capabilities. Viking Label has continuously flourished since the company began in 1965 proudly serving clients across the United States and Canada. “Word of mouth” has been their best marketing strategy with their top notch label solutions for food, beverage, health, beauty, breweries, pharmaceutical and agriculture industries. Viking Labels specializes in a wide range of products including inserts, printed film coupons, booklets and newly added RFID tags. Adhering to high standards they have the ability under one roof to work with custom sizes, shapes and materials that ensures they can effectively showcase any product in the most appealing way possible.

One of the key factors behind Viking Label’s success is its dedicated staff, many of whom have been with the company for the long term and are drawn from the local community. This speaks volumes about the company’s emphasis on valuing its employees, which, in turn, translates into a strong work ethic and the production of superior products as employees embrace team efforts to propel the company to new heights.

YOU to each of our 51 fantastic employees!

Your dedication and commitment to excellence is second to none! We wish you and your families a safe and enjoyable Labor Day holiday!

Regardless of the size of the project, Viking Label approaches each one with equal dedication and enthusiasm. Customer satisfaction is their top priority. Their commitment to ensuring the final product aligns with your vision is unwavering, making them a reliable partner for all your label and packaging needs.

In order to keep up with everevolving industry, Viking Label has embraced digital print processes, which enhance their flexibility and speed, allowing for even quicker turnaround times. An additional Domino digital press and a Mark Andy Evolution provides versatility, scalability and growth as the industry and business evolves.

To stay up-to-date with Viking Label’s latest endeavors and their impact on their employees and clients, visit vikinglabel.com.

Whether you’re an existing client or considering their services for the first time, the website offers a glimpse into the impressive work and values of this exceptional company.

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

fires up an air compressor as he prepares to clean graffiti off the wall behind the Brainerd Public Library on July 25, 2023.

being someone it’s For a depending

After measurements are taken and sent to the manufacturer, they will send a template to the customer to lay out and verify the measurements.

If there is a problem or something needs to be changed, Gates said oftentimes he is able to relay changes directly to the manufacturer, cutting out the middleman and saving the customer about a week of time.

“We’ve had homeowners approve their templates before their cabinets are installed, or approve them without even checking them and then they get their countertop and it’s wrong,” Gates said.

When it comes to installations, Gates has had Seth Srock helping him since he started working with quartz countertops. Having the extra help speeds up the installation process of cabinets, but is essential when installing a couple hundred-pound quartz countertop.

“Working together is key,” Gates said. “I mean, just communication and making sure we lift things together. If we don’t, one of us is going to get hurt or we’re going to break or damage something.”

Gates said he is more passionate about installations than he was about his power washing business. And another positive, he said, is he gets to buy tools without his wife getting upset with him.

“I say it’s an investment,” Gates said. “I want to keep doing this. I’m not just trying to do one here and there and I’m not trying to focus on handyman services right now. If

this slows down, then it’s something where I’ll take on handyman repair jobs, that type of stuff.”

Overhaul Mobile Sandblasting

Along with helping Gates install cabinets and countertops, Seth Srock owns and operates a mobile sandblasting business.

“I used to be a welder fabricator for six years, and I was in close contact with Gull Lake Sandblasting and Powdercoating over there,” Srock said. “He offered to sell me the mobile part of his business. I took a leap of faith and took them up on that.” Srock said

sandblasting has been his full-time job for about two years and he helps Gates when he is not out sandblasting.

“I’m getting good at countertops but this is what my specialty is,” Srock said. “I like sandblasting more and It’s just my zone of focus.”

Right out of high school Srock started working as a welder/ fabricator and during that time he would find himself at Gull Lake Sandblasting and Powdercoating. He always found the process interesting.

“I can sandblast dang near anything except rubber,” Srock said.

HANDY: PAGE 16

to none!

ADVERTORIAL

CELEBRATING 53 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE AND EXPANSION: A Heartfelt Thank You from Clow Stamping Company

In the heart of our vibrant community, Clow Stamping Company stands as a shining testament to dedication, innovation and the enduring spirit of hard work. As we celebrate our 53rd anniversary, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our remarkable employees and loyal customers who have been instrumental in our journey of success.

Founded in 1970 by visionary entrepreneurs Everett and Gladyce Clow, Clow Stamping has evolved from its modest beginnings into an industry leader renowned for its commitment to quality and service. Today, under the stewardship of second generation owner, Reggie Clow, and third generation owner, Gabe Clow, the company continues to flourish as a family-owned enterprise deeply rooted in its values.

Our success rests on the shoulders of our dedicated employees, who’ve tirelessly pursued excellence. It is with immense pride we announce yet another exciting chapter in our journey — a 106,000 square foot expansion that expands our production capacity by 25%. Our customers’ confidence in us to provide exceptional stamped and fabricated components has been the driving force behind this expansion.

This expansion serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to quality and propels us into an era of innovation and automation.

As we eagerly anticipate the integration of these advancements, we are thrilled to embrace the opportunity to welcome talented individuals into the Clow family. Our dedication extends beyond producing exceptional products; it encompasses fostering local growth and prosperity through pioneering technologies.

At Clow Stamping Company, our capabilities are second to none. We take pride in our ability to provide innovative solutions tailored to our customers’ unique needs. Our stateof-the-art technology, coupled with our skilled workforce, ensures that every project is executed with precision and a service-focused mindset.

As we embark on this exciting new phase of growth, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every member of the Clow family — our employees, customers and partners.

Your unwavering support has been the cornerstone of our success and we are committed to having you by our side as we continue to push the boundaries of possibility.

Together, we celebrate 53 years of achievement, and with your continued support, we look forward to many more decades of innovation, growth, and success. Clow Stamping Company — a welcoming environment where commitment, quality, and a service-focused approach are traditions, and the future is limitless.

Seth Srock checks his hood before cleaning graffiti off the wall at Brainerd Public Library on July 25, 2023.

Photos by Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Zach Gates, left, and Seth Srock prepare the quartz countertop for installation on July 21, 2023, in Pequot Lakes.

Sandblasting can be used to remove old or unwanted paint or stain from a surface. It can be used for surface preparation before painting or staining anything as it gets down to the bare surface and digs out any impurities. Sandblasting also creates a slightly rough surface for adhesion of the new paint or stain.

“I don’t want to give pressure washing a bad name,” Srock said. “But I want to stray away from making it sound like it’s pressure washing at all because pressure washing can’t put a dent, compared to what sandblasting can do.

“I can’t tell you how many jobs I’ve been to now where they tried to pressure wash it at first and ended up calling me.”

When looking to repaint a deck Srock said he can sandblast one in about a day, depending on the size, where it would take someone a week to sand it by hand, he said as he started up his air compressor.

Housed on the trailer, Srock said he has a 375 cubic feet per minute air compressor that supplies the airflow to the blasting pot, which is where the air mixes with the abrasive material and is carried down the line.

“The thing that sets me apart from a lot of other guys and a lot of smaller blasters is they aren’t running nearly as big as a compressor and they can’t keep up,” Srock said. “A smaller compressor allows them to only push so much sand or push so much pressure. I can push as much sand with as much pressure as I want without having to stop.”

Srock said for wood or similar softer materials, where a finer finish is

wanted, he turns the pressure down and uses a very fine grit material. For anything heavier, like steel, he uses a heavier coarse grit material, with higher pressures. With a few pictures, measurements and a phone call, he can generally give someone an estimate of how long it would take to finish and what it would cost. But he still prefers to see the job before accepting it.

Though not booked solid, Srock said the work is steady throughout the summer and he hopes to transition into working more with his sandblasting business as his business continues to grow.

TIM SPEIER, staff writer, can be reached on Twitter @timmy2thyme, call 218-855-5859 or email tim. speier@brainerddispatch.com.

When a company sends out a questionnaire to their employees asking how they like their jobs and the company they work for, you wouldn’t expect 90% of those employees to actually respond.

This was the case though, for us, CTC. We are known for our best-in-business fiber optic internet, but now we also hold the honor of knowing we are a best-in-business employer, as well.

CTC recently was selected as the 68th best small business to work for in the state of Minnesota based on a questionnaire through the Minnesota Star Tribune. Each year the Star Tribune recognizes the top 200 workplaces in the state throughout three different categories: large, midsize, and small.

To qualify for the Star Tribune Workplaces, a company must have more than 50 employees in Minnesota. Top Workplaces recognizes the most progressive companies in Minnesota based on employee opinions, measuring engagement, organizational health, and satisfaction.

The analysis includes responses from 124,719 Minnesota public, private, and nonprofit employees.

The feedback from our staff was overwhelmingly positive and proved CTC has a culture like no other.

Overall, based on the questionnaire — CTC employees feel fulfilled in their positions, they are encouraged to grow within the company, management is helpful, and ultimately, above all — CTC cares about their employees.

“CTC actually cares for the people that work here. The managers, directors, board, and CEO are all very approachable. The team is connected, motivated, fun, and strives to be the best,” said an employee.

“It feels like a big family here, and it makes me happy to be a part of it. The management team is so kind and caring, and I know they care if I voice an opinion or concern to them.”

CTC employees are top-notch, each having a unique background and set of skills that make the company what it is. CTC’s management team is consistently amazed by the performance of each employee — and employees seem to have one general goal: to bring the best services to the members of CTC.

“I feel that I am truly a part of a community-based

cooperative that has the finest fiber optic network in the region. I am able to assist our customers directly to provide the best in superior customer service, and CTC allows me the time to assure that our customers are indeed satisfied,” stated another employee.

CTC CEO Kristi Westbrock noted, “It is because of you — our dedicated and amazing employees — that we were able to collectively receive this honor. Being named in the top 200 places to work in Minnesota is a direct testament to the culture that is created by our entire team at CTC. The employee’s dedication to member services and community development makes it a workplace that is filled with pride and loyalty.”

On behalf of CTC, we wish to thank each of our employees for their hard work and dedication to our membership.

CTC is always on the lookout for genuine, hardworking and tech-savvy people to join our team. If you or someone you know fits these qualifications, we encourage you to visit us at goctc.com/careers. CTC is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Above: Seth Srock, left, and Zach Gates prepare a kitchen on July 21, 2023, for new quartz countertops in Pequot Lakes.

Left: Cleaning up the grout before finishing, Ben Schrader talks about the work he does to prepare a bathroom for a customer on July 12, 2023, in Pequot Lakes.

Photos by Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

A walk back in time

at Bear Trax

Located a block north of Quest Road on 370th Avenue, the Bear Trax store in Hillman has a

By Tim Speier Brainerd Dispatch Hillman

Most know it as Bear Trax Store & Hardware. Some may remember it as Bob Sports Chalet. But all who visit the store know it as the place where you can always get more than you need.

Whether it be a kind word from the local pastor, a free cup of coffee while talking about what’s biting on the local lakes or that one bolt you needed to finish your cabin project without running to a faraway town, the Bear Trax Store & Hardware in

VIDEO For video, see brainerddispatch. com

Hillman has it all. Located a block north of Quest Road on 370th Avenue in Hillman, Bear Trax has a little bit of everything including bait, said Paul Osborne, one of the owners of Bear Trax who moved to the area about nine years ago with his wife Bethany Osborne to pastor at Lakeview Community Church in Hillman.

“I would get my bait here,” Paul Osborne said.

“It’s only three doors down. And so we kind of got to know the store a little bit. Then they put the for sale sign up. And I said to my wife one day, ‘Hey, what do you think about maybe doing something a little different?’”

That something different turned out to be not only a gas station or a central meeting place on this side of town, but a place where Paul Osborne was able to meet the people in his community.

BEAR TRAX: PAGE 18

What’s your favorite lakes area small business?

Readers submit their favorite area small businesses and explain why they’re a favorite

By DeLynn Howard

Staff Writer

What’s better than the joy of walking into your favorite business in the Brainerd lakes area?

How about walking into that business and they call you by name?

That’s what happens when I visit Caribbean Beach Tanning Salon in Brainerd. The employees are kind, always have a smile and often call me by name and know which tanning bed I prefer to use. Now that’s customer service.

Perhaps your favorite business has store cats you can give treats to?

What’s better than shopping for local goods and getting to pet cats?

The Olde Open Window in downtown Brainerd has both — and not one, but three cats to love on.

Eva, Benny and Junior can be found lounging amongst the clothing or on the counter. They love treats and attention.

Sometimes you may even find one or two in the storefront window.

Those are just two of my favorite small businesses in the lakes area. Now, it’s our readers’ turn to share.

Yesterday’s Gone I’d like to submit

Yesterday’s Gone in downtown Brainerd because they hung in there and kept their staff employed throughout COVID, mandatory shutdowns and re-openings. They did

this by working hard and making sure to comply with the continually changing rules.

Paula and Beaver

Zelinske are the “Mom and Pop” their staff and customers look to when they need a Mom and Pop. They know all of their customers, and if

they haven’t met them, well, they know them in a few minutes.

Most of the staff has been there for many years. They are the Mom

and Pop employer that hires a diverse workforce and is a safe place for anyone who wants to work hard, too.

Yesterday’s Gone is always clean. I’ve never found anything gross and I’m a really picky person. That’s because the staff truly cares, sometimes they, and usually Paula and Beaver, work long days, to keep it that way.

A lot of great new businesses are out there and that’s awesome. But the true Mom and Pop places took care of their staff during very trying times (COVID) and found a way to keep the lights on.

P. S. If you’ve not had their food, at least go in for the cheese curds.

Kelley Aicklen

Photos by Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Located a block north of Quest Road on 370th Avenue in Hillman, Bear Trax, seen here on July 13, 2023, has a little bit of everything, including bait. For the people behind the business, it’s more than a store.

Jacob Jennings, left, and Jaron Gross at the front counter of Bear Trax Store & Hardware in Hillman on July 13, 2023.

Business services firms cautiously optimistic about the workforce shortage

In an annual business survey, the Department of Employment and Economic Development reported in July that Minnesota business services firms were cautiously optimistic about the workforce shortage and easing of inflation in 2024.

The survey was conducted by DEED and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

“Results from the random survey of 229 Minnesota business services firms show 68% of respondents believe over the next year labor availability will stay the same, 7% think it will go up and 25% think it will go down, a slight improvement over last year’s responses (62%, 5% and 33%, respectively),” DEED reported. “However, to attract workers, 53% of respondents anticipate increasing wages by at least 3%.”

DEED and the Federal Reserve have conducted the annual survey since 2006 looking at service businesses that support other companies as an indicator of economic and business conditions.

Those businesses include accounting firms, computer consultants and advertising and public relations agencies among others.

“The survey backs up the fact that Minnesota’s extremely tight labor market

BEAR TRAX

From Page 17

The whole purchasing of Bear Trax started about a year prior to owning it, Paul Osborne said.

After telling Tim and Martha Healy, the previous owners of Bear Trax, that he would like to purchase the establishment, Paul Osborne said his father passed away a short time later. Paul Osborne’s mother, Judy

remains a defining feature of our state economy right now, but there are signs the workforce shortage is easing,” said Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Regional Outreach Director Joe Mahon, in the news release. “More and more Minnesotans are joining or rejoining the labor force, in some cases attracted by wages that have increased significantly in some fields over the past couple years.”

In regard to the tight labor market, Matt Varilek, DEED commissioner, stated the department’s focus continues to be “connecting people looking for work with the employers who need them.” Varilek said: “We’re rolling out new tools and services to do this in the coming months, thanks to legislative support this past session.”

“Like most developed countries, fertility in the United States has fallen in recent decades. In 1960, the average American woman was expected to have 3.6 births in her lifetime. In 2017, the number was 1.8 births per woman nationwide and 1.9 births per woman in Minnesota. Sustained over a long time, and without factoring in migration, any fertility below 2.1 births per woman will eventually lead to population decline.

Osborne, also known as the bait lady and also one of the owners of Bear Trax, decided she wanted to stay in Hillman as she still had friends in the area.

“So she stayed,” Paul Osborne said. “So we talked a little bit more and she says, ‘You know, I might want to be a part of that, too, if you guys are really thinking about it.’ So then we started talking with Tim and Martha and one thing led to another and that’s how we became owners.”

Currently, Minnesota has around 70,000 births and 41,000 deaths each year. On average in the last seven years, our net natural change — calculated by subtracting deaths from births — is around 29,000 new individuals per year. Though births are projected to remain relatively constant throughout this series, as our population ages, increasing numbers of deaths will push Minnesota to a state of natural decrease — where deaths outnumber births — around 2040.”

Cumulatively between 2010 and 2018, Minnesota has attracted 107,830 international migrants and lost 26,159 residents to other states for a net migration figure of 81,671. Due to more recent trends of net in-migration of residents from other states, this dataset anticipates a small but steady increase in net migrants. As discussed in a previous section of this paper (Table 2), Minnesota’s population growth has historically relied heavily on high rates of international migrants. Should our assumed rate of migration decrease further, our overall statewide change could begin to decline.

Though they sold the store, Tim and Martha Healy still come in and work at the store to help the Osborne’s learn how to run Bear Trax. Opening in 1972 as Bob’s Sports Chalet, the store looked nothing like it does today as there have been a few additions over the years and different owners, said Tim Healy.

Tim Healy said he was living in Wisconsin with his wife Martha Healy and they expressed interest in doing something different.

Keys in demographics

Key Findings from the Minnesota State Demographer’s Office on population projections in the state looking at historical data and emerging patterns in births, deaths, migration, the State Demographic Center reported.

► Statewide, Minnesota is anticipated to gain 850,000 new residents between 2020 and 2070 — compared to 1.04 million in our previous set of projections. This slower rate of growth can be most generally attributed to changing assumptions for the impact of the various components of change, most importantly, declining fertility rates and international migration.

► Steady urbanization will lead to a declining population in two-thirds of Minnesota’s 87 counties.

► The five counties with the largest declines in population by 2050 are Saint Louis (-12,400), Winona (-7,300), Martin (-3,800), Pine (-3,700), and Freeborn (-3,600). The Arrowhead region (EDR 3) in the Northeast corner of the state will experience the greatest loss at -19,200 residents. It is followed by EDR 8 in the southwest (-14,400), EDR 6 in

And that’s when they found Bear Trax.

“We came up and looked at it,” Tim Healy said. “‘Yeah, you know, it’s fine. It’d be interesting but I am not selling this house.’

