THE NISSWA PRETTY GOOD FOUNDATION

In 2023, the Nisswa Community Fund joined the Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation family of funds.

“We are thrilled that local leaders formed the Nisswa Pretty Good Foundation, as it will be known locally,” Karl Samp, Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation executive director, said. “They had the foresight to create this fund to enhance a pretty good small town. And we all know here, that means the (recently named) Best Small Town in Minnesota! Donations are now being accepted to grow the fund and its impact in Nisswa.”

Pam Dorion, president of the Nisswa Chamber of Commerce, said: “I am beyond excited to get the Nisswa Pretty Good Foundation up and running. I can’t wait to assemble the last few committee members and see where this goes. Everyone here loves this town and everyone that comes through wants to come again. … I see big things happening with this going forward and I can’t wait. I love Nisswa!”

“Nisswa is an amazing community, and this will be instrumental in the community’s future success,” Jenny Max, Nisswa city administrator, said. “A big thank you goes to the Nisswa Chamber for their vision; I can’t wait to be a part of this initiative that will provide opportunities for anyone who loves Nisswa to come together and do great things!”

Dorion is the chair of the Nisswa Pretty Good Foundation and Max will serve on the committee as well.

“Once additional committee members are finalized, the committee will accelerate fundraising efforts to give the fund a jump-start,” Dorion said. “This could be a real game changer and provide a source to fund immediate and future needs of the community.”

The committee is asking anyone who is interested in donating to do so online at bit.ly/3CkAcGS or mail it to CommunityGiving at 101 Seventh Ave. S, No. 100, St. Cloud, MN, 56301. Donors should note “Nisswa Community Fund” in the memo line.

The Fund Committee would welcome any donations or matching grant dollars to help increase fund growth and requests people contact Dorion if interested in providing a matching grant challenge or donation.

The Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation attracts and administers charitable funds for the benefit of the local Brainerd area. Since 1998, the foundation has grown to over $16.7 million in assets and awarded over $8.1 million in grants to nonprofits.

The Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation is governed by a local board of directors and is a partner of CommunityGiving, which is a collaborative of many community foundations united under a single framework to create efficiencies that maximize the impact of donors, the release said. Collectively, CommunityGiving administers over 1,000 funds totaling nearly $195 million.

Learn more at CommunityGiving.org/ Brainerd.

1. BOOK EARLY Accommodations in the Nisswa area book very quicklyand very far in advance. Book your wish list property as soon as possible to ensure availability.

2. BE FLEXIBLE

With accommodations booking as quickly as they do, your dream property might not be available for your desired dates. Be flexible on the type of accommodation or your travel dates for the best results.

3. BUDGET

Set your budget before you start the search for lodging. The Nisswa area has a wide variety of accommodations for every need and budget. Identify what you’re comfortable spending to help narrow the search.

4. MAKE YOUR WISH LIST

Would you like meals included? Boat rentals? Family activities? Our resorts and hotels offer a wide variety of activities to entertain the whole family. Want peace and quiet? That’s an option too!

City Of Nisswa

Nisswa Demographics

CITY OF NISSWA FUN FACTS

Population: 2,121

Percentage of people over age 65: 43%

Percentage of women: 45%

Percentage of men: 55%

Median resident age: 52

Median household income: $68,393

Average home value: $512,708

Nisswa Leaders

Acity council made up of a mayor and four council members leads the city of Nisswa and the staff at city hall.

The city has had a city administrator since July 2017. Staff also includes a city clerk, finance specialist, city planner, parks and recreation director and public works director.

Nisswa has a six-member police department led by a longtime chief of police. The city’s volunteer fire department is led by a fire chief with more than 20 years of firefighting experience, and the department has substations in Lake Edward Township and Lake Shore, as well as its main station downtown.

The city has two municipal liquor operations in Ye Old Pickle Factory, a bar and off-sale liquor store downtown, and Spirits of Nisswa, an off-sale liquor store near Schaefer’s Foods.

Residents can get involved in city government by serving on the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission/Board of Adjustment, Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, or Public Works Committee.

Nisswa City Information

CITY OF NISSWA City

218) 963-4444

Website www.cityofnisswa.com Fire

Parks

Warming

Planning

Police

Non-emergency

(2 18) 963-0047

218) 963-3931

(2 18) 963-2402

(2 18) 963-4301

Post Office (2 18) 963-7907

NISSWA SCHOOL

Elementary School (2 18) 961-6860

ICE SKATING

Nisswa Skating Rink ....................................... (2 18) 963-3931

NISSWA COMMUNITY LIBRARY

Located at Nisswa

Elementary School 218) 961-6876

Summer Hours ....................................................M-S 10am-2pm School

........................................................M-Th 3pm-7pm Sat 10am-2pm

CITY DEPARTMENT STAFF

City administrator ......................................................

Jenny Max

City clerk................................................................ Kirstin Lindbery

Finance specialist

Maggi Wentler

Police chief .....................................................................

Fire chief

Craig Taylor

Shawn Bailey

Parks & recreation director....

Amber Moon Peterson

City planner Be thany Soderlund

Public works director ............................................

Ye Old Pickle Factory manager

Tom Blomer

Terry Wallin

Spirits of Nisswa manager ...............................Brian Farrell

CITY OF

(2 18) 963-2148

CROW WING

Sheriff’s Department

Non-emergency ....................................................218) 829-4749

CASS COUNTY Sheriff’s Department

Non-emergency ..................................................... 218) 547-1424

Nisswa is known for many things - lakes, woods, shopping, fun - but one of the best parts of our town is Nisswa Elementary School!

Nisswa is truly a community school. They are supported by the Chamber, the Lions club, the American Legion, families of their students and alumni from their school.

One extra-special group they have is their Parent-Teacher Organization, or PTO. Sure, most schools have them, but we’re certain none are quite like Nisswa’s.

To quote Nisswa Elementary School Principal Molly Raske, they make so many “only in Nisswa” dreams come true.

The group of parents and teachers that make up the PTO are simply amazing. The list of things they do for the students and teachers at Nisswa Elementary School is endless, but here is a sampling.

The PTO provides:

All of the funding for field trips and transportation for those field trips.

Food and fun at the annual Back to School Picnic.

Welcome back gifts for staff.

Food for the staff during parent-teacher conferences.

Funds for special projects like the Warrior Recess Circuit equipment.

The Halloween Spooktackular event for the whole family each year.

Scholastic Book Fairs twice a year, where all the proceeds go toward giving one book to every student to take home and additional books for the Book Incentive Vending Machine.

A Run-a-Thon to support all of the “Only in Nisswa” experiences and resources each year.

Funds for students to go to Copper Creek for Fall Fun each year.

Funds for students to go mini golfing at Nisswa Falls Mini Golf.

Support for artists in residence throughout the year.

Caps and gowns for the kindergarten and fourth grade graduations, and all the graduation treats.

Support for the Nisswa Community Children’s Library.

Event volunteers and all of the event decorating.

And the PTO plans the BIGGEST and BEST event of the year, The Bloom! It is an amazing evening out to fundraise for the PTO and it is always over the top AMAZING!

This just starts to put a dent in all the things the PTO does, but Nisswa Elementary School is so lucky to have them, and our community is so lucky to have Nisswa Elementary School in it!