Mn Valley Feb 16 by Free Press Media

Bryan Paulsen has had a hand in architectural work on almost this entire South Front Street block in Mankato.

By design Architects shape the look of the area Also in this issue • Pear Tree Greetings • Adams Auto Sales • Something Special Spiritual Healing

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F E A T U R E S February 2016 • Volume 8, Issue 5

With the ongoing local building boom area architects have been busy with everything from churches and schools to apartments and offices.

The Rev. Terri Spence uses a variety of spiritual approaches at her Something Special Spiritual Boutique and Healing Sanctuary in Mankato.

Adams Auto Sales, owned by Shawn Adams, has for 20 years seen a steady stream of customers, something she credits to customer oriented service.

Pear Tree Greetings in North Mankato has found a dedicated following among moms and others and sold its 30 millionth unit recently.

MN Valley Business • february 2016 • 5

■ February 2016 • VOLUME 8, ISSUE 5 PUBLISHER John Elchert EXECUTIVE EDITOR Joe Spear ASSOCIATE EDITOR Tim Krohn CONTRIBUTING Tim Krohn WRITERS Kent Thiesse Noah Hultgren Heidi Sampson Nell Musolf PHOTOGRAPHER Pat Christman Darren Gibbins COVER PHOTO Pat Christman Darrin Gibbons PAGE DESIGNER Christina Sankey ADVERTISING sales Jen Wanderscheid Theresa Haefner ADVERTISING Barb Wass ASSISTANT ADVERTISING Sue Hammar DESIGNERS Christina Sankey CIRCULATION Denise Zernechel DIRECTOR

For editorial inquiries, call Tim Krohn at 507-344-6383. For advertising, call 344-6336, or e-mail mankatomag@mankatofreepress.com. MN Valley Business is published by The Free Press Media monthly at 418 South 2nd Street., Mankato MN 56001.

■ Local Business memos/ Company news................................7 ■ Business and Industry trends.........8 ■ Minnesota Business updates....... 10 ■ Business Commentary................. 12 ■ Construction, real estate trends.. 25 ■ Agriculture Outlook...................... 26 ■ Agribusiness trends..................... 27 ■ Job trends..................................... 28 ■ Retail trends................................. 29 ■ Greater Mankato Growth.............. 30 ■ Greater Mankato Growth Member Activities ....................... 32

From the editor

By Joe Spear

Region’s possibilities expand

istening to the architects in this month’s cover story reminds me of how much the Mankato region has expanded and changed and how designing buildings changes with business trends in technology and how people do business. With the two new shining office towers in downtown by the Tailwind Group, you would assume the executive offices would be around the perimeter of the building. But it seems more and more that is not the default position. Workspaces around the perimeter of a glass office tower benefit from the natural light that comes in. And light is conducive to productivity, so it makes sense to have the work spaces near the light. But office towers are by far not the only building going on in the region. It’s clear that Mankato-North Mankato is becoming a hub of government and a regional center for numerous state and federal agencies. The number of new and remodeled schools we are building is unprecedented. While we’re focused on the new middle school on the east side of Mankato and the related remodeling and expansion of the other Mankato schools, we have to remember they’re building a new high school in St. Peter, a project that comes along about once every 50 years. The region may also benefit from a $70 million renovation of St. Peter Regional Treatment Center and another $6 million for a project at South Central College for health care, manufacturing and agribusiness. Both projects are included in Gov. Mark Dayton’s bonding bill for this year. There’s an additional proposal for $14.5 million renovation of the St. Peter sex offender facility. Mankato is embarking on a major renovation of one of its main transportation corridors in Riverfront Drive and is considering a remaking of Old Town as a boutique shopping and entertainment district. Coupled with that development may be the re-use and re-purposing of the Coughlan quarry land that for

6 • february 2016 • MN Valley Business

decades has produced stone to be used all over the world, but has been somewhat out of sight and out of mind because of its location nestled on the edge of town. It might well connect Old Town to a major recreational area. Housing too, will evolve like business. The demand for affordable housing seems to be on the rise, while the market rate housing, especially the multi-unit apartments, may be taking a breather. The new Prairie Winds Middle School is sure to draw new housing developments and growth. Mankato and regional governments are working together on making sensible road connections that promote growth. The Mankato area transportation planning group has been an important player in everyone being on the same page with transportation and road development. While there are always a few bumps in the road in terms of turf battles and inter-governmental squabbling, everyone seems to be able to come back to recognizing the common goal — that of coordinated, planned, smart regional growth were all boats eventually rise. There appears to be an elevated level of conversation now not only about intergovernmental cooperation, but cooperation between the cities and their major educational institution in Minnesota State University. Geography has always been a natural barrier to collaboration. The university is on the hill for the most part away from the downtown hub or even Mankato’s manufacturing base. That may soon be changing. There is consideration of the university moving some of its educational business and development assets downtown to existing office buildings. That would be a big step in the direction of city-business-university collaboration. MV Joe Spear is executive editor of Minnesota Valley Business. Contact him at jspear@mankatofreepress. com or 344-6382. Follow him on Twitter @jfspear.

Local Business People/Company News

■

Two join The Land magazine

Deb Petterson

Paul Malchow

Deb Petterson has assumed the general manager position of The Land after the retirement of Kathy Connelly. A North Mankato resident, Petterson has spent the past 24 years in advertising sales for The Free Press in

Mankato. Paul Malchow is The Land’s new managing editor. Malchow has more than 30 years of experience in the publishing field, most recently with the Le Sueur NewsHerald. He resides in Le Sueur with his wife Sarah. The Land is a weekly agriculture-rural life publication printed in Mankato since 1976. With a circulation of 33,000, The Land serves farmers, ranchers, rural residents and agribusinesses across the entire state of Minnesota and northern Iowa.