“And it wasn’t that next day or something a friend comes up and says, ‘Yeah, I’m looking out here for a house to buy,’ and they bought it.”

Martha Healy said she always knew Tim Healy wanted to own a hardware store as he had previously

By Sara Schroeder (with edits by advertiser)

central Minnesota (-12,300), and EDR 1 in the northwest (-10,600). Combined, these Economic Development Regions are projected to lose over 56,000 residents by 2050. However, this decline is much less significant than previously predicted.

► In total, Minnesotans of retirement age (65) and above numbered 930,000 in 2020. This number is expected to roll over 1.26 million by 2075. Minnesota’s oldest residents — those aged 85 and above — are expected to rapidly increase, nearly reaching 200,000.

► While Minnesota’s total population is currently 78 percent non-Hispanic White, the racial and ethnic make-up of our population is changing rapidly. These projections indicate that statewide, Minnesota’s nonHispanic White population has begun declining. Conversely, populations of Color are expected to swell by more than one million residents between 2020 and 2050 — exceeding one-third of the total population.

► Communities of Color are driving our state’s population growth and, as such, addressing these disparities will become imperative for the prosperity and quality of life for all Minnesotans.

worked in construction and, luckily for him, the store has its own hardware section.

The previous owner passed away in 1998, Martha Healy said, and the family hung onto it for as long as they could, but it ended up being more than they could handle.

“On the sign out there it says because of Matt,” Martha Healy said. “So Matt Smith is why Bear Trax is Bear Trax and he passed away in 1998 from cancer.”

Martha and Tim Healy

At Holden Electric, you can. A familyowned business that has been serving and servicing the Brainerd lakes area since 1957, Holden Electric is known for contributing to the lakes area’s economic growth and has become the largest electrical contractor in the Baxter/Brainerd area.

Holden ElectricCo.,Inc. is committedtopr oviding thebest electricalandtec hnicalsolutions forourcustomersthrough quality, value, and service. We strivetoimplementa long-term relationship withourcustomersbasedonsafety, pr ompt serviceandanticipatingourcustomers’needs. To

Holden Electric serves both central and northern Minnesota with offices in Baxter, Duluth and Two Harbors. They have become a leading electrical contractor in service and excellence.

Top notch, quality work is what you can expect when you call for a repair, a new build or remodel.

Holden Electric is a name you can trust, backed by years of experience and local businesses as proof of not only a job well done, but continued great customer service, quick response to repairs and knowledgeable ideas for new builds and businesses.

Whether you are new to the area, or have been here for years, you will for sure hear of Holden Electric. The owner and many employees are involved in the community, the company donates to many causes locally both financially and with in-kind services.

As you visit various places throughout northern Minnesota you will soon learn

purchased Bear Trax in 2000, running the place until about 2022 when they sold it to the Osbornes.

When they took over the business they moved the aisles around to create a better flow to the store and over many years they were able to get everything organized into their own sections to also further improve the flow of the big, but tiny store.

“When we first got up here, many people still

that Holden Electric has had their hand in many of them such as the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts, Brainerd Airport, Staples School, Shannon’s Auto, Essentia Deerwood Clinic, and Habitat for Humanity to name a few. The signature project was the ground up new Astera Hospital in Wadena.

Holden Electric isn’t just a business in Baxter, Minnesota; it’s a family of electricians, working together, cheering one another on and celebrating each other’s life events and being there for co-workers when life gives them challenges. Holden Electric recently added several electricians that have roots in our community and have been With

Above: 2023, Osborne

BEAR TRAX: PAGE 19

BEAR TRAX

From Page 18

had outhouses and hand pump wells,” Martha Healy said. “This store had a laundromat when we took over, and we still get questions about the laundromat.”

Over the years, the Healys and the store became a trusted and important part of the community, “like an extended family.”

People often bring in homemade cookies and tell them about their travels or their new adventures, Tim Healy said.

Sometime after they took over, Martha Healy operated a dog grooming business in the adjacent building and Jaron Gross, a summertime employee of Bear Trax, used to bring his dog in. When

he was about 7 years old, Gross said he would show up with his dog and “help” Martha Healy as she worked. “I really didn’t do anything but pet my dog while she did all the work,” Gross said. “So I’d help her and we formed a really close bond. And so one day

I started coming every week and helping with all the other dogs. Eventually, she asked me if I wanted a job here.”

Gross said he officially started working at Bear Trax as soon as he could.

“Now, I started working here officially, as soon as I was legally able to but I was helping her since I was 7,” Gross said. “Now I’m 20. So that’s basically 13 years that I’ve been heavily involved in this store.”

Now he works during the summers and attends Northern State University in South Dakota.

“I wanted to come back,” Gross said. “You know, I like working here a lot. I like working with the people here. I like seeing a lot of the regulars every day. It’s

The sign outside Bear Trax Store & Hardware in Hillman on July 13, 2023.

Photos by Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Above: From soda to hardware, Bear Trax Store & Hardware, here on July 13, 2023, in Hillman has it all. Right: Martha Healy, left, along with Tim Healy and Paul Osborne talk about owning the store and the history of Bear Trax on July 13, 2023.

Tim Healy, left, meets with Jacob Jennings, Paul Osborne, Martha Healy, Bethany and Judy Osborne at the front counter on July 13, 2023, as they discuss the day’s events and activities.

It’s just kind of — it’s a charming little place, you know. I think it’s kind of one of those little slices of life.

Jaron

Gross,

a summertime employee of Bear Trax

BEAR TRAX: PAGE 22

Shannon’s Auto Body

TWO LOCATIONS WITH ONE GOAL: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

Shannon Christian opened his collision repair center in 1996. For more than 25 years, Shannon’s Auto Body has been the go-to for area residents when it comes to collision repair. Today customers travel from farther away places to experience the attention to detail and professionalism Shannon’s has become famous for. When you need auto body work done to a vehicle, whether it’s from an accident, hail damage, or one of those tree limbs that seem to keep falling, the experience can be overwhelming. With Shannon’s, it won’t be.

State-of-the-art facilities, a staff that is certified to do the job and customer service that is beyond compare, and people that truly care, are just a few of the reasons their customers trust the company with their vehicles.

This past year a major expansion was completed when the company added a second 39,000-square-foot collision repair facility on the east side of Brainerd. Twelve new employees were hired to work where Highways 25 and 210 meet. There is room for continued growth as the community needs. The new site brought the staff at Shannon’s to more than 40 team members. Both locations feature paint booths, wheel alignment systems and state of the art technology and training to get you back on the road safely. The original location at 13540 Ironwood Drive is now more focused on automotive mechanical repairs as well as snowplow sales and service.

Dedicated to giving back to the community by doing everything as locally as possible, Shannon’s prides itself on offering complete transparency to its customers and using products that are safe for the environment.

Customer satisfaction is the number one concern at Shannon’s. The fully trained staff and service technician will communicate with you as you follow

your car through the repair process. Customers are welcome to stop in and watch the repair of their vehicle as it moves through the repair process, if desired.

Traditionally the body shop has been proud of its reputation throughout Aitkin, Cass, and Cow Wing counties but today, their client base goes out

knowledgeable and skilled staff in the business. Shannon’s and its staff stay up to date on the latest in technology advancements and is an I-CAR Gold Class member, as well as being ASE

Certified, and Spies Hecker Waterborne

Certified. The level of care and research put into every repair ensures that you are receiving the same level of crashworthiness, longevity, and value that your vehicle had prior to the incident.

even farther. An auto body repair shop that really is a destination location, Shannon’s has seen customers come from other places such as the metro, Detroit Lakes, Walker and St. Cloud to have their cars repaired. Former customers will often return, even after a relocation, to enjoy the trust they have in Shannon’s to get their repair done right.

Brainerd lakes’ premier auto body shop can tackle the repairs of both domestic and imported vehicles. Keeping up with current certifications means you will be dealing with the most

One hundred percent commitment to customer satisfaction makes Shannon’s Auto Body a standout. They truly work hard so you don’t have to. The staff will handle most of the paperwork needed for your insurance claim and will work directly with your insurance company to make sure everything is in order, always keeping in mind that they work for you. They can help secure a tow truck if one is needed and Shannon’s fleet of 40 rental cars will make sure you aren’t stranded while yours is being repaired.

Thank you to all our past, present and future customers, employees and their families. Our continued growth and success would not be possible without your support.

When you put your trust in Shannon’s Auto Body, the repair to your vehicle will be done safely and correctly.

STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES, A STAFF THAT IS CERTIFIED TO DO THE JOB AND CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT IS BEYOND COMPARE

just kind of — it’s a charming little place, you know. I think it’s kind of one of those little slices of life.”

Those slices of life come in many shapes and sizes, Gross said.

“One time, I had an elderly gentleman walk in and I said, ‘Good morning. How’s it going today?’ And he just, he just screamed. Ah, all right, it’s gonna be one of those days,” Gross said. “One of my favorite regulars comes in and he’ll say, ‘I’m here for the essentials, the staples of life.’ And then he’ll come up with ant killer, dish soap and sugar-free maple syrup.

I think everyone that comes in here has got their own little quirks.”

In this neck of the woods, those quirks and that slice of life often involve fishing, along with the crowds who come to hear about what is biting on what, while waiting for the “bait lady” to dish out some scoops.

“I’ve actually never gone fishing,” Gross said. “I’ve never once been fishing in my life. It started out as kind of a shame. But now is a point of pride on how good I’ve gotten at speaking to fishermen about fishing — knowing zero about it. You know, I think a lot of them appreciate snarky remarks. ‘So where are the fish biting? In the lake.’ And then they just buy what they’re going to buy anyway.”

With all the kids getting a free sucker on their way out the door, Gross said it’s an interesting experience watching the locals grow up through the years, even finding out he was seen as a role model to one little boy.

Gross said the locals have changed over the years as the area used to be filled with dairy

farms. His family farm ended up being one of the last to be sold in the area.

Though the area has turned into cabin country, Bear Trax continues to thrive and remains a central part of the community, even when they need to run outside to explain to people how their “vintage” gas pumps work.

If people are seen running out the door at Bear Trax, one should not be alarmed, Gross said, as he explained

Martha Healy and a few others are area first responders.

“Their pagers will go off and they’re out the door in the blink of an eye,” Gross said. “They’re always there to help.” Whether it’s grabbing some last-minute supplies before heading to the cabin, needing someone to listen to your thoughts and

worries, or grabbing a book to read from their community library, the Bear Trax has it all.

“Martha became a very important figurehead in my life,” Gross said. “And consequently, the store and working here is a big part of my life. It’s kind of coming to a

close, but I’m very glad for the time I’ve had here. I think a large part of who I have become as a person, is thanks to the interactions I’ve had here, the role models I’ve gotten here.”

TIM SPEIER, staff writer, can be reached on Twitter @timmy2thyme, call 218-855-5859 or email tim. speier@brainerddispatch.com.

Wishing you all a Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Covering area communities from Nisswa to Hackensack and Pequot Lakes, Pine River to Crosslake and surrounding communities

Echo Journal busy covering area communities

BY PETE MOHS, PUBLISHER

The PineandLakes Echo Journal staff works hard to produce quality coverage of local news in its printed weekly newspaper and daily digital news. The staff covers local meetings, feature stories, community events and sports activities for the cities of Pequot Lakes and Pine River, plus a half dozen other cities in its readership area.

And for its efforts, the publication earned four Minnesota Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest awards last February. The Echo Journal finished second for best magazine (the 2022 Nisswa Visitors Guide), and finishing third in two categories was reporter Travis Grimler (Social Issues and Hard News). The Echo Journal’s 2022 Kids Ad Design section also finished third.

The Echo Journal staff was also recently honored by finishing third among the entries in the “Best Newspaper” division of the “2023 Best of” contest judged by area residents.

The Echo Journal staff continues to focus on local news coverage of many cities in Crow Wing and Cass counties. The publication also covers the school districts of Pequot Lakes, Pine River-Backus, Brainerd (Nisswa School) and the Crosslake Community School.

The Echo Journal, combined with the Brainerd Dispatch staff, produces more than 30 special sections each year. They also help produce the weekly Echoland-Piper Shopper.

The PineandLakes Echo Journal has continuous news updates at www. pineandlakes.com. Before the digital age, Echo Journal readers were forced to wait, sometimes almost a week, to receive the local news. Today, the coverage is updated 24/7 with breaking news on its website. This development has helped the website reach more than one million page views in 2022.

The Echo Journal newspaper is the result of a merger between the Lake Country Echo and Pine River Journal newspapers in the fall of 2013. The Pine River Journal was established in 1935 while the Lake Country Echo began in 1972.

Dispatch

Photos by Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Above: Looking towards the front counter at Bear Trax Store & Hardware in Hillman on July 13, 2023. Right: The free library and clothing department at Bear Trax Store & Hardware in Hillman on July 13, 2023.

Sugarberry Creek Candle Co.

They are my favorite small business because they have the best candles. They have so many amazing scents and they burn really well. I love all their products!

The fact that Karla and Craig make them all themselves and do all the labels, the burning of their logo on the wood lids, branding and marketing themselves is amazing to me. I’m part owner in a small business and I know how much work it is and these two are constantly working on their candles and other products. I suggested a scent that I love (coconut-like suntan lotion) and they made it into a candle and wax melts (Beach Bum) and that is my favorite!

They work so hard to do craft shows and get their candles into stores. Their setup at the 218 Shop in Crosslake is really nice and showcases a lot of their products. I love their body balms and room sprays. I also have one of their reed diffusers and some wax melts. All the products are top quality. I really love being able to talk to the person who makes something rather than buy it from a big chain store.

Jessica Wales

Wood, Wax and Wearables

My favorite small business is Wood, Wax, and Wearables, located on Front Street in downtown Brainerd, next to the Front Street Cafe. My daughter, my granddaughter and my soon-to-be granddaughter opened their boutique on my 80th birthday, March 21, 2023. They are very excited about this adventure together.

The Wood section is owned by Megan

who specializes in refurbishing and/or refinishing wood items. The Wax section is owned by Kallie who makes soy candles, bath bombs and soap, all with many wonderful scents. The Wearables is owned by Dawn who sells clothing, purses, home decor and many other items.

Each month they donate 10% of their profit to a nonprofit organization.

I’m sure I have forgotten some information about this small business. Please stop down and meet the girls. Let’s all support small businesses.

Donna Volcke, proud mother and grandmother Brainerd

371 Diner

My husband and I frequent 371 Diner probably too often for our waistlines, but we are just so pleased with the great food and the great service.

The owner is usually right there working along with his excellent crew. There are many times there is a waiting line and we have no problem waiting because we know it is definitely worth the wait.

Ruth Jansen

The Wild Bird Store and Life

Preserver Natural Foods

There are two small businesses that I want to mention.

One is The Wild Bird Store in east Brainerd. At one time it was the Little Farm Market and was located on Washington Street.

This store sells bird seed, bird feeders and other items. It’s so easy to shop there — just park in front or by the side door and walk in.

The other business is Life Preserver Natural Foods, which sells

vitamins, supplements and some foods. They’ve been around for a long time and the people there are so friendly.

Carla Christopherson Brainerd

Lakes Area Docks

My favorite small business in Backus is Lakes Area Docks. It is owned by Shane Orth. This gentleman is very cordial and courteous and is willing to help with anything or all of your needs and doesn’t charge a large amount.

Jesse McClintock

Backus

Ya Sure Kombucha and Crow Wing Food Co-Op

We would like to tell you about two of our favorite small businesses. We couldn’t decide between these two, so we hope you don’t mind receiving two submissions.

1. Ya Sure Kombucha, Brainerd. For one, they offer kombucha on tap, something no one else in the area has. Healthy, unique, always full of new flavors and ideas.

They have plenty of room/seating for many people and you can bring your own food in to eat while you enjoy your kombucha. They even have a room for concerts in the back.

Shawn and Amy (the owners) know us by name and are always friendly and inviting. They are often excited to tell us about their new flavors and they love to invite our kids into the conversation, too.

2. Crow Wing Food Co-Op, Brainerd. We love them. Period. They offer a great assortment of items that are hard to find in the area.

The staff knows us by name (even if it’s just because we are in there so often); they are kind and helpful and pay

attention to details.

Ben and Amanda

Hemmila Baxter

Victual

I submit Victual in Crosby. I’d be surprised if others haven’t also submitted Victual.

Its merchandise line is varied and every item from every one of Victual’s vendors is very high quality, difficult to find elsewhere in the Brainerd lakes area and is personally researched by the owners.

It features a small alcohol shop with highend liquor, wine and cocktail mixers, also personally picked by the owners. It has a cheese section with rare and delicious cheeses in abundance. And best of all for me personally, it makes its own ice cream in a wide variety of flavors and every one of them is lactose free. The ice cream is delicious and of high quality.

Victual has recently doubled its space in Crosby allowing it to carry even more hard-tofind, quality merchandise. This is a unique business in our area.

Brian Whittemore

Ace Hardware

Thank you for this opportunity to recognize a local small business.

My favorite small business is Ace Hardware in Brainerd. This is a store that truly does have everything. The staff are knowledgeable and know where everything is. They are friendly.

I go into the store and ask for a stainless steel metric bolt and someone brings me to a bin and finds it for me. There is no other store in town that does this. They fixed my chainsaw and sold me a leaf blower.

Before I left the store

the employee took me outside and showed me how to start the leaf blower.

Thank you again for this opportunity to recognize and thank this outstanding local business.

George Tetreault Baxter

Fancy Pants

Chocolates

I love Fancy Pants

Chocolates in downtown Brainerd.

The treats are all handmade and the friendly service and greeting you receive when you enter makes it a perfect go-to for special occasions or a quick ice cream cone.

Greg Breen Baxter

Mixed Company

The biking trails have changed Crosby so much. New businesses have come in to make it even better. My favorite business has been here for several years. It resides on Main Street in Crosby and is called Mixed Company.

The employees are super friendly. There are unique items on consignment for sale. The menu is awesome. There are special sandwiches and lots of unique coffee, tea and latte drinks to try.

There are delicious scones, breads and muffins to satisfy your hunger.

Then there is ice cream that they serve in the summer. Many yummy flavors that they make into cones, malts and shakes.

Mixed Company has accommodated our knitting group every other Monday. We meet, work on crafts, catch up on town news and enjoy their food while we are there. Our group can sometimes have up to 15 people and we sit in the back and enjoy the homey surroundings.

We enjoy our time there and look forward to our meetings.

Judi Hendrickson Crosby

Weise Crafts and Variety

Remember when you first saw “The Wizard of Oz” and suddenly the black and white world turned into a blaze of color and beauty? That’s what happens when you leave the gray sidewalk and enter Weise Crafts and Variety store in Pequot. One is transformed to a rainbow world of disbelief and wonder. Articles of interest literally go from floor to ceiling, from nostalgia items to practical daily necessities. One stretch of wall holds bolts of material that stand upright like soldiers at attention but none of these “warriors” wear the same uniform. Their patterns vary from birds, checks, flowers to even single color. Every one unique. Do you need thread to match? All shades available. Buttons maybe? When my grandkids were small, they would run to the button pails and sit on the wood floor to sort and select favorites. One might think they had discovered the treasure of Sierra Madre.

But this isn’t just Disneyland. Do you need a photo restored or 1,000 invitations printed? Caroljean and her son Earl can print most anything and all on the latest equipment.

You must see for yourself as I’ve left out the reasonably priced alloccasion cards, stocking caps, gloves, stickers galore, puzzles, color books, markers, party favors, bird feeders and bathing suits.

Word limits stop me. Get your needs met and your spirits lifted at Weise Crafts and Variety in Pequot.

After all, “variety is the spice of life.”

Helen Gangsei Pequot Lakes ADVERTORIAL

E.L. Menk Jewelers

Your Local Jewelry Experts Since 1979

By Nicole Stracek

Whether you’re ready to pop the question or looking for something special to celebrate an anniversary, E.L. Menk Jewelers is ready to help make your next jewelry purchase stress free. Located in historic downtown Brainerd, E.L. Menk Jewelers has been providing exceptional customer service to the Brainerd lakes area since 1979. Offering a large selection of jewelry and accessories, the goal is to help customers find the perfect piece. From bracelets to rings to earrings and necklaces, E.L. Menk Jewelers boasts a wide selection of items that are hand-selected by owner Ed Menk.

“We know how important and precious a piece of jewelry is to you. That’s why we offer in-house services so you can take comfort in knowing your jewelry is in good hands.”

If you can’t find the perfect piece for that special someone, Ed Menk can help by creating a unique piece that will be cherished forever. “If you have

something specific that you want but don’t see it on display inside the store, we can create unique customized items using our in-store workshop using our beautifully cut diamonds and gemstones.” EL Menk also offers repairs and jewelry maintenance to ensure your purchase stays beautiful for years to come.

Because the team at E.L. Menk Jewelers knows the importance of all things that sparkle and shine, they provide customers with peace of mind when purchasing fine jewelry and accessories. Extremely knowledgeable with over 44 years in the business, the team at E.L. Menk Jewelers is excited to help make your jewelry purchase memorable and unique. Stop by E.L. Menk Jewelers to see the selection of beautiful jewelry. E.L. Menk Jewelers offer engagement and wedding rings, diamonds and gemstones, exclusive collections, custom jewelry, and estate jewelry. Visit www.elmenk jewelers.com or call 218-829-7266.

Little Falls becomes small business powerhouse

By Renee Richardson Brainerd Dispatch

Little Falls

Small businesses are the economic lifeblood of communities and in Little Falls, small business is thriving and gaining statewide recognition.

This spring, the 2023 Minnesota National Small Business Week award winners recognized nine businesses or business centers across the state — three were from Little Falls.

► Veteran Small Business of the Year, Dr. Kenneth Dodge, Falls Optical and Pierz Eyecare, Little Falls and Pierz.

► Woman-Owned Business of the Year, Adelle Starin, Baby’s on Broadway, Little Falls.

► Women Business Center of the Year for Excellence, Women’s Business Alliance, Central, Little Falls.

The SBA has been recognizing businesses for 50 years and the critical contribution of entrepreneurs

and small business owners.

Brian McDonald, Small Business Administration district director based in Minneapolis, spoke during the recognition ceremony in Little Falls in May and said the strength of the ecosystem in Little Falls is remarkable.

“We kind of have our car, I think it’s on autopilot up to Little Falls now and for good reason,” McDonald said, also pointing out the role of the Initiative Foundation. “...

Coming here today is one of the favorite things that we do all year. And so we’re grateful to be visiting our Small Business Week winners and to lift up our resource partners, like the (Small

Business Development

Natural beverages ap-peel to customers at Woodlore Cider

By Theresa Bourke Brainerd Dispatch

BRAINERD — It’s natural, it’s flavorful and it’s local.

It’s the literal fruit of Josh Gazelka’s labor and the mark he wants to leave on his community.

It’s Woodlore Cider.

When Gazelka and wife Cami moved back home to the Brainerd lakes area a few years ago, they knew they wanted to make an impact.

“We weren’t satisfied with just settling in,” he said. “We were really wanting to make an investment, and so part of that means we want to create a place for people to gather, for people to connect.”

And a place for people to drink tasty cider.

Hobby turned business

Like so many others, Gazelka took up a new hobby during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“My wife was eight months pregnant, and I had a lot of time on my hands, so like any normal person, I made alcohol in my basement,” he joked during an interview in June.

And then he turned it into a business.

Woodlore Cider lies just off Highway 371 in Brainerd, boasting

a wide open taproom with what Gazelka calls a rustic, Scandinavian feel, complete with a cozy fireplace, artfully crafted wooden tables and a full view of the expansive marsh outside. Eight varieties of hard cider flow from the taps at any given time, from the traditional apple beverage to a drier brew and several with fruit infusions and other natural flavors.

A growing industry Woodlore is one of the newest players in a fairly new industry across the state, opening in August 2022.

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Photos by Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

Owner Susy Prosapio provides an update on the construction work during a tour on May 12, 2023, in an auditorium of The Falls Theater in Little Falls.

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch Lexi Lyscio pours a cider from one of the taps behind the bar on June 29, 2023, at Woodlore Cider.

The Falls Theatre on First Street Southeast in downtown Little Falls is turning into an entertainment destination with an eye toward its legacy in the city.

Center) that’s here, who are so critical to us achieving our mission.

… What an incredible showing from the Little Falls community here.”

McDonald said through the field office in Minneapolis and the SBA’s partners, nearly $1 million in capital was guaranteed through SBA programs that wouldn’t have been available elsewhere.

The SBA partners provided confidential consulting to several thousand small businesses and its annual Thrive Emerging Leaders core program focuses on building growth plans for small businesses.

Starin, owner of Baby’s on Broadway, Little Falls, was part of that program previously.

“Thanks for the recognition for our community,” Little Falls Mayor Greg Zylka said in May as the SBA delivered the awards in a ceremony at the Initiative Foundation. “Thank you all for being part of our success.”

Brian Voerding, vice president for inclusive entrepreneurship at the Initiative Foundation, pointed to recent projects and participating with a $500,000 loan as part of the $20 million project for Barrett Petfood Innovations in 2019 to build the company’s new facility in Little Falls. Another project where the Initiative Foundation was a gap lender in 2021 was for Platinum Cosmetics and its more than $1 million project in a downtown building in Little Falls. Voerding said the Foundation really appreciates that side of the business with gap lending, which can make it easier for traditional and large commercial

lenders to enter into deals and supports entrepreneurs so they can devote capital to growing their business. He highlighted four projects in Little Falls.

“Any one of those projects is essentially a transformation for downtown. And there’s four of these on that list, including three of these just within the last three years,” Voerding said, noting The Falls Theatre, Baby’s on Broadway, Platinum Cosmetics and Bank Square Plaza.

The Falls Theatre

The Falls Theatre on First Street Southeast in downtown Little Falls is turning into an entertainment destination with an eye toward its legacy in the city. Renovations revealed original work, removed a dropped ceiling and is restoring the movie house to past glory with modern twists.

“We are making good progress on both the theatre and the restaurant with an

anticipated opening date in later September for the former and later October for the latter,”

Susan Prosapio stated in a project update in August.

Susan and Phil Prosapio

are behind the efforts to restore and enhance the theatergoing experience.

The cinema closed during the pandemic. Voerding described Susy and Phil Prosapio’s

project as a “dramatic reinvestment and reinvention” in restoring 1938 details and bringing back not just movies, but live theater and a restaurant. The project

was a Main Street grant recipient.

“It’s a great example of how the program kind of boosts investment. We have nearly $200,000 in grant money into that,” Voerding said.

The theatre opened in 1933 and had a next door caramel corn shop. When a fire destroyed the theater, the caramel corn shop building survived and in six months they built the theater around the caramel corn shop with the theater’s lounge area actually built over the top of the caramel corn shop. Renovations for the buildings have found hidden gems like transom glass and work went into finding the original look for the structures that have changed multiple times over the years.

When it’s completed, the cinema will have three screens, a bar and restaurant named Ciao Thyme, which is going into an adjacent building. One of the theater’s auditoriums features a full stage, which will allow live performances as well. One of the smaller auditoriums will allow options for specialty showings and private parties. The restaurant has a wood-fired pizza oven, with the bar serving beer and wine, which customers will be able to take into the theater and enjoy there. The restaurant has bench and table seating as well as booths and a banquet or party room to seat about 40.

“We’re excited to be serving the community here,” Susy Prosapio said, thanking the Initiative Foundation and the city of Little Falls in helping them with the project and accessing funding that has been critical.

It’s not the first project for the Prosapios, who

Ernie’s On Gull – A Long-time Favorite That’s Better Than Ever

Besides a scrumptious menu and a fun atmosphere, a successful restaurant depends on a winning staff as a key to success.

Whether you dock your boat at Ernie’s on Gull or come in after a drive around the lake, you can find the perfect spot to sit indoors or lakeside on the patio and overlook scenic Gull Point. The adjoining On Point Burger Company offers yet another option for outdoor seating and is the perfect place to meet friends for fun with a picturesque backdrop as a bonus.

Ernie’s offers customers a popular gathering spot to grab a light appetizer or relaxing bite in the lakes area. Delicious dinner entrées are available for every palette. Start your experience with a selection from the long list of beverage options, including beer, wine and your favorite signature cocktail followed up with one of their well-known appetizers including peaches and cream bruschetta or peel and eat shrimp.

From pasta to seafood to a burger and fries just the way you like them, Ernie’s delivers.

Just like it was in 1917 when the original Ernie’s first opened, today it’s a place for friends to enjoy one another’s company.

In addition to Ernie’s on Gull, Chris Foy and his brother, Mike, pride themselves on owning three of the most family friendly establishments in the Brainerd lakes area. The two also own both Dough Bros Woodfire Kitchen in Baxter and Main Street Ale House in Nisswa.

“Coming off this strong, busy season we just really want to thank our staff. We appreciate everything they do so that others can enjoy our establishments and everything we have to offer. We truly have the best staff in the area, and we appreciate them.”

To find out what is currently happening at Ernie’s on Gull or to explore the menu, follow them on Facebook or go to Erniesongull.com.

Photos by Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

Platinum Cosmetics, on First Street Northeast in Little Falls, is a med spa owned by Suzie Mattison, certified nurse practitioner and medical director. A business group toured the building, learned about the business and restorations to the building on May 12, 2023, in Little Falls.

Bank Square Plaza, shown here May 12, 2023, offers space for offices, retail, business and has gathering space for multiple uses from baby showers to business meetings in what was once the U.S. Bank building in downtown Little Falls.

LITTLE FALLS: PAGE 27

said, and project

were part of a joint effort in 2016 to open The Shoppes of Little Falls as a joint effort between the Little Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau, a community development group known as Town 101. The effort was aimed at supporting retail in downtown Little Falls and showcasing local artisans. The Shoppes are across the street from The Falls Theatre.

The Shoppes includes more than 90 artisans and vendors with a variety of merchandise, including distinctive chess and checker boards that can be customized. And they feature Smude’s sunflower oil in multiple flavors.

“Together we took an old building in the middle of our historic downtown, renovated it, and opened a store showcasing the work of local artisans,” Susan Prosapio stated in 2017. The Shoppes features locally made products among other items. “We have everything from beautiful turned wood pieces, to handmade jewelry, to American Girl doll furniture. The Shoppes started as a pilot project and the community and vendors have shown such great support that we’ve decided to continue. We have vendors come and go so what is in the Shoppes changes constantly.”

Baby’s on Broadway

Baby’s on Broadway in Little Falls is 10 years old and has expanded to St. Cloud’s historic downtown as well. The business started in 2013 with the SBA reporting Starin’s achievements were impressive in starting and growing the business in part

with SBA programs and services. Starin became a certified passenger safety technician and a certified lactation counselor.

“I think so highly of what you are doing and the growth of your business, so congratulations,”

McDonald said to Starin at the award presentation.

“I started this with zero experience in business and stumbled, tripped, fell flat on my face multiple times,” Starin said, adding she kept pushing through. “And I think that’s a lot of what small business is about, you know, and it’s been just an honor to be part of people’s lives and their journey. And we’ve grown so substantially over the years, just with so much support from so many people.”

Starin noted the assistance of the Initiative Foundation and the city. When her roof collapsed in about 2018, she noted she wouldn’t have come out of that disaster as well without help from the Economic Development Authority. Her business grew into durable medical equipment and she became a certified woman-owned business to be able to contract with the government. None of it would be possible without community support, lending support and family support, staff and customers, she said.

Women’s Business Alliance Central

The U.S. Small Business Administration named the Women’s Business Alliance – Central as the 2023 Minnesota Women’s Business Center of the Year. The Women’s Business Alliance is a program of the Entrepreneur Fund and was chosen for its “excellence and innovation in training,

LITTLE FALLS: PAGE 28

Above: The Shoppes, seen here on May 12, 2023, includes more than 90 artisans and vendors with a variety of merchandise, including distinctive chess and checker boards that can be customized. And they feature Smude’s sunflower oil in multiple flavors.

Left: Adelle Starin, owner of Baby’s on Broadway, in Little Falls gives a tour on May 12, 2023, of the business. She expanded to include a location in St. Cloud.

JIBEC is second to none

By Renee Kardell

Since 2010, Jake and Jenny Niggeler of JIBEC Heating and Cooling have served the Brainerd lakes area with one underlying goal: quality products and quality customer service. Family-owned and operated since their purchase of JIBEC in 2010, their pursuit of quality and excellence has allowed them to expand their business and their team of qualified technicians. Currently composed of six phenomenal technicians, JIBEC continues to look toward its future of serving the lakes area’s heating and cooling needs with pride. Their core values include family and community first paralleled with prompt, quality service.

As you can probably imagine, the perfect efficiency level tailored to a client’s specific needs is the name of the game; something JIBEC understands and prioritizes through products from RUUD and Navien. Backed by an outstanding product warranty, communicative customer service staff and quality parts, JIBEC Heating and Cooling is proud to carry RUUD and Navien systems exclusively. More specifically, RUUD products offer a wide variety of efficiency levels, allowing JIBEC to better serve clients looking for products and services that best fit their cabin or primary home and, most importantly, their budget. RUUD has committed its company and its products to serve “a greater degree of good” through its innovative products and commitment to the environment.

In addition to the flexibility and quality RUUD products offer JIBEC’s clientele, combi boilers from Navien can provide customers with options for both in-floor heat and domestic hot water.

In conjunction with a line of trustworthy products, JIBEC technicians strive to prevent situations like no-heat calls in the bitterly cold nights of Jan-

uary or the no-air calls in the dog days of summer. They do so by inspecting every aspect of a unit, including electrical components, and going as far as a thorough cleaning, if necessary. During these inspections, serious and potentially frustrating problems are taken care of before those -40 degree nights arrive.

JIBEC has NATE-certified (the gold standard for technician development in HVAC-R) technicians, and are proud to provide spring and fall check-ups for furnaces, air conditioners, boilers, and ventilation systems (such as air exchangers and humidifiers).

JIBEC is pleased to serve the Brainerd lakes and surrounding areas during the times we need it most: emergencies. Through their years of experience and training, JIBEC and its technicians empathize with customers when it comes to the importance of late-night calls for no heat or air and their critical response time.

In fact, you’ll find much of what a JIBEC HVAC-R technician does in their seasonal preventative maintenance checks is taking measures to ensure your family’s wellness, especially regarding things like air quality or the safety of your furnace and the potential impacts this could have on your home and family. The quality products, care, and service provided by JIBEC are second to none here in the beautiful Brainerd lakes area. For all your heating, cooling, home air quality, and preventative maintenance needs, contact Jake and Jenny Niggeler at JIBEC Heating and Cooling.

We would like to thank our wonderful team and our fabulous customers for your support.

We greatlyappreciateallofyou.

Photos by Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

LITTLE FALLS

From Page 27

counseling culturally and economically diverse women entrepreneurs, and serving as a community champion for women-owned small businesses.”

The center primarily serves women in central Minnesota emphasizing women of color and women from low income households and developing key programs whether it’s for those pursuing side hustles or helping profitable businesses grow.

Sandy Voigt, the center’s director, works to ensure women business owners and entrepreneurs have the support they need. The SBA reported Voigt led the effort to establish and grow the center in the past five years and has personally worked with 546 individual business owners and 369 small businesses. Voigt’s past working lives include the Initiative Foundation and Region Five Development Commission.

“When I was on stage receiving this from the governor, he reached over to shake my hand and he said, ‘Little Falls, can you share some with the rest of the state?’” Voigt said. “... This is the most collaborative area, organization, entity. And it is so humbling. And I’m so proud to have this.”

Platinum Cosmetics

Platinum Cosmetics, on First Street Northeast in Little Falls, is a med spa owned by Suzie Mattison, certified nurse practitioner and medical director. The facility offers laser treatments, massage, facials, body contouring, micro-needling, waxing, and more. It offers co-working space

months

► Over half of America’s workers own or work for a small business.

► Small businesses have generated over 64% of new jobs in the last 15 years.

► Small businesses create two out of every three jobs today.

for others, meeting rooms and event space, according to its website. Voerding said Mattison had a vision for bringing services to Little Falls that are available in Brainerd or St. Cloud.

Platinum Cosmetics renovated a large building in the city’s downtown.

Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

In a tour at Platinum Cosmetics, Mattison said it’s a big building.