Two join Century 21 Landmark

Corey Polsfuss has joined Century 21 Landmark Realtors in Mankato. He has years of experience in hospitality. Holly Clark, a lifelong resident of Mankato, also joined Landmark. She has 15 years of experience in the construction industry and office management. ■■■

Young Professionals name officers

The Greater Mankato Young Professionals, a program of Greater Mankato Growth, announced their 2016 officer team. Officers include program chair: Jaci Sprague, Junior Achievement of Greater Mankato; membership chair: Dianna Lyngholm, Carlson Craft; professional development chairs: Alec Pfeffer, U.S. Bank and Kelli Poppitz, ISG; social chair: Shelly Fromm, Pear Tree Greetings. The program gives young professionals age 21 - 39 an opportunity to engage with one another at monthly professional development and social events as well as through mentoring and networking opportunities.

■■■

Bremer promotes Lentz

Bremer has promoted Tom Lentz to market president in Mankato. Lentz is assuming the day-to-day work previously managed by Region CEO Brad Peters, who is focusing on his broader role within Bremer following his recent promotion to group president. Lentz has 30 years of banking experience, primarily in Mankato where he and his family reside, and was Tom Lentz most recently Bremer regional business banking sales manager. He is a graduate of Carleton College and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking. He is a board member for the Mankato Family YMCA, serves on the finance committee for the Mankato Area Foundation and is the River Valley Foundation treasurer. ■■■

■■■

Capstone celebrates 25th anniversary

Capstone, publisher of children’s books and digital products and services, celebrates its 25th Anniversary in 2016. Among the publisher’s yearlong celebration at conferences and online includes special promotions and giveaways for customers, events with an open house party at its headquarters office in North Mankato this summer, a mayoral proclamation for “Capstone Day,” and a national contest for educators and booksellers to win a trip to key industry conferences in 2017. “What a joy the last 25 years have been. Over the years Capstone expanded and evolved, but has always stayed true to its core mission of inspiring children’s imagination and igniting their curiosity,” said Robert Coughlan, Capstone principal and founder. Capstone began publishing books in 1991 with a list of 48 titles and has grown to an expansive publishing house with more than 15,000 plus titles.

Allore completes training

Mitch Allore from Davis Comfort Systems completed his Trane retail sales solutions training, at the Trane testing lab in Tyler, Texas. At the Trane plant are Systems Extreme Environmental Test labs. Trane technicians put systems through 2,688 hours of continuous testing. During the 16-week testing period, systems undergo two-week cycles of torture, eight consecutive times, and allowing engineers to measure and manage a system’s quality and performance. Temperatures in these labs range from 150 degrees to -40 degrees.

■■■

Aglytix to be featured

Inovations with Ed Begley Jr. announced they will feature Mankato-based Aglytix, Inc. in an upcoming episode, airing second quarter 2016 via Discovery Channel. Dates and show times TBA. Aglytix develops technology solutions that focus on improving crop yield while benefitting the environment. In this segment, Innovations viewers will learn about how the Aglytix technology uses multiple data sources, including drones, to detect, locate, quantify, predict and diagnose crop production issues and their impact on yield. Jerry Johnson is Aglytix CEO.

MN Valley Business • february 2016 • 7

Business and Industry Trends

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Oil still freefalling

North Sea Brent crude oil prices averaged $38/barrel in December of 2015, a $6 decrease from November, and the lowest monthly average price since June 2004. Brent crude oil prices averaged $52 in 2015, down $47 from the average in 2014, as growth in global liquids inventories put downward pressure on Brent prices throughout much of the year, according to the federal Energy Information Administration. Forecast Brent crude oil prices average $40 a barrel in 2016 and $50 in 2017. Forecast West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices average $2 lower than Brent in 2016 and $3 lower in 2017. However, the current values of futures and options contracts continue to suggest high uncertainty in the price outlook.

Natural gas prices up

Forecast Henry Hub spot prices for natural gas average $2.65/million British thermal units in 2016 and $3.22 in 2017, compared with an average of $2.63 in 2015. A decline in power generation from fossil fuels in the forecast period is offset by an increase from renewable sources. The share of generation from natural gas falls from 33 percent in 2015 to 31 percent in 2017, and coal falls from 34 percent to 33 percent.

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The administration expects total renewables used in the electric power sector to increase by 9.5 percent in 2016. Forecast hydropower generation in the electric power sector increases by 4.8 percent in 2016. The current El Niño cycle has mixed implications for the hydroelectric generation outlook. This winter started off wet in the Pacific Northwest, where roughly

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Minnesota Business Updates

■

■ General Mills sues Chobani General Mills filed a federal lawsuit against Chobani for an advertising campaign that attacks one of the company’s yogurt products, claiming it contains chemicals that could

be used to kill bugs. The company filed the civil action in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis. Chobani has launched television and print ads against General Mill’s Yoplait Greek yogurt making false statements about its ingredients, according to the lawsuit. General Mills alleges a commercial makes its yogurt appear as if it’s “laced with a pesticide” and that “it is so dangerous and unfit to eat that consumers should discard it as garbage.” General Mills defends the preservative potassium sorbate mentioned in the commercial and says it’s considered by federal agencies to be a safe food ingredient.

■ State manufacturers optimistic A random sample survey of Minnesota manufacturers conducted by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and the Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis reports that most Minnesota manufacturers expect stable or improved conditions in 2016. More than 50 percent anticipate unchanged employment and productivity levels while nearly 50 percent expect unchanged investment in plant and equipment. Minnesota manufacturers reported mostly improved or unchanged conditions in 2015. Generally, responses to this survey have been more cautious about the upcoming year than actual results for the current year. This year, manufacturers are generally more optimistic about 2016 outlook than they were about 2015. Fifty two percent are expecting unchanged conditions and 43 percent anticipating increased levels. Manufacturers are also optimistic about number of orders with 45 percent of respondents expecting increased levels and 39 percent unchanged conditions.