They’ve replaced the roof and completed other updates with more to be

done. In May, Mattison said she hoped to be working with a plastic surgeon eventually in the next couple of years to expand the business and do something with the upstairs.

“It’s gorgeous,” she said, noting she’s thought about fixing it up as lodging for physicians and nurses in the community as call rooms with a centralized kitchen, bathroom as she gets frequent requests as a physician uses a place on their property that they built and stayed in before their house was completed.

Bank Square Plaza

Small businesses can now find homes in the incredible structure of brick and marble in the vacated financial institution that transitioned into a home for small business in what is now Bank Square Plaza on East Broadway. A cornerstone of the downtown, it is going through a million dollar redevelopment as a mix of being a place of employment, a place to gather, retail and entertainment.

Kathy Marshik, Bank Square Plaza building manager, said there are 12 spaces for businesses, offices, or retail on the plaza’s main floor with six spaces available to rent as of mid-August. Businesses in the building include mental health and therapy and studio massage therapy. Body Restore Studio combines beauty and wellness together for a goal of both making people feel good while being good for them.

The main lobby includes a spacious area with lots of natural light and bright color that can be used for a multitude of gatherings. People can rent it for

Wilderness Land Clearing and Mulching

Whether you’ve finally purchased the perfect spot to build your dream home, or you’re thinking about creating a recreational trail so you can enjoy your ATV or horse on your own property, Wilderness Land Clearing and Mulching can help.

Land clearing and mulching can be done quickly and easily with as little disturbance to the root system of your remaining trees and other natural habitats as possible.

The company also specializes in the removal of invasive buckthorn and creation of wildlife food plots using methods safe for the overall environment.

Buckthorn can be found in different varieties, but all are a nuisance if found on your property. It can threaten forests, wetlands and other natural greenery by choking out any more desirable plants. The noxious plant can also play host to an array of damaging pests that will spread to other plants. By removing buckhorn, the Wilderness Land

Clearing and Mulching staff will ensure the rest of your habitat remains healthy and is able to thrive.

Wildlife food plots can provide food for turkey and deer that frequent your space while helping you manage the land you wish to hunt or just enjoy as a spectator. The company can make sure you plan the right size for your plot and advise you on the crops to plant to ensure it is a success.

Once completed, the JN staff will also instruct you on how to care for and manage your plot to make sure it works k for you for years to come.

No matter what you hope to achieve on your property, the right people, the right tools, and the right methods can help you attain it. Wilderness Land Clearing and Mulching can help you achieve the space on your land you envision.

For more information on how Wilderness Land Clearing and Mulching can help with your project call 1-800-630-2960 or go to wildernesslandimprovement.com.

a

and

Contributed / Ciao Thyme

After

of the plywood enclosure with the “Coming Soon” banner on it, we are delighted to unveil the partially renovated front of the Morrison County Realty Company Building that is soon going to be the home of Ciao Thyme restaurant, the business revealed on its Facebook page with this photo posted on Aug. 5, 2023. The restaurant is next to the restored The Falls Theatre in downtown Little Falls.

LITTLE FALLS: PAGE 29

dollar are businesses, with mental and therapy. natural gatherings.

RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESS

Small businesses have generated 12.9 million net new jobs over the past 25 years, accounting for two out of every three jobs added to the economy, the Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy reported last year.

The North Central Small Business Development Center at Central Lakes College in Brainerd offers assistance to small businesses from startups to helping existing businesses expand and to help small businesses survive, which creates jobs and provides economic opportunities for people right here in the region. There are 22 such centers in the state. The SBDC reports assistance comes in every stage of the business, helping those who just may have a business concept but aren’t sure where to start, to those who are already up and operating but experiencing challenges.

“We provide the guidance you need during the formative years when businesses run the greatest risk of failure,” The SBDC states on its website. “... The SBDC offers confidential one-on-one consulting at no cost to qualified individuals or business owners. We can help you identify, understand and overcome the challenges of running a successful business.” Area’s include financing and loan packaging, financial review, general marketing and research, marketing plan assessment and development, start-up considerations, developing a business plan, succession and strategic planning.

For more information, go online to https://tinyurl.com/2n27vfs7.

More resources include

► The Small Business Administration is celebrating its 70th year. The SBA has many tools to assist those looking to be their own bosses and has an online guide, “Start your business in 10 steps” and other assistance regarding funding programs. Visit www.sba.gov for more information.

► SCORE, a resource partner of the SBA, offers the experience of business mentors in a free service with local people who can help navigate challenges and business planning. The Dispatch runs a monthly SCORE column in the business section by Dick Jordan, who can be contacted by email at Richard.jordan@scorevolunteer.org or by phone at 218-251-4413, or go to www.score.org for more information.

LITTLE FALLS

From Page 28

a gathering of friends and family, wedding receptions, birthday parties, business meetings, photo sessions (it’s hosted prom photos for a couple years in a row), book clubs and more. The space is available for groups of up to 50 people.

Marshik is behind the colorful flower displays in the windows and inviting atmosphere.

“I want to keep the downtown lively,” Marshik said. “We want that to be a gathering spot. …It’s really a neat building. I had my daughter’s baby shower there and everyone had fun. … It’s really cool.”

U.S. Bank moved

its operations out of the building not long after the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020, but the accoutrements of the building’s long banking history on what may be the most prominent intersection in the city, remain. The bank vault. The woodwork. The teller windows. The marble. The brick arches. The domed lobby lights. The elements make for an intriguing location immersed in a historic structure with architecture that would be nearly impossible to reproduce. U.S. Bank is still part of the community with a drive-thru and offices in Coborn’s. On the building’s downstairs, there are storage options. The upper floor could one day provide living spaces as offices

are converted into lodging.

Falls Optical

Dr. Ken Dodge, originally from Cold Spring, received his education from Pacific University College of Optometry. The SBA stated Dodge and his wife Heike founded Falls Optical Inc., in 2011 in Little Falls and a year later opened a second location, Pierz Optical in Pierz. Both offer eye exams, corrective eyewear, and treatment of ocular disease to ensure quality eye care and affordable eyewear to their patients, the SBA stated.

“I would say that as a business owner, and as a military member and as a husband and father, teamwork and mission are essential and I think we have great teamwork and I think

our employees share that teamwork,” Dodge said at the ceremony in May. “We all share that mission of wanting to help people, help them see better and be healthier.”

Dodge currently serves as a major in the 133rd Medical Group of the Minnesota Air National Guard. Dodge said he thought of his role as a business owner as one of

an organizer and guide, but has learned it’s really more as a middle link connecting the many who want to help others. And, he said, the team expanded to include those helping with the mission from the banks to the SBA and Morrison County Community Development.

Dodge received assistance from Julie Anderholm, a consultant

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with the Small Business Development Center in Brainerd. Through this assistance, Dodge was able to use the SBA 504 Loan Program with the help of funding partners to purchase land and construct a new commercial building for his business.

Renee Richardson, managing editor, may be reached at 218-855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch. com. @DispatchBizBuzz.

CLOW STAMPING EXPANSION PROJECT

Providing assistance to companies located in Crow Wing County is one of our primary missions here at BLAEDC. We are thrilled to help our local companies grow and expand and create quality job opportunities in this region. In 2022, working with state and local partners, we were able to assist Clow Stamping with its most recent expansion. This expansion was the 13th since Clow purchased its original location in Merrifield. BLAEDC is proud to have assisted in a number of those expansion projects over the years.

PROJECT DETAILS

Clow Stamping Company, Inc. provides metal stampings to recognized major manufacturers in industries including agriculture, recreational vehicles, light and heavy equipment, exercise equipment, and commercial refrigeration. The project will expand their current facility by 100,000 square feet with an expected total project cost of $18.9 million. Clow Stamping has been in business since 1973 and currently employs over 500 people. They supply products to companies located in Minnesota and throughout the United States.

BLAEDC’S ROLE

BLAEDC assisted Clow stamping to obtain over $1.3 million in funding from two State of Minnesota programs, the MIF program (Minnesota Investment Fund), and the Job Creation Fund. Both programs are funded through MN DEED, which is the Department of Employment and Economic

Development. BLAEDC worked side-by-side with DEED staff and Lake Edward Township to complete the necessary paperwork to obtain these important state funds. The access that we have to our MN DEED counterparts allows BLAEDC to bring the necessary funding tools and resources to our local companies. We will continue this work and focus on programs that we can bring to our county in an ongoing effort to provide the best support to individuals and the companies that call Crow Wing County home, while staying true to our mission.

LOCAL IMPACT

The project will also create 65 new jobs over the next two years with an average wage of $17.50 per hour plus benefits. This expansion will bring Clow Stamping to over 400,000 square feet of production space and it will make them one of the largest short run stampers in the country, if not the world.

BLAEDC’s mission is to preserve and enhance the area’s economic base by expanding business, building community, and growing jobs in Crow Wing County.

Proudly serving our communities for over 35 years.

To learn more about how BLAEDC can assist your company with access to funding and program opportunities, contact Tyler Glynn, Executive Director at tyler@growbrainerdlakes.org, or visit our website at www.growbrainerdlakes.org.

Photos by Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

Small businesses can now find homes in the vacated financial institution that transitioned into a home for small business in what is now Bank Square Plaza on East Broadway in Little Falls, seen here on May 12, 2023.

Baby’s on Broadway includes a host of items for all things baby on May 12, 2023, in Little Falls.

“You’re also just seeing this broader cultural shift among drinkers where folks are branching out from their traditional beers and IPAs and wines and looking for more flavorforward products,” Dayton said.

Cider lives in that category, amid a world of hard teas and flavored seltzers, but with just a few, simple ingredients easy for consumers to appreciate and understand.

“We don’t add concentrates; we don’t add extra sugars,” Gazelka said of Woodlore’s product.

“We’re just simply doing fruits, and at times we’ll get wild and add maple syrup and a little bit of honey, but that’s it.”

The simple recipe is clearly one for success, as Gazelka claimed three medals at the 2022 Great Lakes Cider Competition during his business’s first year of operation. Only setting out to dip his toe in the competition pool, he was excited to come away with some validation that his cider could hold its own against others across the country.

His pear ginger concoction won gold in the special cider and perry category, while his original cider and pineapple brews took home silvers in two other classes.

“I think it’s because we’re using only natural ingredients,” Gazelka said.

Those ingredients start with apples, sourced primarily from the Pacific Northwest, though sometimes a few Midwestern apples will make their way into his

tanks, too.

“Our aim is to try to find the best quality apples we can, and that means it’s different varietals at times,” he said.

Freshly pressed apple juice and yeast then go into Gazelka’s tanks for the fermentation process, consisting of the yeast eating the sugars in the juice and turning it into hard cider.

“What fermentation does is, over time it starts to heat up, but it doesn’t cool down, so I don’t have to worry about heating anything. I just have to worry about keeping it cold,” Gazelka said.

He accomplishes that with glycol, an organic compound that runs on the outside of the cider tanks to keep the liquid cold.

After fermentation, Gazelka adds carbonation and, in

many cases, other flavors to the cider to finish it off.

A fan favorite last fall was his blueberry maple, which made its way back to the taproom in late

July. Mangos, pineapples and cranberries pump up other batches, while lavender and Minnesota wildflower honey bring a delicate floral flavor to the wildflower cider.

“Picture it almost like making tea with a giant cheesecloth bag full of lavender,” Gazelka said of that last flavor. After the lavender seeps in the cider, he

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adds honey to round out the flavor.

A little help from my friends

The wildflower quickly became a fan favorite but started out in Gazelka’s “baby tank” named Dave.

That’s right, all of the Woodlore Cider tanks have names, and for good reason.

“You’ve got to name them because it makes you feel a little sympathetic if things don’t work out the way you want them to work,” Gazelka said. “Also because it makes production so much easier because instead of saying, ‘Move the cider from the tank way over on the left to the one way over on the left,’ you can just said, ‘Oh, throw the cider from Dave over into Ragnar.’”

Dave and Ragnar join Bob Dylan, Babe and Sven and Ole in the production space. All but one pay homage to Minnesota and the region’s Scandinavian heritage.

Dave is named for Gazelka’s very persistent friend, who wanted a tank named after him. So that was the name bestowed upon the cidery’s newest addition.

“It’s a much smaller tank, and we wanted to do that because we wanted to do more creative batches more often,” he said. “And it allows us to find ciders that people really love or find ciders that people are just OK with.”

The wildflower cider began its journey to production in Dave, a small batch brewed initially just to see how it would go over with customers.

If Dave’s brew doesn’t pan out, then Gazelka can rest easy knowing

WOODLORE: PAGE 31

WHATISBRIDGESOFHOPE?

Bridges of Hopehasamissionto“buildbridges of support,anchoredin Christ’slove,betweenfamiliesintheLakesAreaandthecommunityassets thatcanhelpthemthriveandgainhope.”Asanonprofit for20+years, theorganizationcontinuestodojustthat:connectpartnershipswithin thecommunitytostrengthen,stabilize,andsupportbothfamiliesand individualsfacingchallenges,crisesorinstabilitywithintheirlife.Bridges of Hope offersavariety of servicestoassistwiththeever-changing needs of thesurroundingcommunity.TheseservicesincludeResource Connections,CommonGoodsThrift Stores,OperationSandwich,and TheBridgeon7thOvernightShelter.

RESOURCE CONNECTIONSERVICE

TheResourceConnectionServiceisasingularpoint of entry forindividuals andfamilieswithinthecommunitythathaveashort-termchallengeor need.Thestaffisabletoprovideaccessto resourcestotheseclientsto helpthem regainstability.Theprogramhasassistedthousands of householdsthroughouttheBrainerdLakesArea.

COMMONGOODS

CommonGoodsisatrendythriftstore forthecommunitymindedshopper,ownedbyBridges of Hope.Common Goods offershigh-qualitygoods at reasonablepricesand wascreatedtosupporttheongoingwork of Bridges of Hope. StoreslocatedinBaxter,Crosby,andCrosslake.

OPERATIONSANDWICH

TheResourceConnectionServiceisasingularpoint of entry forindividualsandfamilieswithinthecommunity thathaveashort-termchallengeorneed.Thestaffisable toprovideaccessto resourcestotheseclientstohelp them regainstability.Theprogramhasassistedthousands of householdsthroughouttheBrainerdLakesArea.

THEBRIDGEON7TH

In2021,Bridges of Hopeopenedanovernightshelter calledTheBridgeon7th.Theshelterprovidesasafe place foranyhomelessadult18yearsandoldertosleep from7p.m.to8a.m.Theshelterislocated at 1926 S. 7th Street,Brainerd.

HOWCAN YOUHELP?DONATE!

Bridges of Hope offersmanywaysinwhichyoucaneitherdonateyour timeormoneytohelpfamiliesinneedthroughoutthecommunity. Additionally,donatingyourgentlyuseditemsand/orshopping at one of theirCommonGoodsstoresisanothergreatwaytosupportthe organization.

he batch successful, knows larger the his Happy satisfied. returning according Lexi leave spring when they’re usually bit “It’s environment.” and Lyscio Todd with through daughter-in-law, who at opened remains year fun, exposed they here, come Todd sipping Fourth the as other in there’s about you’d Lyscio organic? earth? don’t the Woodlore’s might playing

by Alyson Levig (with edits by advertisor)

Lexi Lyscio sets a growler on the bar on June 29, 2023, at Woodlore Cider. Lyscio has served cider at Woodlore since the business opened.

Photos by Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch Woodlore Cider owner Josh Gazelka talks about how his business came to be and his plans for the future on June 29, 2023, in the cidery’s taproom.

quickly the of cider over Ragnar.’” join upon it or how doesn’t

he didn’t waste a large batch of cider.

But if it proves successful, then he knows he can make a larger batch in one of the bigger tanks to keep his customers satisfied. Happy customers

And so far, they seem satisfied.

Both new and returning customers, according to bartender Lexi Lyscio, seem to leave with a touch more spring in their step than when they arrived.

“People come in, and they’re really happy; usually they leave a little bit happier,” she said. “It’s just a very laid back environment.”

Lyscio’s husband Mike and father-in-law Todd Lyscio would agree. Todd became acquainted with the world of cider through his son and daughter-in-law, who began working at Woodlore when it opened last year. Lexi remains behind the bar a year later, enjoying her fun, low-stress job.

“We hadn’t ever been exposed to cider until they started working here, so I thought I’d come check it out,”

Todd Lyscio said while sipping on cider on the Fourth of July.

He likes to patronize the cidery periodically as a change of pace from other establishments in the area. For him, there’s just something about taprooms.

“I don’t know what you’d call it,” Todd Lyscio said. “Is it organic? Is it down to earth? Is it laid back? I don’t know, but I do like the atmosphere here.”

A quick glance around Woodlore’s taproom might reveal families playing board games,

kids enjoying apple juice, customers taking in the sun on the patio with their furry friends or groups munching on some of the cidery’s snack options.

“I honestly don’t care if people are drinking or not,” Gazelka said. “One of the most rewarding things is sitting behind the bar and seeing a table full of people just laughing and having fun. I love that. That really is rewarding. It doesn’t pay the bills, but it is rewarding.”

But perhaps in the coming years nondrinkers will help pay the bills. While he offers apple juice and kombucha from Ya Sure Kombucha in downtown Brainerd right now, Gazelka hopes to have

a non-alcoholic cider option available in the future. He just needs to buy another piece of equipment in order to get there.

But one thing that helps pay the bills even if customers aren’t drinking the cider, is the assortment of local snacks available, like popcorn from Goody’s Gourmet Treats and cookies from Knotty Pine Bakery. Patrons can grab something to eat with their cider, and Gazelka can further his goal of becoming a contributing member of the community and boosting up other small businesses in the area.

“We want to positively impact the economy

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ADVERTORIAL

By Renee Kardell (with edits made by Brainerd Dispatch staff)

Think back…it’s the first day of school, you’re nervous and most likely the first person you encounter is your bus driver! Somehow their smiling face puts you at ease as they greet you and cart you off to school.

Through your school years, the scene was the same. Your bus driver greeted you every morning and delivered you safely to school. This daily interaction with your driver(s) becomes a unique relationship and one that has the potential to impact a child’s life, and education, significantly.

“It’s a relationship Reichert and its drivers genuinely care for and take seriously,” states longtime employee Kevra Cherne. Most drivers, realizing the significance of their relationships with students, stay with Reichert for decades. The driver and student relationship quickly parallels Reichert’s relationship with their drivers.