■ General Mills buys snack firm General Mills acquired EPIC Provisions, a rapidly growing, premium meat snacks company based in Austin, Texas. EPIC will operate under General Mills’ Annie’s business, which itself has experienced strong sales growth since General Mills acquired the company more than a year ago. “The acquisition of EPIC positions General Mills for exciting growth with a highly authentic brand in an entirely new natural snacking category,” said John Foraker, president of Annie’s. EPIC was launched in 2013 by co-founders Taylor Collins and Katie Forrest, both competitive athletes seeking a convenient way to add nourishing animal protein to their diets. The original EPIC meat, fruit, and nut bar — the first of its kind — has created a new snacking category. EPIC Bars come in unique flavors 10 • february 2016 • MN Valley Business

including Bison Bacon Cranberry, Beef Habanero Cherry, Chicken Sesame BBQ, and Pulled Pork Pineapple. Today the brand has evolved its product offerings to include EPIC Jerky Bites and EPIC Hunt and Harvest Trail Mix.

■ 3M invests in StrongArm 3M has invested in StrongArm Technologies, a New York City company. StrongArm’s cofounders met while in college and say the 3M money will help them hire more employees and launch new products. Sean Petterson and co-founder Justin Hillery started a prototype of the product to help people who do lifting all day. Their V22 is a vest that reallocates heavy loads from injury-prone parts of the body to stronger areas. The vest also forces the user into proper lifting posture to avoid potential back strain or injury. In 2013, the company grabbed $900,000 in investments, a third of which came from Excell Partners. Petterson said the Excell money helped him make prototypes, pay for laboratory validation, hire workers and get memberships to trade organizations.

■ Medtronics reaps tax savings Medtronic says tax advantages stemming from the merger with Ireland-based Covidien have made billions of dollars available for stock buybacks and other uses, according to Minnesota Public Radio. The medical device company said it now has access to $9.3 billion that had been held by subsidiaries operating outside the U.S. Medtronic plans to use $5 billion of that amount to buy its own stock before the end of its 2018 fiscal year. Stock buybacks like this typically mean higher share prices for investors. Medtronic also has plans to pay down debt. When the Covidien deal closed early last year, it made Medtronic an Irish company for tax purposes, positioning it to avoid a big tax hit on some foreign profits brought into the U.S.

■ Coal supplier files bankruptcy The supplier of half the coal burned in Minnesota power plants, Arch Coal Inc., filed for bankruptcy protection but pledged no interruption in mining and shipments to customers like Xcel Energy and Minnesota Power, according to the Star Tribune. The nation’s second-largest coal producer filed for Chapter 11 reorganization and said a majority of its primary lenders had agreed to cut $4.5 billion in debt that it couldn’t repay because of the depressed coal market. It is the latest sign of distress in the U.S. coal industry, whose main customers for thermal coal are electric utilities. Minnesota Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman, whose agency tracks state energy supplies, said through a spokesman that officials are “closely monitoring the situation,” but declined to comment in detail.

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■

Business Commentary

By Noah Hultgren

Water quality summit should focus on collaboration

ov. Mark Dayton recently called for a statewide water quality summit to take place sometime early this year. Since agriculture is likely to be a focus of the summit, I’d like to take this opportunity to highlight a few of the farmer-driven efforts to improve our state’s water quality, and share what I hope to see take place at the summit from a farmer’s perspective. I’ll be the first to admit that as farmers, we haven’t done a very good job talking about our conservation efforts. That needs to change. Today’s consumers not only care about where their food comes from, they care about the practices used by the farmers who grow it. On a personal level, I use several common conservation practices also used on most Minnesota farms. These include grass waterways to reduce soil erosion and buffer strips to keep nitrogen fertilizer and other nutrients that could run off my fields during heavy rains from entering nearby waterways. By implementing these practices, I’m helping protect water quality in the community where I not only operate our farm, but also raise a family. Furthermore, inputs like nitrogen fertilizer are expensive. I want any fertilizer I apply to be used by the plant, not washed away into the ditch. On a larger scale, I’m proud to address agriculture and water quality through my role as president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association. Together with the Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council, MCGA supports innovative research through institutions like the University of Minnesota that seek solutions to water quality problems. Corn farmer-funded research also helps farmers better manage their use of nutrients and improve our soils. Through Minnesota’s corn check-off – a voluntary onecent fee paid by farmers on every bushel of corn sold to market – corn farmers support about $4 million in research projects and initiatives that address water quality, soil health and other conservation issues. The corn check-off also supports faculty positions at the University of Minnesota that focus on farming and water quality. Other commodity check-offs support similar efforts.

12 • february 2016 • MN Valley Business

I’m sharing my perspective not to boast, but to ensure that the voice of the farmer is heard in the ongoing discussion of agriculture and water quality. Too often, farmers’ voices fail to rise above the racket of political rhetoric and finger-pointing, which brings me to the governor’s water quality summit. As a farmer, I hope that the summit is an opportunity for everyone to come together and talk about solutions to water quality. I’ve talked a lot about farmer-led efforts to address water quality, but I’ll be the first to admit that farmers are not perfect. When it comes to water quality, we can do better, and we’re working every day to improve. Speaking of improvement, a recent report from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency showed reductions in five of seven pollutants found in Minnesota waterways over a 30-year span. As a farmer, I work every day to increase my knowledge of good farming practices, take advantage of technological advancements and use the latest research to become a better steward of land, soil and water resources. I know there are plenty of non-farmers out there doing the same. Yes, we might disagree on a few things, but we all share the same goal: improving water quality in Minnesota. Let’s make sure the summit is an opportunity for everyone to work together. Minnesotans are sick of political rhetoric and name-calling. They want to see people working cooperatively and thoughtfully to achieve real-world solutions. Improving our state’s water quality might seem like a daunting task, but we’re making progress and on track to make further improvements. Here’s hoping the governor’s water quality summit puts us on a collaborative path toward additional progress. MV Noah Hultgren is a family farmer in Raymond and serves as president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association.

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Oleson + Hobbie designed the Trinity Reformed Church in Iowa.

Changing the landscape Higher quality, more amenities featured in designs

By Tim Krohn | Photos by Pat Christman

he building boom in the Mankato region has provided plenty of opportunity for architects to leave lasting impressions on the aesthetics of the landscape. Bryan Paulsen, architecture group leader for ISG, said they’ve been busy with both public and private development work. “In our workload the trends would be K-12 work in Minnesota and Iowa. It’s a combination of new construction and additions and renovations. “The other area that’s picked up is architectural and engineering work in agribusiness. A lot production spaces for agribusiness.” “The other thing that’s really been trending is multi-

14 • february 2016 • MN Valley Business

family housing. The apartment buildings are popping up everywhere,” Paulsen said. Eric Oleson, of Oleson + Hobbie Architects said their workload has included a lot of multifamily housing as well. “We’ve been busy with apartments. And a lot of different types of housing, not all traditional apartments — fourplexes, triplexes. There are a lot of options out there now for people,” Oleson said. He and his partner, Dennis Hobbie, also have stayed busy with a niche their firm has established. “We’ve been doing a lot of additions and new church buildings around Minnesota and northern Iowa.”

Cover Story

ISG’s broad reach

Mankato-based I&S Group, or ISG, has grown into a major engineering, architecture, planning and environmental services company with several offices including Mankato, the Twin Cities, La Crosse and Des Moines. As group leader, Paulsen spends much of his time working with the architect teams in Mankato and Des Moines. The most dramatic construction makeover in Mankato was led by Paulsen and ISG with construction of three buildings on one block of South Front Street, developed by Tailwind Group. The Profinium and Ridley towers and an upscale apartment building with commercial space on the ground floor have transformed the downtown skyline. The block is very familiar to Paulsen — he’s done design work on virtually every building on the block: the Tailwind buildings, a related city parking ramp, and renovations or new construction in the past on Pub 500, the Pita Pit building, Pagliai’s — and the pedestrian streetscaping project on Front Street. He said the small footprints for the two towers dictated they would be towers — seven and five stories. He said coming up with a final design is a long process. “It’s not like you come up with one idea and it’s a home run. It’s a process. We presented multiple ideas for both (tower) shells and Kyle (Smith of Tailwind) and his team settled on the design and materials,” Paulsen said. “We test everything. We test the exterior for energy and for aesthetics and for constructability.” Besides designing the shells, the architects also designed the public spaces, such as lobbies, in the buildings. Then the incoming tenants helped guide the designs inside the offices. “Ridley put all its offices in the inner space and work space around the perimeter so daylight is able to flow through the spaces. Others put offices around the exterior and work spaces in the middle.” Paulsen said the Ridley design is one he’s appreciated for a long time. He designed the original Clear With Computers building in Eastwood Industrial Park in a similar fashion in the 1990s.

“We’ve used that model for a lot of clients — AgStar, Midwest Wireless — to maximize daylight. Productivity increases with more daylight.” ISG also has been working on a number of school buildings, including the new middle school in Mankato, renovations at Dakota Meadows and Garfield and the upcoming construction of a new high school in St. Peter. He said changes in teaching approaches and technology have transformed how schools are designed. “What we’re finding is they want flexible, collaborative space. It’s not so much the walls around the space, it’s what’s happening inside the

space. You need different furniture, more modules so they can reconfigure a space into multiple settings so you can do a small group session or a traditional classroom layout or oneon-one settings,” Paulsen said. “There’s also the informal collaborative space outside the classroom where you can do multidiscipline and collaborative teaching or bring two classes together.” He said the days of the media center are also over in schools. “There are learning commons full of technology and technology smart bars where kids can plug in their iPads and get connected.” He said the demand for technology means designs for schools, offices or apartments must have the infrastructure in place to predict the next trend in technology.

ISG was also part of the team that designed and did engineering work for the new Minnesota State University clinical sciences building, now under construction. “It’s a very unique design of new building. It’s a gateway building for campus next to the Taylor Center.” When open, the building will house departments now scattered around the campus. “We’re the lead in phase two of that project, which is the backfill project. All the departments moving out to go into the new building, we’re redesigning the space they’re vacating,” Paulsen said. He said apartment buildings require more amenities than in the past. “Apartment dwellers are more sophisticated and there’s an expectation of higher quality, both in finishes and amenities. If they can pay the same rent and have a wine cooler in their kitchen or have access to hot tubs or pools, they’ll take that.” ISG has three landscape architects, which Paulsen said are increasingly important in projects. “The exterior area design is as important as the interior of the space. There should be some continuity when you park your car and walk up to the building and when you’re in the building. We really stress that.” Also, most cities require detailed landscaping plans when they review projects for approval. And cities and clients want landscape designs that better manage rainwater, such as pervious parking surfaces, rain gardens and native plantings. Paulsen said the only challenge they’re facing with the strong construction trend is finding talent. “That’s probably universal for businesses. We’re constantly hiring and we’re trying to find top talent and the job market’s tough. Even in the metro it’s tough to find the right talent to fit our culture,” Paulsen said.

Oleson + Hobbie make their mark

The 6-year-old firm already has made a mark on Mankato and in communities around Minnesota and Iowa, including Jake’s Stadium Pizza, Hosanna Lutheran Church expansion and the VINE Adult Community Center. Oleson has been an architect in

MN Valley Business • february 2016 • 15

Eris Oleson, left, and Dennis Hobbie of Oleson + Hobbie Archistects. Mankato since joining KSA Architects in 1997. In 2001 he recruited former classmate Hobbie. The two also established a Mankato branch for R.I. Engebretson of Fargo. When that firm decided to focus on North Dakota, Oleson and Hobbie set out on their own. “It’s been very stable for us. We’ve been fortunate to have a lot of repeat customers,” Oleson said. The team does some upscale home-design work but focuses mostly on commercial, industrial, churches and education. They’re finalizing designs for a

75,000-square-foot expansion to the Diamond Vogel Paint plant in Iowa and have done a number of church buildings and additions in Minnesota and Iowa. They’re also working on the St. Paul’s Lutheran School addition and remodeling in New Ulm. Church designs, he said, start with the worship needs of the congregation. “It’s all based on how they worship. You work with each individual congregation to fit their unique needs. It’s very rewarding. We really try to create environments that are inspiring.”