Seventy-five years ago, Elmer and Phoebe Reichert started Reichert Bus Service with a dream and a single bus — a dream of serving a community, its school district and its families, a dream of creating a company and a workplace where employees felt fulfilled and supported enough to stay for decades, a dream of creating a legacy centered around the community and its incredible employees for years to come. Three-quarters of a century later, Elmer and Phoebe Reichert’s original dreams have come to fruition through Reichert’s extraordinary employees and their

dedication to the families they serve.

Reichert Bus Service, currently owned and operated by thirdgeneration brothers Mike and Mark Moran, now services the entirety of the Brainerd lakes school district with an impressive 81 routes. Among those routes they provide for special needs students and charter services between metro areas and Brainerd. Rain or shine, 365 days a year, Reichert always provides safe and friendly service.

Reichert Bus Company currently employs 100 people — a responsibility they take to heart. From the office staff diligently answering phone calls and processing paperwork to the mechanics who work to keep the buses on the road to the drivers ensuring the wellbeing of our community’s children, every employee is invaluable to the success of Reichert and our local school system. Reichert holds outstanding employee retention through their focus on community and commitment to its employees.

Showing their support for the community is a priority for the Reichert Bus Service. From doing advertising sponsorships and supporting student athletes through various advertisements to sponsoring families in need during the holidays, they show how much they care.

Founded upon humble beginnings, a commitment to the Brainerd lakes area, and its employees, it’s clear that Reichert Bus Service is here for our children, our families, our schools, and our community for the long haul.

Photos by Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

The taproom at Woodlore Cider, seen here June 29, 2023, includes a lot of wood finishes and a fireplace to create a cozy, up north feel.

A freshly poured fruity cider fills a glass behind the bar June 29, 2023, at Woodlore Cider.

WOODLORE: PAGE 32

by creating new jobs, collaborating with other businesses, being able to help the nonprofits,” he said. “And I’m really happy to say that we’ve been able to do quite a bit within our first year.”

They’ve had traveling greenhouses come through and events with Woods to Water and Northern Horizons.

Gazelka’s wife teaches yoga at the cidery from time to time, and baby goats have been known to visit the premises.

Northern Lakes Rescue even took over the patio last summer for a dog adoption event.

“It’s a dangerous thing to have cute puppies here,” Gazelka joked. “... They say don’t drink and drive. Don’t drink and pet dogs.”

Gazelka’s insistence on giving back to the Brainerd lakes area stems from a desire to see his home community thrive and gratitude for all the help he’s received along the way.

“There’s a lot of wisdom that I’ve been blessed to be able to lean on,” he said.

An industry like no other

“There’s not been a better industry I’ve ever worked in. I’ve worked in insurance; I still work in marketing. You don’t get to go to your competitor’s office and ask for advice,” Gazelka said. “Here, I go over to Jack Pine, they give me advice and a free drink and say, ‘Good luck. Keep after it.’”

Woodlore cider was on tap near the grandstand at this year’s Crow Wing County Fair, alongside craft beer from Jack Pine and Roundhouse breweries.

Gazelka has partnered with a few local restaurants and those as far south as St. Cloud to offer his cider on tap,

and he hopes to make inroads into a few more.

“We have a really quality product, so it’s an easy sales pitch,” he said, noting there’s not another local option for cider.

Liquor stores will be the next focus, as will expanding taproom offerings. Cider-making classes, non-alcoholic brews and craft sodas are all a part of Gazelka’s plans for the future as he grows his business and invests more and more into the community he loves.

And at just 29 years old, he’s got plenty of time to achieve all his ambitious goals and hopes other young people might take the leap and try to create something new, too.

“I think that there’s such an exciting opportunity with a lot of people retiring. A lot of people are selling their businesses, and there’s a gap there,” he said.

“And so to be able to be an early adopter in saying, ‘I’m willing to take the risk and gamble and try to invest in my community’ is exciting and then daunting at the same time.”

But it’s certainly worth it, as Gazelka realizes again and again, every time he sips his freshly brewed cider and looks out on the smiling faces and cheerful laughter that make up the fabric of Woodlore Cider.

THERESA BOURKE may be reached at theresa.bourke@ brainerddispatch.com or 218-8555860. Follow her on Twitter at www. twitter.com/DispatchTheresa.

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Woodlore Cider owner Josh Gazelka explains the brewing process and how the tanks work in the production room on June 29, 2023.

Photos by Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

The patio at Woodlore Cider, seen here June 29, 2023, allows guests to take their beverages outside and gaze at the scenery.

at a family-run business Feeling like family

By Hannah Ward Brainerd Dispatch Brainerd

The phone is almost always ringing at YDE’s Major Appliance Service.

The family-owned business has supplied the Brainerd area with appliances and repair services and it all started with one man in his garage in 1964. The business’ name comes from the family’s Finnish

surname. On its website, the tagline is “How the hell do you pronounce that name.”

They’ve heard all kinds of pronunciations and the name is a good conversation starter. For those who aren’t sure — think “wides.”

YDE’s moved into its current location at the intersection of Oak and Southeast 13th streets 10 years after the business began.

Now, Paul Yde’s grandson, Keith Yde, manages the store and will take over when his dad, Ken Yde, who currently owns the business, retires.

Before Keith Yde, it passed through the hands of Paul Yde’s younger brother, Don Yde.

YDE’s offers new and used refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers and more. Their services include

residential and commercial installations and repairs.

One challenge of the business is they’re finding less and less used appliances of a high enough quality to sell. Used appliances were all YDE’s sold until a few years ago, and they would obtain used machines by purchasing them or picking up customers’ old appliances when delivering new ones, Keith Yde said.

The store began selling new appliances in 2020 through a partnership with the appliance company Crosley, and it’s been “phenomenal,” Keith Yde said.

For two years in a row, YDE’s has been the No. 1 distributor in the Midwest through their distribution company Crosley, which only sources to small businesses and no big-box

YDE’S: PAGE 38

Jenkins has a neighborhood of businesses

Business growth is a priority of past and current city council

By Travis Grimler

Echo Journal

JENKINS — Tucked into the northwest corner of Crow Wing County, Jenkins is a town with a surprisingly robust business community, though it may be hard to see from Highway 371 where most people pass through.

Sure, there’s a couple restaurants, a couple gas stations, a brewery, computer repair shop, a small mall with a group of businesses, a hotel and a movie theater, among other businesses, but Jenkins has also proven to be a place of industry.

Some know about Pequot Manufacturing, a high-tech shop full of precision tools used in the creation of components for big companies nationwide. But many forget there’s a whole neighborhood

of businesses on the south end of town on the west side of the highway along Rosewood Street and Jenkins Avenue.

“It’s nothing that’s bloomed overnight, but it’s still there and there still are some lots that are available and people are still building on that,” said Jon Lubke, current Crow Wing County commissioner and former Jenkins City Council member and longtime mayor. “It was something we had in our

JENKINS: PAGE 34

Travis Grimler / Echo Journal Elite Industries in Jenkins’ Business Park is able to make barges customized to the buyers’ desires, like this barge designed to honor US troops.

Elite Fence and Deck finds workers willing to do the job

By Hannah Ward Brainerd Dispatch

BAXTER — When Craig Reikofski started Elite Fence and Deck, he had never installed a fence in his life. A friend of his was manufacturing vinyl fences around the turn of the century, and he told Reikofski, “Craig, that area is going to be big — you should start fencing.” He started the business

in 2001 by himself and has been operating it from the same location since, bringing on more helping hands throughout the years.

Vinyl fence wasn’t new at the time, but it was starting to take off.

Selling vinyl at the start was difficult because it was so expensive, Reikofski said, so he wound up selling a lot of chain link fences, which remains the most popular option. Reikofski

says the company handles about one consultation a day, maybe two, counting phone calls. Consultations sometimes just happen over the phone when a customer already knows the length of the perimeter they want fenced, and Reikofski can give a rough estimate based on that. Estimates are offered free of charge.

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

Gary Armstrong unloads a stove

Aug. 10, 2023, at YDE’s Major Appliance in Brainerd.

Hannah Ward / Brainerd Dispatch

Elite Fence and Deck employees Andy Miller, Jamie Vogt and Andrew Gripentrog in front of their truck, Aug. 3, 2023. ELITE

comprehensive plan to look into an area in our city to use to do that, and that area has been used for that.”

The business park was built using a state program, supported by city council members who have since left office.

“JOBZ was a funded program through the state that allowed properties to be developed,” Lubke said. “We had a local developer that came in and bought that property and set it up as a JOBZ in about 2007.”

JOBZ, which stands for Job Opportunity Building Zone, is a Minnesota program that offered various tax benefits to businesses that relocated to official JOBZ sites, including reductions or exemptions on taxes on sales, goods and services, construction materials and some property taxes.

For local council members, it was an obvious benefit to the town and residents to bolster the business community and local workforce. After all, that growth was part of the city’s comprehensive plan and the council considered that enough reason to work on JOBZ and other programs to encourage new businesses.

“A comp plan is a roadmap for the city. It’s a vision for what the city sees,” Lubke said. “We worked really hard to engage a lot of input from business owners and residents to see what they would like to see their city be.”

“The plan is an important tool for us to guide decisions in what we’re pursuing,” said Jenkins Mayor Andrew

Rudlang. “It’s the community’s plan and the community’s entire vision of how things might grow.”

Before Rudlang became mayor, he served on the Planning Commission for the comprehensive plan’s most recent update. The update has helped identify, through surveys and feedback, what residents would like of their city.

“The city of Jenkins provides a semi-rural setting with housing and business opportunities for the community,” Rudlang said. “It’s not just a place to live, but also a place to work.”

Currently, the businesses in the park employ over 50 employees, with companies like Lakes Gas continuing to hire more.

In the past, the council used tools to make the city and business park more appealing to incoming businesses.

One of the business

park’s first big residents was Precision Waterjet Concepts. Precision Waterjet was approved for a tax increment financing program through the city on top of JOBZ benefits, allowing the business to defer property taxes to the city for a set number of years to ensure a greater chance of success and growth.

The council amended zoning laws to make the space work for incoming businesses.

“Another one of the businesses that was in there that came to us was Dick Parks Gas,” said city Clerk Krista Okerman. “We didn’t have that as an allowed use in the industrial area. They had requested the city to do a zoning amendment to allow that, so we did.”

Precision Waterjet has since relocated and the building sold to one of its customers, Elite Industries, just over three years ago. Elite

Flexiblepurchaseoptions&all-inclusivefees. Spacioussinglelevelhomesinmultiplelayouts. Secure,maintenance-freeliving.

Industries manufactures barges used in installation and removal of docks, boat lifts and other structures. Their barges are also used in rescue and machine recovery on lakes.

Elite Industries provides jobs to over 20 employees with a variety of skills. There is a full office staff, welders, design and some engineering. General Manager Shane Huesmann said what the company doesn’t do in house they seek to hire out to other local businesses. He said the business in the past leaned heavily on Pequot Manufacturing, for example.

“We like to keep everything as local as possible,” Huesmann said. “We are constantly still innovating. Some of the parts we order today, we are innovating and working to build ourselves.”

Huesmann said they provide a valuable

education and training, as they often hire welders with little experience so that they can teach them techniques not common in other training programs. The business park has provided an environment conducive to the type of work done at Elite Industries.

“It’s not a high traffic area,” Huesmann said. “We’re always moving barges around and there’s equipment around. You always have to worry about the general public and everyone in the area. You still have to watch what you’re doing, but it’s not like in the Pequot industrial park where Highway 371 was right there and going right through it. We were always having people around and driving through our parking lot.”

Huesmann said the roads don’t close in the spring for filling potholes and other work,

ADVERTORIAL

Adults 55 years and older in the Brainerd lakes area have a brand new option for enjoying an active lifestyle that provides more freedom to spend your time and energy exactly as you choose. Without any yard work or maintenance to take care of, you will be able to enjoy travel, hobbies, and time with friends and family.

Gracewin Living is located at 7084 Glory Road in Baxter on 5-plus acres near Perch Lake, which means grocery stores, restaurants, medical facilities, retail stores and nature trails are all conveniently located near your new home. Feel like you are on vacation every day in your own private home with on-site shared amenities to enhance your new easy way of life.

The new Gracewin Living Cooperative offers members the financial rewards of home ownership, with equity earnings on your share purchase, and tax benefits similar to owning your own traditional home. The resort-like feel, featuring beautiful spaces and community amenities right outside your doorstep, is a welcome one for seniors who are ready to let go of maintaining their own home. With no lawn mowing or snow shoveling taking up your time and energy, you will have more time for your friends and family. Enjoy the on-site pickleball court, fitness room, creator’s space, and backyard patio with a fire pit and a grilling area. Learn new hobbies and share yours with other members with similar interests — the built-in community provides many opportunities for social interaction. Enjoy your morning coffee or evening winddown in the third floor Sunset Lounge that

so their deliveries are always on time.

Another early resident of the business park, Dick Parks Gas, was eventually bought out. Like Precision, their lot did not sit empty long because new owners, Lakes Gas out of Pequot Lakes, quickly relocated from Lake Street in Pequot Lakes to Jenkins’ growing industrial park.

“It’s a lot bigger and the building is new, so we have a bit more space than we did in Pequot Lakes,” said Jaklyn Schoeszler, customer service representative with Lakes Gas. “It’s been beneficial. It’s a lot busier here than it was right in town, which is not what we expected, but it turned out for the best.”

The former Lakes Gas location was off Patriot Avenue in Pequot Lakes, at the end of the block from Pequot Lakes High School, across the street from a gas station and not too far from an apartment complex. Though the company takes every care to prevent any catastrophic events, Schoeszier said there is still some comfort knowing the bulk tanks are no longer so close to a school and other more populated areas.

“Everybody’s prepared for a worst case scenario,” Schoeszler said. “Thankfully, we haven’t had one, but yes, it does give a little peace of mind. And there is a lot more space out here that we can utilize if an accident or a danger would come about.”

Being farther away from the school also means fewer curious students walking near the property, and no traffic jams in front of the business at the start or end of the school day or during events.

JENKINS: PAGE 35

offers a serene view of Perch Lake, billiards table and golf simulator. The heated parking garage will eliminate another one of the worst parts of a Minnesota winter. If you prefer to spend winters in a warmer climate, enjoy the peace of mind in knowing your home is secure and cared for by professional staff while you enjoy a worry-free winter down south. Gracewin Living is also pet-friendly.

The Sparrow, Goldfinch, Bluebird and Chickadee layouts at Gracewin Living are units that encompass from 1,000- to 1,250-squarefeet and include a private patio or balcony for relaxing. With 2/3 of the units already spoken for, the single-floor homes are selling fast. Starting at just $154,000, all feature upscale finishes, beautiful quartz countertops and tile in the bathrooms with glass step-in showers. The inclusive monthly fees, depending on the share payment option selected, are between $800 and $2,000. When you let someone else do the work and the upkeep, you can spend your time enjoying your life in your beautiful new home.

For more information, or to schedule a tour of available homes at Gracewin Living Coooperative, call 855-472-2396 or visit gracewinliving.com/baxter.

Travis Grimler / Echo Journal

B&B Farm Co’s goat milk soaps come in an entire rainbow of colors.

JENKINS INDUSTRIAL PARK

Where: Rosewood Street and Jenkins Avenue in Jenkins.

Number of businesses in the park: Six

Interesting fact: In 2022, the Jenkins industrial park hosted a large block party for the businesses and invited community members to come and tour the otherwise private buildings where they do their work. The event featured two food trucks, freebies, literature, inflatables, games and more to introduce the companies to would-be customers and residents, and to get together with other businesses and family members.

JENKINS

From Page 34

“It’s a lot safer,”

Schoeszler said.

The park was also a tempting, quiet location when Pequot Lakes

Mayor Tyler Gardner decided to move the operations for his business, Pequot and Gull Lake Sanitation, from Ideal Corners at the end of 2019.

Like many of the other companies on his street, Gardner runs a lot of large vehicles in and out of his property, so it was nice to find a place that was dedicated to industry instead of mixed use.

“It came down to, first off, price,” Gardner said of moving to the park. “Second, it’s a quiet location. My business doesn’t need a storefront or a lot of visibility, so it worked out great with our trucks coming and going without interrupting a neighborhood or any other businesses.”

The space has been a huge plus for Gardner and the neighboring businesses who first considered Pequot Lakes but found some of the red tape to be a bit much.

“When I found this location it was prime for me,” Gardner said. “Easy access off the highway, businesses only, and the city of Jenkins was wonderful. I told them what I wanted to do and

it seemed like I had a permit within minutes. They were welcoming us with open arms.”

One of the newest additions to the park is B&B Farmco, a company that specializes in locally made goat milk butter of all sorts.

Current owners Susie and Jeff Lande bought the business from their niece, Abbie Schramm, almost five years ago. It wasn’t long before the business, then situated in their garage, outgrew its space.

“We had been in our garage for almost three years,” Susie Lande said.

“And we weren’t able to put our car in there, and pretty soon our product was in the kitchen, in the dining room, all over the house. It was just getting to be a mess.”

Like the other businesses, the park was a perfect space to run B&B Farmco.

“It’s quieter and we’re off the main road,” Lande said. “We have big trailer semis that bring our product to us. So there’s space for them to back up and unload with their pallet jack or whatever they need.”

The park is also home to Sunspace of Brainerd, Duluth and Fargo, a sunroom, deck, window and door retailer and installation company.

For those located in the business park, it has been like Andy Griffith’s Mayberry with positive interactions and neighborly cooperation.

“The nice thing about being in the business park is you do become relatively close to your neighbors and everyone is there for a reason,” Huesmann said. “It’s kind of nice. It’s like living in your residential area and you and your neighbors can lean on each other.”

“There’s a lot of camaraderie among all the businesses,” Gardner said. “We help each other out. Like Elite, they’re great. If I have trouble with my forklift, they’re right there with it. It’s almost like a tightknit neighborhood in a residential community.”

“I feel like we’re more like family, and Tyler’s amazing,” Lande said. “The guy next door owns Castaways and he’s super

Voted #1 five years in a row

Thank

nice. We were having issues with plowing and he and the guy from Sunspace came over and plowed before we even got here. Everyone just kind of takes care of each other.”