16 • february 2016 • MN Valley Business

The firm has done office projects in the Twin Cities for North Mankatobased Taylor Corp. and has done several jobs at MSU in the Centennial Student Union and residential life. They are currently designing a new Sleepy Eye Events Center that will host up to 650 people and replace the Orchid Inn. In St. Peter they are designing a planned veterans memorial. Oleson said approaching a memorial is similar to buildings. “It’s creating an environment that respects its use. It’s the same as you’d approach a building in how you are using a

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Olseson + Hobbie designed the new VINE building in Mankato. space. Here you want a place to give veterans honor.” Like other architects in the area, apartments have been a big part of their business. “The housing is meeting a wide variety of tenants. It may be young professional or young families, or others.” Oleson said the quality of multifamily housing is higher. “Everybody is looking at how do we create better quality for housing options in Mankato to attract people. I love it. It gives you so many more options. It’s not your traditional apartments. There are loft styles and lots of other things. “For amenities, people want open floor plans, a good location. Every apartment we do now has a laundry built into each unit so everyone has their own laundry. We didn’t do that so much in past,” Oleson said. “They want shared community rooms where tenants can host larger gatherings than in their own apartments. And underground, more secure parking is big.” MV

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MN Valley Business • february 2016 • 17

The Rev. Terri Spence, an ordained Interfaith minister, owns Something Special of Mankato

Something Special A spiritual healing sanctuary

By Heidi Sampson | Photos by Darrin Gibbins

dozen years ago the Rev. Terri Spence, an ordained Interfaith minister and owner of Something Special of Mankato, became very ill – to the point of almost being bed ridden. At that time she was unable to move around for more than two hours. Doctors in Rochester and the Twin Cities were unable to find an answer, their best-case scenario was that Spence would be wheel-chair bound or worst-case scenario, bed ridden for the remainder of her life. Unwilling to believe nothing could be done, Spence’s

husband and her sister set up an appointment with an energy doctor, or more specifically a kinesiologist and chiropractor, located in Kansas. “From my first treatment with him he hardly touched me at all and I could feel things shifting in my back and along my spine. I ended up staying there for three weeks. After the initial three weeks, I continued to work with him for about three years,” she said. “During that time, my gifts and abilities I’d had in the past, seemed to come full circle. The things that I could

Profile

18 • february 2016 • MN Valley Business

see, the things that I could hear, became more vivid. Although he worked only at first, on the physical symptoms I’d had, he eventually helped me let go of all of my medications. I was up, moving around and doing things I hadn’t done in years.” While working with her energy doctor, Spence said she noticed that he would say something and she would have a vision. As the treatment progressed Spence started seeing her visions at the same time he was saying it. By the end of the treatment, Spence’s visions were happening before he’d said anything at all, she said. “I guess one might say the energy doctor started my spiritual healing by working on my physical needs,” Spence said. “I’ve always known that I had gifts and abilities that others did not. But, I never told anybody what I could do because it’s not something people like to discuss. My family, for as much as they loved me, couldn’t really understand my gifts and abilities as I was growing up. I believed what I was told as a child - I had an overactive imagination and would make a great story writer.”

teacher will come into our lives to help us learn those lessons. We are all interconnected. People ask me, ‘do I believe in God?’ Yes, how can one not see his hand in everything that is beautiful? However, I also believe he is known by many different names and I chose to call him, ‘God.’ Does this make me religious? No, it makes me spiritual.”

Teacher ready – students appear

Spence grew up in the Waterville-Madison Lake area, having moved to Vernon Center upon her marriage, where she has resided for 30 years. Something Special - A Spiritual Healing Sanctuary & Mystical Boutique, began by accident in March of 2014, when the idea to use Spence’s talents to help others was initiated by her spiritual teacher of seven years, Janice Gorman of Hope Interfaith Center. However, a year before Something Special would open and shortly after Gorman’s and Spence’s discussion she had hip surgery. Two days after her surgery, with no real intention of advertising what she could do and not entirely certain how to go about serving Gifts and Abilities her community, people began to find Spence for readings. Spence says she has clairvoyance - to see - and clairsentient “Do I want to stay where I am at or do I want to continue - to hear - and has the ability to read energy like a blind to grow?” Spence said. “I was told that when the teacher is person reads brail with her hands. Also, she has empathic ready, the students would appear. That’s where this whole abilities, which she says allows her to neutralize or lower thing started. I knew that the boutique, a place where negative energies within people could go to buy a room. tools, power animals, “In a way, I can diffuse herbs, and crystals anger,” Spence said. “If which are used in healing people are angry when I and for the balancing of come into a room or are energies - was something angry when I am there we needed in this area,” talking with them, my she said. gifts allow for me to My intent through diffuse that anger so Something Special was they can actually look at to introduce my clients something with a clear to the true essence of head to make decisions, who they are in their in place of reacting to heart or hearts. If we are the energy that is being 100 percent responsible created. However, what I for our lives, whom do can do is nothing we want in the driver’s spectacular. Everybody seat? Do the people can do it. It’s just around them influence whether or not we are them for their highest aware of it and are Spence created a ‘healing sanctuary’ at Something Special. good or do they hold willing to hone our gifts them back?” and abilities.” While the boutique was created for people to obtain tools Spence says she has the ability to channel loved ones, on their path toward spirituality, Spence also wanted the spirits, angels and ascended masters – those who have space to be a place where customers could feel at home. achieved enlightenment and operate as teachers from the After the boutique was created, Spence constructed a other side. Her training as a healer has led her pursue three healing sanctuary, a space beyond the boutique for spiritual years of shamanic training; two years in core shamanism counseling, life coaching, healings, and readings of various and one year in herbal shamanism. kinds. She also specializes in theta energy healing, as well as an “I hope Something Special will be a collaboration of all intuitive hands on energy healer. Through her different healers, from traditional to homeopathic to alternative to healing techniques, she said she is able to direct and guide energy healers,” Spence said. “I would love to see Something her clients to fulfill their own healings as they travel on their Special become something unique – not necessarily a clinic journey to remembering who they are, why they are here, but a clinic setting in a sanctuary that houses all healers,” and where they are going. She said. “One thing I have learned, and this is my own humble “For as new as this idea of a sanctuary seems to be, it is understanding, is that we actually had a hand in creating the actually ancient. We used to do this all of the time, which is lessons we want to learn,” Spence said. “Not only do we why a collaboration of healers would be essential for holistic decide what lessons we want to learn, we also decide what healing practices.” MV

MN Valley Business • february 2016 • 19

Shawn Adams and her late husband, Doug, opened Adams Auto 20 years ago after moving here from Texas.

Firing on all cylinders Adams Auto thrives on Madison Avenue By Nell Musolf Photos by Pat Christman

ince opening its doors 20 years ago, Adams Auto Sales has seen a steady stream of customers come through its doors. Owner Shawn Adams attributes that to the customer oriented service that the business has been built on. “We get a lot of word of mouth customers and a lot of people who are from the same family. We have customers who have brought in their children and even their grandchildren,” Adams said. Adams was born in New Ulm, moved to Mankato when she was in high school and graduated from Mankato East. She then attended Minnesota State University graduating with a degree in sociology in 1979.

When it came time to find a job, she discovered that a B.S. in sociology wasn’t much help. “Seriously? Sociology? What can you do with a sociology degree? I had to make a living so I started to sell cars,” Adams said. At that time she was living in Corpus Christi, TX and working as the assistant new car manager at a dealership where she met her future husband, Doug. Doug was the used car manager. The couple married, had two daughters, Clancy and Quinn, and decided to move to Minnesota. “We wanted to raise the girls here so that we could be closer to family,” Adams recalled. “Minnesota is a good place to raise kids.” At that time they also decided to use their

Spotlight

20 • february 2016 • MN Valley Business

combined car selling experience and open their own used car business in Mankato. “My dad was a realtor so I grew up knowing that when it comes to real estate it really is ‘location, location, location. Doug and I were sitting in the Happy Chef restaurant that used to be on Madison and we were looking across the street at a gas station that was owned by Wayne Comstock. Wayne also had a small used car lot there. We made him an offer and he accepted it and we started Adams Auto Sales on Dec. 15, 1995,” Adams said. The gas station history is still evident at Adams Auto Sales. “The bathrooms were outside when this was a gas station,” Adams said with a laugh. “They still are.” Adams employs six full-time employees, many who have been with her for almost as long as the business has been open. Rhett Bradley, Adams’s brother, has worked for her for 20 years. Joe Tachney and Marvin Paulson have been with her for 17 years and Denny Touhey has worked for Adams Auto for nine years. Adams Auto also employs two full-time mechanics, David Burke and Dustyn Fogal. There are several part-time employees as well. “Everyone who works here never leaves,” Adams said with a laugh. “We’ve become a family over the years.” One factor that Adams feels contributes to the longevity of her staff is that the business does not operate on commission. “Some car places have sales people who are competing with each other and who rush out to grab the next customer,” Adams said. “We don’t work that way. We try to be more casual and we don’t want to pressure anyone. One thing I’ve always stressed is that we listen to our customers so that we can help them get a vehicle that they’ll be happy with.” On a plate glass window inside the business, Adams and her salespeople keep track of how many cars are sold each month with a sales chart that goes back several years. Adams said that there is no typical day or typical month when it comes to auto sales. “Every day and every month is different but we average about 450 vehicle sales a year,” Adams said. Adams attributes the consistent sales that her business sees to the fact that everyone who works for Adams Auto Sales is committed to customer oriented service. “It’s a real team effort,” Adams said. “We all pitch in at all times to do whatever needs to get done.” Adams Auto Sales offers financing services and in 2003, Adams decided to add a service department. She wanted to add service to the business so that they could do their own repairs on vehicles they take in. “We go over every car on our lot,” Adams said. “We used to send the cars someplace else to get checked out but decided that it made sense to have our own service department. It’s simplified operations greatly and it’s also helped us maintain our integrity. I’m very glad we decided to open a service department. It’s really helped us out.” The service department does all service related things from oil changes to overhauls but doesn’t do body work. Additionally,

Adams is Carfax service members which means that any vehicle repaired by the service department has the repairs reported to Carfax, thus building value in the vehicle. Adams gets its vehicles from trade-ins and auctions. There haven’t been too many surprises over the years but Adams recalled one trade-in that did contain something unexpected. Someone Adams described as a seeming “family man” wanted to trade in a minivan. “There was a photo of his family taped to the dashboard and we thought that was so sweet. Then we lifted up the picture and the CHECK ENGINE light was on,” Adams said. While Adams’s business has been doing well since opening its doors 20 years ago, Adams herself has faced more than a few rough moments. She is a six year cancer survivor but an even harsher blow was dealt when she lost her husband four years ago. “That was very, very hard but you go on,” Adams said. “That’s all you can do.” As a woman in a business that has traditionally been a man’s field, Adams hasn’t found that she is treated any differently because of her gender. “If anything I think it’s a plus,” she said. “I have noticed that many people, especially other women, seem to feel more comfortable talking to a woman salesperson about cars.” She believes that she is the only female used car dealer in the area but pointed out that a lot of new car salespeople are women. Adams said that popular brands at the moment are Honda and Toyota and SUV’s, trucks and cars with four wheel drive continue to be favorites with customers. When asked what advice she would give someone who is in the market for a used car, Adams said, “First of all, check Carfax. Make sure the car has been inspected and serviced. Make sure it has a clean title. Do your homework and know what you’re buying. And,” she added, “buy it from us.” MV The Madison Avenue location is a former gas station that the Adams’ spotted while eating lunch across the street at Happy Chef.

MN Valley Business • february 2016 • 21

Stephanie Bottner of Pear Tree Greetings.

Pear Tree Greetings Customers design their cards By Heidi Sampson Photos by Darrin Gibbons

ear Tree Greetings in North Mankato was founded six years ago “by moms for moms” who realized the innovative Christmas cards, birth announcements and other greeting related items these women would like to purchase for their own use, were largely unavailable. Pear Tree Greetings quickly found its product idea embraced by other moms around the country, as they started creating products while hiring a team of individuals to help meet the demand of Pear Tree Greetings’ niche consumer market. “During the 2015 holiday season, Pear Tree sold the 30 millionth unit,” said Stephanie Bottner. “It’s really all about innovation and • february 2016 • MN Valley Business

design. We do things that the competitors don’t do. We don’t shy away from cards that might expand or fold out in a crazy way. We really enjoy doing that,” she said. “We have two-sided foil, swatch booklets, a slider, cards with ribbons, a triangles ribbon booklet - which is four-panel layout, folded and tied with a black ribbon for friends and family to open. The best part, all of our options are designed by the customer and printed on demand.”