“It’s awesome having Tyler right there,” Schoeszler said. “We use his services and he uses our services. It’s like networking. We shoot ideas off each other.”

The park has hosted block parties to get to know one another and the community as a whole.

“We had food trucks and games for kids and all that,” Gardner said. “We want to do that every year, but it was kind of our way to bring focus to what’s going on back here. There’s a lot of service-providing

businesses here that people don’t know are here.”

Though a new generation has been in charge of the Jenkins City Council since the formation of the business park, the council is still proud of their business community there and throughout the town.

“Supporting a yearround economy and job opportunities in Jenkins; that was identified as one of the primary goals (of the comprehensive plan),” Rudlang said.

As with years before, the current council considers business growth as one of the biggest signs of success for their town.

“Every new addition or tenant that sets up in the industrial park

ADVERTORIAL

brings something new and interesting into the town,” Rudlang said. “I was happy to see Pequot Sanitation come in. It seems like that’s been a good fit, a great business and a really important one for any community.”

The park seems to be a success that continues to grow in Jenkins, which looks otherwise like a small, sleepy town.

“It’s growing and I think it will continue to grow,” Huesmann said. “I think the city of Jenkins has come a long way and I think there’s a lot more potential to happen.”

“When we moved in, there were two or three other operating businesses. Now it’s moving back there,” Gardner said. “Sunspace started after we moved in and they have just been going gangbusters over there with trucks coming and going. It’s really cool to see that.

“It feels good to be here, and we’re expanding,” Lande said. “We might have to buy two more acres, I don’t know.”

Travis Grimler is a staff writer for the Pineandlakes Echo Journal weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/ Pine River. He may be reached at 218-855-5853 or travis.grimler@ pineandlakes.com.

Rooted in Values, Services and Mission

By Alyson Levig

Since 1995, Mike’s Tree Com-

pany has provided excellence in their knowledgeable tree care services throughout the Brainerd lakes area while also rooting down their community and employee-focused mission toward present and future generations. Owner and founder Mike Schwarze has worked tirelessly to grow the image and integrity of his company to be a year-round local resource for the community, providing snow removal and land clearings during winter besides the many tree services and mulch sales throughout summer. All of which relate toward their customer-centric referral reputation, pride in completed work and dedication to ministering to the community.

Qualified Employees

As an additional show of their commitment to their mission, Mike’s Tree Company has 30 employees, who on average retain at least 12-15 years. Four to six

protection, stump removal, insect disease control, and even attend to soil care. Moreover, you can trust these to follow safe and correct procedures to ensure the protection of your tree(s) for future generations.

New Moves at Mike’s

Though Mike’s Tree Company has been around the Brainerd lakes area for almost 30 years, many branches have extended in the company within the past two. With the purchase of a crane, Mike’s has expanded its land clearing division, enabling them to take on more commercial-size projects.

And with land clearings comes wood waste. But Mike’s Tree Company recycles all wood waste from projects at company headquarters to be resold as sustainable mulch, with eight different available colors, including natural hardwood, barnwood red and light chestnut brown.

Finally, Mike’s Tree Company has also opened its doors to the local community and other businesses as a drop-spot for their organic yard waste, which helps reduce the amounts heading to a nearby landfill and instead re-purposes it back into the community as a landscape feature.

Check out Mike’s Tree Company

Overall, Mike’s Tree Company is a local, friendly, growing business with an extensive customer-based reputation rooted down into the community because of their focus on their work in servicing the Brainerd lakes area.

pany can easily conduct tree removals, trimmings, pruning,

Trust that Mike’s will take care of both you and your trees, ensuring a healthy population for generations to come.

In addition to building barges from the ground up, Elite Industries also has a service department that can do repairs.

Photos by Travis Grimler / Echo Journal

Sunspace is one of the newest additions to the Jenkins Business Park, and other park occupants have said they seem to be a popular business, always on the move.

By Sue Sterling

The pandemic days are over, and their shelves are full once again. Whether you want to buy your groceries online or in person, Cub Foods in Brainerd and Baxter have well-stocked shelves with all your needs. When you shop at Cub, you are shopping locally owned stores — S & R Quisberg, Inc, has owned this fully independent franchise since 1985. Let’s take a walk around the store to discover the culinary treasures you will find there.

THE PRODUCE DEPARTMENT

has fruits and vegetables arranged in eye-catching displays. All their produce is delivered fresh daily for maximum flavor. Each section has a C O O L sign — Country Of Original Location — which will tell you where that product was grown, and their competitive prices have the produce flying off the shelves. Their goal is to have the produce backroom empty every day, to give you the freshest produce possible.

THE BAKERY DEPARTMENT

awaits you as you push your cart farther along. They have a reputation for having the best cake decorator in the area. And if you can provide a photo you want to decorate on top of the cake, Jess can duplicate it on most any cake you choose. They have cakes as small as a four-inch smash cake for birthday parties, up to full size sheets. Whether you are celebrating a birthday, having a wedding, retirement, funeral, baby shower, or simply want to make someone’s day special, they have the skilled staff members to create the masterpiece you desire.

Their bakery also provides customers with tantalizing fresh baked breads. All you bread lovers will be pleased to know all their breads are made daily from scratch, not packaged or frozen dough. Try some of their artisan breads. You won’t be disappointed.

THE DELI DEPARTMENT

greets you as you continue your shopping experience. Whether you are picking up a fast meal, or planning a party, Cub’s Deli Department can fill all your needs. Scrumptious salads, platters, and meats are prepared daily and are waiting for you to enjoy them. They can prepare meals for large groups, from 10 to 200 people. The deli supervisor will help coordinate your order, and it will be prepared

according to your instructions. On the day of your event, all you have to do is pull up to the curb, and their staff will gladly help you load it in your vehicle. And don’t forget the flowers.

FLORAL DEPARTMENT

Fresh flowers are delivered daily from three different Twin Cities providers. Each store has their own florist to make those one-of-a-kind arrangements you may need for your special event. From a small bouquet to brighten the day of a loved one, to complete flower arrangements for weddings and funerals, Cub Foods has the most costeffective prices available.

THE MEAT DEPARTMENT

Be sure to stop by their meat department for the best selection of your favorite cuts. Their meat is cut fresh every day, seven days a week. Their beef is all USDA Choice, and can be cut and prepared to your specifications for that special outdoor barbecue you are having. Be sure to check the ads for their weekly meat specials.

CUB REWARD CARD BENEFITS

Cub recognizes the current inflation rate has affected people’s pocketbooks.

By using a Cub Rewards card you are sure to get all the discounts from the weekly specials every time you shop. Just look for that little red REWARDS flag to find their specials. Not only that, but you can get valuable discounts at participating Holiday Gas Stations when you fill up and swipe your REWARDS card. The more you shop at Cub, the more you save at the pump.

ONLINE SHOPPING AND DELIVERY AVAILABLE

Cub Foods in Baxter and Brainerd are committed to making your shopping experience as convenient as possible. If you just don’t have time to shop, or if you find it hard to shop in-store, customers can access online shopping

at www.Cub.com. There you can fill out a shopping cart order form. Just checkmark the items you need, submit it with payment when you’re done, and Cub will do the shopping for you. You will find everything you need in your virtual trip to the grocery store. If you have a Cub Rewards card, the online cart will apply all the weekly specials available to help you save money. If your online order is $35 or more, you do not even have to get out of your car to pick up your groceries. Our store staff will load your order into your vehicle when you arrive to pick it up. Or you can choose to have your groceries delivered by DoorDash. Just click that option in your online order.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

The value of shopping at Cub Foods is not just the quality of the food, but the quality of service. At Cub Foods each team member puts a lot of effort into making sure customers have a great experience in their store. From 6 in the morning until 10 p.m. each night, they work to give you a clean, safe and friendly environment. If you can’t find something you’re looking for, just ask any white shirt employee to help you find it for you, or ask at the service desk. They’ll be glad to help.

MY CUB, MY WAY

is the Cub’s motto. They want you to know they are here for YOU. They have provided 38 years of service in the lakes area with great customer service, fresh produce, custom-cut meats, and the best deli, bakery, and floral services available locally.

Whether you live in Baxter or Brainerd, there is a store convenient to you. You will find them in East Brainerd near Highway 210 and Eighth Street and in Baxter on Highway 371 and Excelsior Road.

Grocery shopping is a pleasure now and Cub Foods has a new motto — My Cub, My Way! Thank

stores, according to Keith Yde.

“It’s been a good accomplishment, especially out of a tiny little location like we have,” he said.

The business sees new customer volume in the summer, when people take up seasonal residence in the Brainerd area, but about 75% of their customer base return to YDE’s for their service needs, Keith Yde said.

The best parts of the job are the satisfaction of fixing things and getting to talk with people, Keith Yde said. And part of being a small business is taking an extra step to make sure people are satisfied.

YDE’s receives a lot of thank you cards from customers, but the size of the shop limits how many they can display, Keith Yde said.

The business generally services as far south as Little Falls, as far east as Aitkin, as far west as Staples and as far north as Remer. They are typically willing to go farther north due to the large call volume in that area, Keith Yde said.

Two employees spend three full days around Pine River, Jenkins, Crosslake, Emily and Outing to handle the demand. It’s more cost effective to dedicate time to towns to the north and have people dedicated to servicing the area.

YDE’s doesn’t have much in the way of competition because they handle so much volume, Keith Yde said.

Carrying their line of new appliances has brought business in because of how readily available they are, he said. There’s rarely any wait time between ordering

an appliance and having it delivered because the Brainerd-based trucking company they work with, TCBX, can promptly pick up orders from: Fargo, North Dakota; Omaha, Nebraska; Des Moines, Iowa; and Milwaukee.

Shortages and Solutions

In 2020, there was a significant shortage of refrigerator control boards, and they could be on backorder for weeks, or even months.

YDE’s worked its way

through the shortage by building the control boards in-store, where it can be finished in a day or two, and for a fraction of the price. Control boards typically sell for $250300, but YDE’s charges $50 — $25 for labor, and $25 for materials.

Kendall Yde primarily handles the work, which is about 5-10 minutes of soldering. His interest in electronics spiked when he participated in robotics at school.

The area’s growing population presents a challenge of overwhelming call volume, Keith Yde said, and it’s tough to tell customers that they are several weeks out on service, especially if they live in town.

“That’s why we always have an overflow stack. When the guys get done early, they take the time to take care of our locals a little better, because it’s easier when they’re that close,” Keith Yde said, and it’s an effort people “genuinely appreciate.”

Crow Wing County’s population grew by 5.8% from 2010 to 2020, and the combined populations of Brainerd and Baxter specifically grew by 8.5%. Nearby Cass County saw similar growth at 5.2%.

Constant demand

for business has its pluses and minuses, said employee Gary Armstrong — some days, it can feel like “getting pulled in every direction,” but he hasn’t had to worry about losing his job for lack of work.

“When I applied here, one of the guys said, ‘If the economy goes down, we get busy. Economy goes up, we get busy,’” Armstrong said.

Job security is especially important to Armstrong, who ran a drywall company for about a decade leading up to the 2008 market crash.

“There was no work,” he said.

Armstrong came to work at YDE’s temporarily to begin with but he never looked back. Keith Yde’s younger brother was friends with Armstrong’s brotherin-law, and they told him they needed some extra hands.

Armstrong grew up taking care of rentals and doing construction work on rental properties owned by his grandfather. He did work at the Brainerd State Hospital for about a decade before it closed and then on group homes in the area. In the late ‘90s, he jumped into the drywall business and stuck with it until the Great Recession. After getting the job at YDE’s, he said he has no regrets.

Working with appliances involves heavier materials — hundreds of pounds — but it’s a little easier than handling drywall, Armstrong said, because he uses a lift cart and other tools that maneuver the weight. Installing drywall means lifting 120 pounds 30-40 times a day.

“They’ve treated me so well, they can’t get rid of me,” Armstrong said.

Brainerd DispatchProducing award winning products

BY PETE MOHS, PUBLISHER

The Brainerd Dispatch staff earned a total of 31 staff and individual awards, including first in the prestigious General Excellence category for 5,000-10,000 circulation, at the annual Minnesota Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.

Overall, the Dispatch earned 12 first-place awards, 11 for second place and eight for third place. The 31 awards are the most ever earned by the Dispatch, which finished third behind Duluth News Tribune and Fargo Forum in the Vance Trophy for overall points for top multi-day newspapers.

Other first-place awards include: Advertising Excellence, Best Magazine (Lakes Area Dining Guide), Special Section (Veterans Day Salute), Human Interest story (Chelsey Perkins), Local Breaking News (Tim Speier), News Photo (Steve Kohls), Best Advertisement (Jill Wasson and Andy Goble), Use of Color Advertising (Susie Alters and Alex Dietz), Use of Photography, Design Portfolio and Typography and Design.

Second-place awards included: General Reporting, Government/Public Affairs and Social Issues (Speier), Photo Story and Portrait and Personality (Kelly Humphrey), Sports Reporting, Sports Story (Jeremy Millsop), Sports Photo (Kohls), Investigative Reporting (Perkins), Use of Video and Institutional Advertising (Kathy Bittner Lee and Sara Slaby).

Finishing third were Business Story and Investigative Reporting (Theresa Bourke), Press Photographers Portfolio, Portrait and Personality and Sports Photography (Humphrey), News Photo (Kohls), Website and Use of Video.

We would also like to thank the community for voting for us in the 2023 Best of the Brainerd Lakes contest. The Brainerd Dispatch and Echo Journal received nine top 3 awards in this year’s contest (please see our ad for wins).

The Dispatch produces newsprint publications on Wednesdays and Saturdays and

digital newspapers editions on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The Dispatch also features continuous news updates at brainerddispatch.com.

The Dispatch has been responsible for covering the Brainerd lakes area since it was first published in 1881. The newspaper continues to be a key source of area information — although the news is delivered in a variety of forms. The Dispatch began to transition its news and advertising to a combination of print and online platforms with the debut of the Dispatch website in 1996.

The Dispatch has an annual audience of more than 21 million page views with 2.2 million users while the number of Dispatch e-edition readers is increasing daily. The Dispatch produces podcasts and has expanded its video coverage with breaking news and weekly features. The Dispatch is also active in social media like X (formerly Twitter) updates that link our stories to Facebook posts.

Photos by Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

Kendall Yde works on refrigerator Aug. 10, 2023, at YDE’s Major Appliance in Brainerd.

Keith Yde steam cleans an appliance Aug. 10, 2023, at YDE’s Major Appliance in Brainerd.

YDE’S: PAGE 40

losing down, work,” did about closed the into no easier because means 30-40 so of

Often, the process involves using satellite mapping to view someone’s property. He asks the customer to draw where on the map they would like the fence to go, and he can calculate the linear footage and give them an estimate.

Satellite mapping also saves on travel time and costs. If an estimate winds up outside the customer’s budget, they won’t have had to do a site visit that wastes time for both customer and business. Ultimately, though, site visits happen everytime the company moves forward with a job.

Reikofski says they try to keep the service range to within an hour for residential jobs, not including the St. Cloud area, but they do commercial work beyond that. Later this year, they will do two jobs in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Business in 2023 has been good, but consultations and jobs have been coming at a slower pace than the past two years, which Reikofski says were “off the charts.”

The last two years, Elite Fence and Deck was visiting three to four site visits each day, on top of fielding additional phone calls and emails, Reikofski said.

It’s not just anecdotal. Personal consumption expenditures in Minnesota increased by 10.1% in 2021 after decreasing by 4.3% in 2020, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

“2021 was a rough year for everybody,” Reikofski said. “I was run ragged, my crews were working a lot harder than they had been.”

They encountered

ELITE FENCE AND DECK

Where: 15532 Dellwood Drive, Baxter.

Number of employees: six.

Interesting fact: The process often involves using satellite mapping to view someone’s property.

the same volume last year, but Reikofski said by then, they had had time to acclimate to the overwhelming amount of consultations.

Reikofski attributes part of the increase to those relocating to the Brainerd area because they could now work remotely. Another factor might have been remote workers already based in the area realizing it’s distracting to work at home with a dog around, so they sought out fences to give themselves space.

Reikofski doesn’t anticipate the business

changing much in the future.

“It’s going to be chain link fence, privacy fence forever,” he said. “As long as people have dogs and kids we’ll be selling fence.”

Reikofski sources materials for fences primarily from wholesalers in the Twin Cities, such as Master Halco in Brooklyn Park and Minnesota Fence Supply in Savage.

The best-selling fencing option is chain link, according to Reikofski, as opposed to vinyl and other privacy fences. It’s the cheapest option, and most people

don’t necessarily want total privacy, he said. Reikofski’s suppliers deliver materials to him, and the frequency depends on demand, he said. When orders of chain link fence come

in, they are in bulk and infrequent.

Installation crews usually run a flatbed truck with a trailer, and on larger jobs, they might use another truck, Reikofski said.

“Fence has gotten very expensive, as with everything in the world,” Reikofski said. “It’s hard to tell someone, ‘Well, your fence is going to cost

Photos by Hannah Ward / Brainerd Dispatch

Elite Fence and Deck owner Craig Reikofski poses Thursday, July 13, 2023, in front of his work truck.

Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

Elite Fence & Deck is on Dellwood Drive in Baxter.

ELITE FENCE: PAGE 40

ELITE FENCE

From Page 39

$7,000,’ and they may be thinking it’s gonna cost ($3,000), which is kind of the end of the conversation.”

Installing an average residential fence is usually a one-day job, but can range from a few hours to a full day’s work, Reikofski said.

The only other professional fence contractor in the area is Oberg Fence in Deerwood, but there are other individuals who will go to stores like Menards and install it for a price, Reikofski said.

An ongoing challenge for Reikofski is finding new employees and replacing old ones willing to do the work. They need to be willing to tolerate manual labor outside

whether it be hot or cold

— crews work often in the summer and until the ground freezes in the winter.

Finding employees willing to work in those conditions is “impossible,” as is the case for other industries, Reikofski said — there are 1.9 million fewer workers in the United States than in February 2020, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Multiple factors play into the shortage, including the rate of retirement for adults over 55 rising 3% from 2019 to 2021, according to data from Pew Research.

Reikofski currently has six employees. One has been with the business for seven years, another five years, another four years, and a few young guys recently started.