Feature

Meeting demand

For Pear Tree Greetings, the Christmas holiday and graduation are their two main selling seasons, with weddings, birthdays,

parties, and new arrivals filling up the rest of the year. While Christmas cards tend to focus more on design, graduation is all about the photo. “Graduation season is so much fun for us. “The whole world is opening up for the graduate. We see a lot of creativity in these cards. Since our website is self-service, the customer can really do what he or she wants,” Bottner said. “There was one particular student who had a card with a photo of his head within the mouth of a tiger, since he was going to be a veterinarian. There really is no other product that uses your best photo and goes to all of your best friends and closest family. What we do is more curated in a sense. It’s something that our customers are placing a lot of effort into.” Pear Tree Greetings has a price range from 65 cents up to almost $9, but most customers tend to purchase cards within the $1-$2 range. However, the price depends upon what are chosen and the quantities of a particular card chosen. Most of Pear Tree’s customers tend to purchase 70 or more cards on an average order, but that they also fill smaller orders. “Typically, our customers are buying for large lists of people,” Bottner said. “Our customers enjoy sharing what their family is thankful and blessed for within a given year. These cards offer a good excuse for reconnecting with loved ones, family and friends.” She said Pear Tree Greetings keeps the process simple with low overhead costs. The website enables the customer to see exactly how the printed piece will come out. Once the order is placed it’s mailed within two days. “That’s why we can keep our costs low,” said Bottner. “Our technology has been built to give the power to the customer, to let them build and design with as much flexibility as they desire. Of course, we are available to assist in any way.”

Pear Tree has a dozen employees and the company serves the U.S. and Canada. The target market is moms who are educated, affluent, and tech savvy. On average, these moms have two or three children. “We’ve put together a lot of different technology initiatives to create a best in class user experience,” Bottner said. “I also like the softer part of being a part of these moments where our customers are celebrating people’s best days and sometimes, their saddest ones too, because of that, we bring that much more thought, care, and consideration to the production of a truly beautiful product.” With the start of the new year, Pear Tree is launching a new technology platform for their online store. “Since ecommerce is changing so rapidly, we have to keep up and this kind of a platform gives us a lot more flexibility,” Bottner said. “To a user, they will notice the change but may not be able to put their finger on exactly what makes it better – and that’s our goal – to create a site that makes project completion ‘as easy as falling off a log’ – as one customer put it. “A lot of the change will be in how we navigate and display the products, how easily we can add new products and make changes to the site. What now takes an hour or two, will take us 30 minutes. The new system will place more power and control into the hands of the marketers and merchandisers to try new things.” Pear Tree Greetings has received awards for their cards, including the LOUIE award in 2013 and 2015. They also received the Trendy Award in 2013, and the Customer Experience Impact Award 2013. MV

MN Valley Business • february 2016 • 23

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PLANNING

www.is-grp.com

Construction/Real Estate Residential building permits Mankato

(in thousands)

- 2014 - 2015

18000

Residential building permits North Mankato 4000

$3,182

13500

$1,207

3000

9000

2000

4500

1000

Source: City of Mankato Information based on Multiple Listing Service and may not reflect all sales

- 2014 - 2015 275

Includes single family homes attached and detached, and town homes and condos

Housing starts: Mankato/North Mankato - 2014 - 2015

214 30

165

14 14

110

55 J

Source: Realtors Association of Southern Minnesota

Source: Cities of Mankato/North Mankato

Commercial building permits Mankato

(in thousands)

- 2014 - 2015

Commercial building permits North Mankato

- 2014 - 2015 (in thousands)

4000 3000

$3,152 $1,744

Source: City of Mankato

5.5 5.0

4.0%

4.5 4.0 3.5

3.9% F

Source: Freddie Mac

$421 $328

1000 0

Foreclosures: 2014 Year End

— 2014 — 2015

2000

Source: City of North Mankato

Interest Rates: 30-year fixed-rate mortgage

3.0

214

220

80000 70000 60000 50000 40000 30000 20000 10000 0

Source: City of North Mankato

Existing home sales: Mankato region

- 2014 - 2015 (in thousands) $3,965 $1,617

County

2013

2014

Percent change

Blue Earth Brown Faribault Le Sueur Martin Nicollet Sibley Waseca Watonwan

101 19 27 70 25 43 39 36 24

72 21 21 47 28 24 22 27 7

-29% +11% -22% -33% +12% -44% -44% -25% -71%

Source: Minnesota Foreclosure Partners Council C. Sankey

MN Valley Business • february 2016 • 25

■

Agricultural Outlook

By Kent Thiesse

Interest increasing in CRP enrollment

he 49th enrollment period for the General Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) began in December and continues through Feb. 26 at local USDA Farm Service Agency offices throughout the country. The last CRP sign-up period was in 2013. There appears to be more interest in the CRP enrollment in 2016, due to the current lower crop prices and reduced farm profitability. Currently, there are over 630,000 CRP contracts in place, on over 350,000 farms, with just over 23.4 million acres under some-type of CRP contract. In 2015, USDA celebrated the 30th anniversary of the CRP program, and three decades of conservation success. The CRP program was developed as part of the 1985 Farm Bill and was established by USDA in 1985. CRP has been the largest and most important conservation program in the United States since that time. CRP continues to make major contributions to national efforts to improve water and air quality, prevent soil erosion, protect environmentally sensitive land, and enhance wildlife populations.