Andy Miller, one of the

YDE’S MAJOR APPLIANCE SERVICE

Where: 1220 Oak St., Brainerd.

Number of employees: Seven

Interesting fact: The family-owned business started with one man in his garage in 1964

YDE’S

From Page 38

As well as the job security factor, his job at YDE’s lets him work normal hours just seven blocks from his house.

Keith Yde started at the business nearly two decades ago, at 18 years old. After graduating high school, he went off to help a cousin with a business venture for a few months before returning home.

“I knew the call was to come back,” he said. And he still loves doing the job, 60 hours a week — though that’s only what he gets paid for, one employee quipped.

YDE’s has six employees, most of whom have been there for over a decade. The most recent employees are Kendall Yde, who started three years ago, and Tyler Donek, who is new this year.

Donek delivered appliances prior to coming to work at YDE’s. He said he heard about the business through word of mouth, and how well they treat employees and wanted to experience that feeling.

“A couple of us are family, but everybody else… if you didn’t know, you’d probably assume we’re all family,” Keith Yde said.

One Christmas, not too long after Armstrong started the job, his daughter had gone outside to sprinkle glitter so the reindeer would come.

His family heard a knock on the door, and Santa was on the doorstep.

Santa’s surprise visit was paid for by Ken Yde, Armstrong said, and it’s a memory that will stick with his daughter forever. Employees also receive very sizable and very helpful bonuses twice a year — before school starts and before Christmas, Armstrong said.

“I’m gonna get emotional even talking about it. I’ve worked a lot of other places where you’re not appreciated,” Armstrong said, “It’s awesome to be appreciated and to feel like family.”

Armstrong said Ken Yde has helped other families have good Christmases and support them, as well as donating frequently to the community.

“You just don’t find that anywhere else. It makes me want to be loyal and stay here,” he said.

Ken Yde’s generosity includes stopping by fruit stands, or buying hundreds of dollars of buffalo meat and giving it to employees, as well as supporting local businesses, Armstrong said. When Girl Scouts come in to sell cookies, he buys them out completely and gives the boxes away at the store.

“To see those kids go, ‘What? All of them?!’” is just so fun,” Armstrong said.

YDE’s advertises through radio, coupon books, restaurant placemats, and other local promotions through

Happy Labor Day!

crew leads, found the job seven years ago through a friend who worked for Reikofski at the time. He worked for Oberg Fence in Deerwood previously.

Jamie Vogt, another

lead, found the position six years ago, also through a friend — Miller. The best part of the job is being able to work with Miller and his brother, who he referred

for the job five years ago.

Working for Reikofski has been Andrew Gripentrog’s summer job since last year, and he found the position through the employment

website Indeed. Miller, Vogt and Gripentrog all agreed that laboring in the heat was the worst part of the job.

To find employees, Reikofski put up postings on Indeed. One hire came in from a referral because one of the current workers was a friend of his.

Before hiring more employees, Reikofski worked five days a week installing during the day and doing bids during the evening. On weekends, he said he would do paperwork and more bids. Up until two years ago, Reikofski lived in the house on the Dellwood Drive property the business operates out of. The building is now an office space, and he said he enjoyed living in a secluded space and the short commute to work.

the VFW and Lakes Jam music festival.

But connection to the community is what has kept the business around, Armstrong said. Despite all the commercials they put out, there are plenty of customers who say they’ve never noticed the advertisements — they found the business through word of mouth.

“‘This is the place to go! This is where everybody tells us to go!’” he quoted. “I hear that quite a bit.”

Armstrong has learned to appreciate customers appreciating the work he and the others do, from getting installations and repairs done on time to taking a few extra seconds to explain the work he’s doing, he said.

Several years ago, Armstrong helped out his brother, who owns Erickson’s Greenhouse.

Armstrong told his brother he had ruined his

job and made him jealous. Armstrong’s brother asked what he meant, and he said customers at the greenhouse were always happy when they walked in and eager to buy flowers and plant them, while customers he dealt with were usually stressed, asking when he could get there to repair their appliances.

He said he mentioned the story to someone else, and they asked, ‘Aren’t people happy after you bring them their new stuff?’ and the encounter gave him a new perspective on his job.

Armstrong said he’s grown to value being completely welcomed into someone’s home, have a pleasant chat with them, and leave. There isn’t time to get into politics or any heavy topics — he can talk about birds, nature or flowers and then the job is done.

The working men and women who form the backbone of our economy have earned our admiration, respect and best wishes.

We’re proud to salute them.

Hannah Ward / Brainerd Dispatch

Andy Miller and Andrew Gripentrog, Elite Fence and Deck employees, install a fence Aug. 3, 2023, in Baxter.

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

Merchandise on display Aug. 10, 2023, at YDE’s Major Appliance in Brainerd.

Manufacturing offers high growth, high paying jobs

Clow Stamping expansion to add to local jobs in manufacturing

By Renee Richardson Brainerd Dispatch Brainerd

With 325,000 workers, the state reported manufacturing is the second largest industry in Minnesota.

The industry also has one of the highest job vacancies in the state, with over 18,000 highgrowth, high-paying jobs available to Minnesotans, the state Department of Employment and Economic Development reported.

In Region Five, manufacturing is the

fourth largest industry in terms of jobs, but due to higher average wages has the second-largest payrolls. Manufacturing regained most of the jobs lost in 2020 and is just 0.3% below 2019 employment, DEED reported late last year. This summer, Minnesota was also

named a top-five state for business in a CNBC study based on 86 key indicators in 10 categories of competitiveness, including workforce, infrastructure, economy, health, and business friendliness.

Clow Stamping in Merrifield began work on its $18.9 million project this summer. The expansion is expected to be completed in 2024 and create an additional 65 jobs over the next two years.

MANUFACTURING: PAGE 48

Revolv Manufacturing adds new name to lakes area

By Hannah Ward Brainerd Dispatch

BRAINERD — What do kayaks, fuel tanks, and mannequins have in common?

Rotomolding, or rotational molding, is a process in which powdered resin is put into a mold that reaches extremely high temperatures. The mold rotates slowly on two axes, spinning and twisting in the oven, letting gravity push the resin into every nook and cranny.

“It would be like a fair ride … in an oven that’s 550 to 600 degrees — you probably don’t want to be on that fair ride,” said Revolv Manufacturing CEO Shawn

Hunstad. At Revolv

Manufacturing, in

south Brainerd, they produce a wide range of custom products using rotomolding.

The method is geared toward producing large, hollow parts that are generally made of plastic.

Revolv Manufacturing employs about 80 people at its Brainerd locations, or around 90 including temporary workers. Across all locations — Brainerd, Maple Plain, and Hoyt Lakes — it employs nearly 160 people.

At its Hoyt Lakes location, Revolv Manufacturing also does thermoforming, wherein a sheet of plastic is heated up, laid over a mold, and vacuumed

Photos by Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch Clow Stamping is adding 100,000 square feet to its manufacturing facility. Nor-Son is doing the construction work. The expansion is slated for an opening in 2024.

Reggie Clow, CEO of Clow Stamping, speaks to those gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony June 8, 2023.

The rotomolding company produces a wide range of custom products

Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

From Page 41

into the correct shape. One product made by thermoforming is boat consoles, Hunstad said. Many of their rotomolding products are for agricultural purposes and go to customers like AGCO and The Toro

Company. Revolv also manufactures restaurant technologies and supplies, such as oil tanks, as well as reservoirs and gas, fuel and hydraulic tanks. When she first started working at Revolv, Human Resources Director Julie Henne was shocked to learn how many common items are made through

rotomolding, like shopping cart parts, she said.

The molds Revolv uses are aluminum and steel frame structures intended to withstand high temperatures over and over and over, said Ardell Paulson, company president. They are built to be thick and durable, but not so thick that they

won’t transfer heat.

Prior to July 2022, Revolv Manufacturing operated under the name Stern Assembly. They landed on the new name after working with Dayta, a St. Cloud marketing consultant. The name is a good fit because it encapsulates the idea of revolving and rotating in rotational molding, Hunstad said.

Axis North Solutions, formerly Stern Industries, came about through the same process, and its logo is visually similar to Revolv’s, with the same colors and general shapes.

Relationships with customers is what sets Revolv apart, Hunstad said. Axis North Solutions serves as the

company’s marketing and sales arm, so they are able to send salespeople on the road to call on customers and find new business opportunities.

“It’s all about building strong, lasting relationships,” Hunstad said.

To determine if they can have a successful

REVOLV: PAGE 43

20 years of professional tree removal and trimming

Safety is number one when it comes to removing trees from your property. Even a ‘safe’ tree can be unpredictable when it falls.

Specializing in hazardous tree removal and high-risk trimming, owner Joe Nelson says his team can safely take down any tree, including those as high as 114 feet, removing them piece by piece with the use of a crane. Now the addition of a new knuckle boom (Kboom) crane makes the process easier than ever. The team will adhere to industry standards without compromising the environment or the surrounding area. An ISA Certified Arborist is on staff.

Take advantage of the year we’ve had with minimal local storm damage, to do a little trouble shooting for the future of your property. It can be the perfect time to be proactive and inspect your property for any trees that could cause future damage and are currently leaning toward your home or other structures and trimming limbs that could be removed before they become a problem.

If the unthinkable does happen and you do have a claim filed with your insurance company, JN Tree Service will take some of the work out of your hands by handling the billing directly through your insurance provider.

Hazardous tree removal and trimming are only two of the services JN specializes in. Covering the Brainerd lakes, central Minnesota and Twin Cities, the company is also able to aid in lot and wood clearing, brush clearing and shoreline restoration.

Call JN’s today for a free estimate and to learn more about how they can help you preserve your property today at 218-232-7328 or go to www.jn-treeservice-landscaping.com.

their

Hannah Ward / Brainerd Dispatch

JJ Raboin, left, and another employee inspect a piece of work Aug. 2, 2023, at Revolv Manufacturing in Brainerd. Revolv REVOLV

road

lasting Hunstad

partnership with a potential customer, Revolv goes through a process of listening to their needs, learning about what they need and solving their problems, and if the company thinks it can

do those three steps, it partners with them for a long-term relationship, Hunstad said. Most of Revolv’s customers are located within Minnesota and surrounding states. By nature, rotomolding usually involves large, hollow parts, which are difficult to ship any distance without paying a lot of money,

Hunstad said.

“You don’t see a lot of rotomolding coming from China, and we don’t ship a lot back,” Paulson said. “It’s very, very regional.”

Product shipments happen according to the customer’s plans.

Customers send trucks to pick up the products, and they own the product the moment

it goes on their truck, Hunstad said. The product is no longer Revolv’s responsibility after it has left the dock, so they pay for the freight out.

Rotomolding is a labor intensive process, and thus doesn’t lend itself to fast, industrywide changes, Hunstad said. Some robotics has been introduced to

the marketplace but is fairly limited in how it can make the process more efficient.

Integrating robotics into rotomolding is difficult because of the volume of orders and the variation of parts, Paulson said.

In industries like injection molding, wherein manufacturing companies make the

same parts by the thousands, it’s easy to automate a line. Rotomolding typically involves small to moderate volumes in batches, Paulson said.

“The nature of what we make, in some cases we can measure with a tape measure because they’re not as critical,” he said.

REVOLV

A challenge of being in the rotomolding industry is its small size, Paulson said, and so it hasn’t attracted a lot of investment into technologies that would increase efficiency, like other manufacturing industries.

Up until they installed the new plant floor management software in early August, there was zero software to choose from, he said. The software is designed specifically for the rotomolding industry, letting them monitor schedules and track every machine and part in the system.

“It sounds like it’s kind of basic stuff, but in our industry, that’s a huge leap,” Paulson said. “We’re really looking forward to that.”

Eighteen months ago, that kind of software wasn’t available, but it will be very helpful to have help beyond the efficiencies they can implement on their own, Paulson said.

One area Revolv has been able to implement technology into is trimming parts. Using computer numerically controlled routers, or computer-guided machines that cut materials, the company has been able to trim parts a little faster, Hunstad said. Otherwise, parts used to be trimmed by hand using routers and saws.

“Rotational molding is unique in the sense that it can produce products no other process can make,” Hunstad said.

There’s a process called blow molding which can also produce fuel tanks, he said, but it can’t capture the same intricate details as with rotational molding because it’s a low pressure process. Blow molding involves running a piece of plastic inside of a mold, closing any holes, and putting air inside to press the plastic to the sides.

From Page 43 REVOLV: PAGE 46

Photos by Hannah Ward / Brainerd Dispatch

A Revolv Manufacturing employee uses a fire tool on a plastic part Aug. 2, 2023, at the company’s Brainerd facility.

Revolv Manufacturing Human Resources Director Julie Henne shows the resin used in the rotomolding process Aug. 2, 2023, at the company’s facility in Brainerd.

A Revolv Manufacturing employee operates a forklift, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, at the rotomolding facility in Brainerd.

BRAINERD — Forum Communications Company, parent company of the Brainerd Dispatch and Pineandlakes Echo Journal, recently unveiled a renewed investment into growing and developing its advertising division as a means of continuing its commitment to local news.

The latest advertising push includes investments into people, tools, technology and resources to modernize the company’s advertising division.

As part of the new initiative, three Forum Communications employees have taken on new roles as it pertains to advertising.

Leading the group is Stephanie Schroeder, moving into the role of chief revenue officer. Schroeder previously worked to develop the company’s subscription revenue model. Her new role will entail working to ensure both the subscription and advertising sides of the business coexist and develop together.

Amy Fredrickson has taken on the role of vice president of marketing. Previously, Fredrickson worked to market news subscriptions across the company’s four-state coverage area. Now, she will also focus on ensuring businesses throughout that territory are aware of the comprehensive advertising options available with Forum Communications.

Bill Morehouse stepped into the role of director of digital advertising. In that role, Morehouse evaluates the opportunities for continuous improvement in the digital realm.

The company also recently hired Joe Allen as its Vice President of Advertising Sales, who will oversee the advertising strategy across all local news markets.

These four individuals will work with the current team of more than 80 advertising employees spread across news markets in North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

A RENEWED FOCUS

In recent years, Forum Communications devoted a great deal of effort to developing its digital subscriber base by implementing a paywall on its news websites and enhancing benefits for subscribers.

While those efforts were a central focus, the significance of advertising to the business remained. “In general advertising has always been a really important part of Forum Communications’ business model,” Schroeder explained.

The latest realignment puts both subscriptions and advertising under one umbrella and “comprehensive strategy,” Schroeder added. “Ultimately, we need both subscriptions and advertising to fund local journalism. Without both of those elements, our operation can’t be sustained,” she said.

From a marketing perspective, Fredrickson is focused on making sure clients know exactly what Forum Communications can do for them. She said the advertising portion of the business was hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic and that the company hopes to bring advertising back to its previous heights.

‘FULL SUITE’ OF CAPABILITIES

One of the key differentiators between Forum Communications and other means of advertising, Schroeder explained, is that the company’s advertising experts are equipped to leverage print, digital and broadcast advertising channels to create custom omni-channel campaigns that are better able to meet a business’s unique objectives. This combination creates a “full suite” of advertising choices, she said.

The landscape of digital advertising constantly evolves, but print advertising remains a steady and reliable place

for advertising. The Brainerd Dispatch, for example, prints newspapers twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays and produces e-editions Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, which are an exact replica of a printed paper.

“Digital advertising is becoming more and more important for any business that’s trying to reach its audience,” Schroeder said. “I would say that even as we see more and more advertisers shift to digital, there’s still a strong need for a print audience as well.”

Advertising specialists with Forum Communications are available to help advertisers place their ads either in a digital or print format in the company’s news markets or anywhere on the internet. Podcasts are also a rising avenue for advertising, with the company producing 29 podcasts.

Also at advertisers’ disposal are the services of Click Content Studios and Modulist. Click Content is Forum Communications’ video production team while Modulist allows consumers to place classified ads or personal announcements in FCC news publications. Forum Communications Printing can also be tapped for any commercial printing needs.

“Right now our biggest opportunity is just telling our story and making sure business owners are aware that we’re here and all of our capabilities that we have and the things we can help with,” Fredrickson said. “I really feel like there’s an opportunity to connect more businesses to the services we have to offer.”

AUDIENCE ACCESS

When advertising with Forum Communications, advertisers have unmatched access to a local audience.

To begin, five million users visit FCC’s network of news websites each month. Those users have already demonstrated an interest in local information, giving advertisers precise access to interested customers. Those targeted campaigns can also take place on any website across the internet.

Morehouse views those five million monthly visitors as a “super valuable” offering for advertisers. Leveraging that audience, Forum Communications can then utilize the wealth of digital tools at its disposal. Targeting can take place across the company’s network of news websites or anywhere else online.

Data from digital advertising can be used to put campaigns in front of the right target audience. “It’s really all customized with digital, which is really nice,” Morehouse said.

Morehouse and Schroeder noted that coupling precise digital advertising with a broad-focused print advertisement enables advertisers to tap into an extremely engaged local audience. The print audience is “really engaged in local content already,” she said.

Critically, Forum Communications offers unique advantages over other digital competitors such as Google and Facebook.

For example, Schroeder said advertisements on Facebook find their way into a user’s feed and compete with thousands of other things for that user’s attention. Not only that, but those same advertisements can receive negative comments which could place the brand in a negative light.

Advertisements placed with Forum Communications are surrounded by trustworthy information, which in turn boosts the image of the advertising brand. That can’t always be guaranteed on a Google or Facebook ad. “Advertisers want their ad in a place where the content that surrounds it is credible and vetted,” Schroeder said. “When you place your ad in a newspaper or on one of our digital websites or

a broadcast commercial, you can ensure that your ad is only being seen amongst other credible and local content.”

DEPENDABLE SERVICE

For both Schroeder and Fredrickson, another distinguishing factor is that advertising clients can actually reach a real person when advertising with Forum Communications.

“There’s something to be said just about the personal service and the fact that our ad teams, they’re local experts. They know the market, the communities that they work in,” Fredrickson said. “We can really bring that service component.”

With the help of an expert staff, advertisers can be as engaged or hands-off with their promotions as they desire. Forum Communications will create a 24/7 dashboard that clients can view to learn how their campaigns are progressing. Trained advertising professionals can also make adjustments to optimize those campaigns based on the data. “We’re working hard to be able to offer first-party data so that they can more effectively target their audiences and their customers,” Fredrickson said. “We want to make it easy for them to be able to advertise and get results and let us do the heavy lifting.”

In Fargo, Lisa Tillotson spearheads advertising sales efforts as the director of sales, leading a team of eight. “We’ve always had the capabilities,” Tillotson said. “We can do pretty much any type of advertising and fulfill any requests, from direct mail to newspaper ads, to full digital campaigns, full digital capabilities. What we can do is actually fairly impressive.”

The digital landscape constantly evolves, but Tillotson said Forum Communications has been “at the forefront of those changes,” particularly when it comes to precise targeting tactics.

Tillotson said that her team can scale campaigns to any size business. “We customize advertising strategy and packages for customers from mom-and-pop businesses all the way up to multi-million dollar national corporations. We’ve worked with them all and can work with them all.”

‘GROWING OUR LOCAL NEWS PRESENCE’

Ultimately, Schroeder hopes the renewal of Forum Communications’ advertising business will help connect advertisers with their local community.

In turn, the company is growth-minded, with a stated aim of expanding its local news reporting. Those efforts can be seen most recently in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and St. Cloud, Minnesota, where the company started new newsrooms. “We want to make investments in growing our local news presence in other communities as well,” Schroeder said. “We want to keep local news in our communities, but in order to do that, we have to be able to fund it.”

Schroeder and Fredrickson both aim to continue educating advertisers in their communities on the potential that Forum Communications offers to grow their businesses. “I would love to just have more advertisers in the community understand that we are more than just a newspaper,” Schroeder said. “While the newspaper is still an incredibly important part of what we do and the channel in which we do it, it’s just one platform that we use to reach a huge audience in our communities.”

To learn more about advertising with Forum Communications, browse the media kit available at advertising.forumcomm.com. Advertisers interested in the Brainerd lakes area can also visit www.brainerddispatch.com or www.pineandlakes.com and select the “Advertise With Us” link in the navigation menu.

Revolv Manufacturing CEO Shawn Hunstad.

As the plastic is pushed into the corners, it gets stretched out and the walls in the corners are thinner than elsewhere, Hunstad said. Rotomolding is almost the opposite, where more material builds up in the corners.

Rotomolding is a great process for fuel tanks on large farm equipment, like tractors, Hunstad said. Engineers design tractors with all of the hydraulics and electronics inside, and then they design the fuel tank by essentially drawing a line around what is already in the design.

Rotomolding can produce that product because it has flexible capabilities, as opposed to other more rigid processes, he said.

Artificial intelligence has popped up in many industries in the past year, but not yet in the manufacturing industry, Paulson said.

Paulson said he has just recently started to get a lot of contact about AI. The application in manufacturing would likely be for product flow, he said, and not so much the molding process.

Floor production and planning would benefit the most from implementing artificial intelligence, but there could be other uses developed in the future, he said.

“In our world, robotics would never replace our people, it would hopefully enhance what they’re able to do and make our people more efficient,” Paulson said.

Rotomolding involves switching between different tools and moving on to work on different parts, so the challenge of integrating artificial intelligence would be similar to robotics, Hunstad said. They have to program robots to do any particular task, and since a robot would need to change processes frequently, the time spent programming may not be worth the efficiency gained in the end.

“There’s the theory

REVOLV MANUFACTURING

Where: 1100 Industrial Park Road, Brainerd

Employees: About 80-90 in Brainerd. The business has a sign out front that says, “If you are awesome, call us 2 day.”

Interesting fact: The mold rotates slowly on two axes, spinning and twisting in the oven that reaches 550 to 600 degrees.

of, ‘That’d be great,’ and there’s the practical application of, ‘Can you actually justify this from a cost-benefit standpoint?’” Paulson said.

Finding workers who can tolerate the heat

At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the manufacturing industry lost roughly 1.4 million jobs, and as of March, there were nearly 700,000 open manufacturing jobs, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The biggest challenge on the production side is finding people who enjoy thinking through problems and can stand to work in hot and labor intensive conditions.

On the platforms, it can reach 115 degrees, Henne, HR director, said.

Working conditions

in the buildings are so hot because they can’t install air-conditioning as that would cool down the resin while it is still forming in the mold, said Lary Johnson, director of operations. There are specific areas where fans can cool down the molds at the right time.

“Something else that sets us apart is our staff and employee base … They bring a lot to the table,” Henne said. “They have to fit for us. We have to fit for them. It’s not just hiring a warm body.”

In the past few years, Henne said Revolv put a lot into its training programs. The Brainerd location is currently undergoing a remodel, during which they’ve built a new training room.

“It’s like in any business: if you’re gonna be successful, you have to have really

good people. Everyone, not just three or four really good people,” Hunstad said.

And they plan to have training continue past orientation, letting employees explore different paths in the company, like quality control and management.

To find employees, Revolv relies on a mix of marketing, job boards, social media and job fairs, but one of the biggest avenues into their company is through the referral base, Henne said. People hear the company takes care of its employees and join up.

During and since the COVID-19 pandemic, Revolv experienced material shortages that have mostly recovered but not entirely, Paulson said. There are some special materials that are still a challenge to obtain.

In the last 12 months, Revolv purchased two brand new rotomolding machines. Some of the company’s machines are 20-30 years old and still do the exact same work, Paulson said.

New machines can be more efficient heating up to the necessary

temperature, and have other bells and whistles to monitor data, but in the end, it’s the same process, he said.

Finding new tools that can make the rotomolding process more efficient, and being able to solve those problems, is rewarding, Henne said.

In the last five years, the company has grown exponentially, remodeled and changed its culture, Henne said.

Developing really good people is key to the success of the whole business, Paulson said.

Working in human resources, Henne’s perspective on bringing in and keeping employees is that when they walk out the door each night, the company needs to make an effort to guarantee they come back the next day.

A major development within the company has been implementing EOS, or entrepreneurial operating system, Hunstad said. EOS was developed by author and entrepreneur Gino Wickman, and it is a program companies can pay to get help with internal organization.

The system pushes companies to focus

Thank You...

on its core values and establishes a method of holding meetings and communicating. It also creates an accountability chart that identifies who is responsible for what job so that other departments can see who does what.

Part of EOS is thinking about short- and longterm goals, Hunstad said.

One of the company’s commitments to its customers is that it will not sell out to big players in the industry who have been buying up manufacturing operations recently, Hunstad said.

Revolv’s goal in 10 years is to have done $100 million in sales. Right now, they stand at about $30-35 million, Hunstad said.

That level of growth is likely not possible with the currently existing locations alone, so they will have to expand their locations, he said. The company is constantly looking at other ways to invest.

The global rotomolding industry is estimated to be worth nearly $6 billion by the end of 2031, according to Transparency Market Research.

our dedicated staff and caring community. Without your support, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.

would be like a fair ride … in an oven that’s 550 to 600 degrees — you probably don’t want to be on that fair ride.

Hannah Ward / Brainerd Dispatch

Revolv Manufacturing employees at work Aug. 2, 2023, at the rotomolding facility in Brainerd.

Dispatch

Dunmire’s hits the big lights and does not disappoint

By Jeremy Millsop Brainerd

Dispatch BRAINERD — Chris Dunmire may not be punctual, but he is authentic.

His authenticity in his approach to people, to his menu at both Dunmire’s on the Lakes on Highway 371 and Dunmire’s Bar and Grill on Highway 210, and to his staff are why fans of his restaurants nominated his establishments for a feature on America’s Best Restaurants.

The national media and marketing company focuses on bringing attention to independently-owned restaurants across the country. On Wednesday, June 28, the focus was Dunmire’s on the Lakes.

It took a while for the focus to start as Dunmire was about 15 minutes late to his own video shoot. The twoperson video crew of Austin Turner and Colin Nienaber and show host Jacalyn Mains waited patiently for the chef/ owner’s arrival, but were glad they did as Dunmire impressed with his restaurant philosophy and food.

“This is a beautiful setting,” Mains said. “I love that they do all of their stuff from scratch. I love hearing that. I knew we were going to see some good food as soon as Chris said that. Chris has a really awesome energy about him. I can see why he’s successful. You can tell he just doesn’t stop. He is a go-getter. I can appreciate that.”

The first dish prepared was an ovenroasted cauliflower steak with house-made chimichurri and a balsamic vinaigrette.

Chef Dakota Paisley got

the honor of preparing the dish, which the crew fell in love with.

Following the initial dish, the interviews started and began with Mains and Dunmire in the bar area. The crew was quick to say Dunmire was a natural on camera.

“He’s passionate about what he does and is willing to learn,” Nienaber said about his impressions of Dunmire. “He’s always down to help others, which I love. He was talking about helping a gentleman and that’s big for me. He’s helping others get to their dreams as well because he’s living his dream every single day. Others

are just one-half step away and they need that little push and Chris is giving that push.”

The crew spent a week in Michigan and were in Chicago last weekend before trekking north to Brainerd. The threeperson crew travels for a month and sends its videos and interviews back to the home base in Florence, Kentucky. After a quick break, they’re back on the road doing more interviews and videos. The team will actually be back in Northern Minnesota in October for more restaurant highlights.

According to its press release, America’s Best Restaurants travels the country

telling the stories and highlighting the unique food of locally owned independent restaurants as part of their ABR Roadshow. Restaurants are featured not only on ABR’s Restaurant Network of social media channels and website, but also on each individual establishment’s Facebook page. With over 800 episodes filmed, America’s Best Restaurants is the premier marketing agency for restaurant owners and operators to have their stories broadcast coast-tocoast. Restaurants featured on the Roadshow are found through customer

nominations or by a restaurant applying to be featured. Dunmire’s was customer-nominated and that brought a smile to the owner.

“This means the world,” Dunmire said. “I never expected anything like this. When I got the phone call, I thought it was a joke at first. To find out it was from the people nominating us and putting our name in there was truly a heartwarming feeling.

I couldn’t explain it. It wasn’t real. Now that we’re here and filming it, it’s really a unique adventure to be on. I owe it all to the staff.

I’m just here leading

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them. They’re the ones putting in all the work to make things happen. Without them, I wouldn’t be here. I just want to thank the staff and the support of the community that I’ve been able to be a part of. I appreciate everyone who has helped make this happen.”

Dunmire grew up in the family restaurant business, helping his father with The Wharf in Alexandria and then Ernie’s on Gull. He opened his original location, Dunmire’s Bar & Grill, in the summer of 2020.

Many of his menu items feature his father’s old recipes like his walleye fingers, which will also be featured in the show. Also featured on the show will be Dunmire’s chicken bacon ranch mac and cheese with its six cheese sauce and a pork chop with bourbon maple bacon jam and au gratin potatoes.

“It’s been unreal,” Dunmire said. “It almost feels like a dream, especially with my father just passing. Now was the big step up of let’s make a name for him and keep his legacy going. It was really a scary situation with all the COVID-19 going on in 2020, but to be able to pull through the way that we did in such a short period of time is really crazy. I owe it all to God because without him I wouldn’t be able to do this so I just appreciate all the people supporting and coming in. It’s truly a blessing that I never really expected.”

JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at 855-5856 or jeremy.millsop@ brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ jeremymillsop.

Dunmire’s offers quality fare on both sides of Brainerd

Chris Dunmire spent his whole life around the restaurant business, so it’s not surprising that today he owns two of the hottest spots in our area, bookending the community of Brainerd with a great place to eat on either side of town.

In 2020 the original Dunmire’s opened its doors in the location off Highway 210. “That’s where it all started,” he says. When his tasty menu selections and personal touch to the restaurant business proved to be a successful combination, he expanded to include the new lakefront dining experience on Highway 371 on the shore of North Long Lake.

“I was thankful for the opportunity to add the second location,” he says, inviting everyone to come check out the new tiki bar, outdoor volleyball court and beach at Dunmire’s on the Lakes. And now a new, exciting, addition to Dunmire’s on the Lakes comes in the

way of a rental property right next door to the bar, which has created the perfect combination for parties, weddings and other get-togethers.

While each site offers some of its own unique fare, menus at both Dunmire’s typically include what he describes as American classics with a Dunmire’s twist. Whether you’re craving hamburgers, wraps, tacos, or a more delectable dinner selection, such as steak or seafood, the dishes at either site will never disappoint.

Owning two successful restaurants is no easy feat and Chris says he knows none of it would be possible without the advice and knowledge he received from his parents, Cathy and Craig.

The food, the atmosphere and the attention to detail, all come together to make a visit to either restaurant an experience you’ll remember. Follow Dunmire’s on Facebook for all the latest in entertainment and special events you won’t want to miss at either location.

Jeremy Millsop / Brainerd Dispatch

Videographer Austin Turner, left, records host Jacalyn Mains and owner Chris Dunmire talk about the view of North Long Lake through the windows of Dunmire’s on the Lakes Wednesday, June 28, 2023, while eating walleye fingers during a segment of America’s Best Restaurants featuring the eatery north of Brainerd.

“Our demand for capacity from over 400 original equipment manufacturers, including agriculture, recreational vehicles, exercise, equipment, and construction, and others created the need for more space. How about that?

We have a very difficult time turning down new business. And a very wise man I know said, ‘If your business isn’t growing, it’s dying.’ When our expansion is completed,

we’ll be over 400,000 square feet and likely the largest short run stamper in the country, if not the world.”

Clow noted when they bought the building in Merrifield and came here from St. Louis Park, they used about a third of the available space with every department in one room. They hired outside sales representatives, which meant they were going beyond Minnesota customers. They started doing work for Xerox and Eastman Kodak and IBM, all industry giants. Locally, their customers included Scorpion, which is how they ended up in the lakes region. A big moment for the company was landing John Deere as a customer. Now they ship to 24 John

Deere locations. Clow said once they got a foot in the door, that opened up markets for the company. Keeping those customers meant being good at communication. Their service department has about 12 employees, all account managers. Those staff members process orders, expedite orders and mean the customer only has to call one person to get the answers they need.

With the expansion, Clow said they plan to reorganize the entire plant and automate shipping with automated forklifts. With production out of space, they’ll get 50,000 square feet.

“We’re going to continue to grow, because my customers want more capacity right now that I

don’t have,” Clow said. “If I don’t give it to them, they’ll go somewhere else.”

With more acreage on site, Clow said they have the ability to add to the new addition to meet future demand as well.

“We’re going to add a new capability for kitting and assembly. That is one thing our customers have been asking for for years and we didn’t have the space,” Clow said of the option to have parts with more hardware or parts in bags attached to it. “So we think that’s going to generate $2 to $3 million in sales.”

Gov. Tim Walz had a statewide workforce tour this year, including spending a day in the life in the manufacturing industry — one of the career fields experiencing

We are thankful for our dedicated workforce.

218-568-8069

Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

a labor shortage in Minnesota.

“Minnesota is investing millions in job training and workforce development to fill high-growth, high-demand jobs across the state, including in manufacturing, public safety, technology, caring professions, and education,” the state reported.

“Minnesota’s manufacturing industry is filled with companies that are innovating and delivering solutions in our global economy — and these companies have thousands of highpaying, career-building jobs for Minnesotans across the state,” Walz stated in a news release.

“By investing in career training, we’re helping businesses find the

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skilled workers they need while helping Minnesotans earn family-sustaining wages. This is good for our workers, our businesses, and our economy.”

“The One Minnesota Budget passed this legislative session includes $20 million over the next two years to support the Drive for Five Workforce Fund, which will prepare Minnesotans to enter five of the most critical occupational categories in the state with high-growth jobs and family-sustaining wages: technology, caring professions, education, manufacturing, and trades,” DEED reported. Renee Richardson, managing editor, may be reached at 218-855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch. com. @DispatchBizBuzz.

Pequot Manufacturing, a modest company of five at its start in 1981, began as many successful companies do, as a dream, a dream filled with hard work, determination and perhaps the most important cornerstone to founders Josef and Agnes Goerges — philanthropy.

Over four decades of expansion, advancement and tireless dedication, giving has remained a core value of Pequot Manufacturing. A value in which they encourage giving back to the community through support of schools, service and charitable organizations by volunteering time, talents and treasure to help make a difference in people’s lives.

Intertwined into the everyday logistics of Pequot Manufacturing, the legacy of giving is carried out through monthly internal charitable initiatives and even a “fun”draising committee, solely dedicated to coordinating and hosting internal giving events and initiatives. The result of this core value, internal fundraising, and collective efforts to give back reflect in local community involvement and donations. “It’s one of our initiatives that the shareholders have handed down to the company to utilize our initiative of giving,” Chad Shogren, president of Pequot Manufacturing, said. “We have a percentage for that. We try to give a portion of profits for the year back to our community and get our employees involved in the community as well.” Each year, Pequot Manufacturing (and its giving-focused committees) work within the local community to support local nonprofits and charitable organizations. “We’ve been working with the community since day one,” Karlo Goerges

said. “Today, we’ve got probably close to 40 local charities that we work with.” From annual, employee-initiated, food shelf drives every March, to partnerships with local entities like The United Way, Kinship Partners, and Bridges of Hope, Pequot Manufacturing’s giving roots are strong and continually growing.

In addition to prioritizing a charitable spirit for their company, Josef and Agnes Goerges also began a tradition of giving back to their employees. Since its inauguration, Pequot Manufacturing has provided a Thanksgiving turkey to every employee. “My mom and dad were very proud of starting the business here and talked about the ethics,” Brian said. “There was a Thanksgiving tradition that started here from year one where they would buy a turkey for everyone that worked for the company. We still do that to this day. Every year, we ask how many turkeys the company grew by every year, and that was just one of the pieces they would measure our success by.”

What began, humbly, over four decades ago, continues in future generations, employees, and core values of Pequot Manufacturing. Warehouses expand, multi-use machines continue to advance, the workforce grows, and with it, a company’s success. However successful or advanced, it’s clear a continued legacy of giving back to the community will always be the heart, mind, and motivation of Pequot Manufacturing.

“We’re presently in the process of our 13th expansion and our largest to date,” CEO Reggie Clow said during the groundbreaking.

Clow Stamping in Merrifield began work on its $18.9 million project this summer. The expansion is expected to be completed in 2024 and create an additional 65 jobs over the next two years.

MANUFACTURING

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