Some of the benefits of the CRP program:

• CRP protects more than 170,000 stream miles with grass buffers and riparian forests, which is enough to circle the world 7 times. • CRP has prevented more than 9 billion tons of soil erosion since 1985, which is enough to fill 600 million dump trucks. • Each year, CRP has reduced nitrogen runoff on tilled cropland by 95 percent, and has reduced phosphorus runoff by 85 percent. • CRP has created nearly 2.7 million acres of restored wetlands. • CRP helps enhance populations of ducks, pheasants, quail, and other wildlife species. • CRP has resulted in the sequestration of an annual average of 49 million tons of greenhouse gases, which is equivalent to taking about 9 million cars off the road. • CRP provides more than $1.7 billion per year to private landowners, which are dollars that help support local businesses and the local economy. As of November, 2015, there was a total of 23.4 million acres enrolled in the CRP program, which is down from 27 million acres in 2013, 31 million acres in 2009, and 36.8 million in 2007. Currently, there are just under 17 million acres under General CRP contracts, 5 million acres under Continuous CRP contracts, 1.1 million acres under CREP contracts, and 380,000 acres in the Farmable Wetland program. The maximum number of CRP acres enrolled at any one time has been reduced in each of the last two Farm Bills, with the 2014 Farm Bill setting the maximum acres in the CRP program at 24 million acres. CRP contracts will expire on 1.65 million acres on Sept. 30. This includes 92,409 acres in Minnesota, 99,645 acres in Iowa, 58,712 acres in South Dakota, 44,595 acres in North Dakota, and 22,885 acres in Wisconsin. Nationally,

26 • february 2016 • MN Valley Business

slightly over 2.5 million contracted CRP acres will expire in 2017, and nearly 1.5 million acres in 2018. Enrollment periods for the General CRP program only occur when USDA deems necessary to try to attract additional crop acres into the CRP program, in order to maintain the desired CRP acreage. Sign-up for the Continuous CRP program is on-going, and is likely to continue that way for the foreseeable future. The Continuous CRP program targets the most sensitive environmental land areas, such as filter strips, buffer strips, wetlands, etc. The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) program is a CRP partnership with State Conservation Programs, which target specific watersheds, which includes CREP programs in Minnesota. The average CRP land rental rate in the U.S. in 2015 was about $70 per acre, with an average of $51 per acre on General CRP acres, $114 per acre on Continuous CRP acres, and $144 per acre on CREP acres. CRP rental rates vary widely from state-to-state, and within different regions of a state. The current average CRP rental rate in Minnesota is $95 per acre, with an average of $70 per acre on General CRP acres, and $118 per acre on Continuous CRP acres. Most CRP annual land rental rates in southern Minnesota are considerably higher than the state average rate. Some other current average CRP rental rates for Midwestern states are Iowa at $181 per acre, South Dakota at $82 per acre, North Dakota at $45 per acre, and Wisconsin at 111 per acre. The last General CRP sign-up was in 2013, when a total of 1,271 CRP bids were submitted in Minnesota, and 985 bids were accepted. There were 25,609 total acres in Minnesota accepted under the 2013 General CRP sign-up. As of November 2015, there were a total of 54,476 CRP contracts in place in Minnesota, with a total of just over 1.1 million acres. Just over 530,000 acres are under a General CRP contract, and slightly over 582,000 acres were under a continuous CRP contract. USDA adjusts the maximum annual CRP rental rates for Continuous CRP sign-up each year on a county-by-county basis, which are also used as the maximum CRP rates for General CRP enrollment period in a given year. The maximum rental rates are based on the relative productivity of the soils within each county, as well as on the average dry land cash rental rate for each county, based on the National Agriculture Statistics Service annual land rental analysis. Landowners are provided the maximum allowable CRP rental rate prior to making a decision to submit a General CRP bid. For more information on the current General CRP signup, or on Continuous CRP enrollment, land owners and producers should contact their local FSA Office, or go to the USDA CRP web site: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/crp

Agriculture/Agribusiness Corn prices — southern Minnesota

Soybean prices — southern Minnesota

(dollars per bushel)

— 2014 — 2015 8

$3.61

Iowa-Minnesota hog prices

125

Milk prices

Minimum prices, class 1 milk Dollars per hundredweight

— 2014 — 2015 30

$25.86

$85.73

110

Source: USDA

185 pound carcass, negotiated price, weighted average

— 2014 — 2015 140

$8.26

$3.20

Source: USDA

$51.49 J

$18.51

65 50

$9.90

(dollars per bushel)

— 2014 — 2015 20

Source: USDA

Source: USDA. Based on federal milk orders.

Corn and soybean prices are for rail delivery points in Southern Minnesota. Milk prices are for Upper Midwest points.

Impact of Minnesota’s new buffer law

In 2015, a new Buffer Law was initiated in Minnesota by the Legislature, and signed into law by the governor. The law calls for buffer strips of a minimum of 16.5 feet along all public ditches, which includes most agriculture drainage ditches in the State, as well as buffer areas that average 50 feet near public waters, such as rivers. Buffer strips generally qualify under both the General and Continuous CRP programs, which would allow producers to receive some compensation for up to 15 years on the acres that are taken out of production to implement the required buffer strips. Many landowners may prefer to enroll in the Continuous CRP program, since no bidding process would be involved. The CREP program may also apply; however, this would require the land to be permanently taken out of production, and would limit the CRP payments to 15 years,

C. Sankey

without the chance for re-enrollment after the current CRP contract expires. Producers should be aware that the CRP program requires buffer strips to be a minimum of 30 feet in width, which exceeds to minimum 16.5 foot requirement under the new Minnesota buffer law for many producers with agriculture drainage ditches. Livestock producers should also be aware that haying and grazing of buffer strips is not allowed on CRP acres, except when emergency declarations occur. Producers and landowners should contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District office for details on how the various CRP program options may interact with implementation of Minnesota’s new Buffer Law. MV Kent Thiesse is farm management analyst and vice president, MinnStar Bank, Lake Crystal. 507- 381-7960; kent.thiesse@minnstarbank.com

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MN Valley Business • february 2016 • 27

Employment/Unemployment Initial unemployment claims

Minnesota initial unemployment claims

Nine-county Mankato region Major December Industry ‘14 ‘15 Construction Manufacturing Retail Services Total*

723 305 62 307 1,397

Percent change ‘14-’15

640 473 63 299 1,475

Major Industry

-11.5% +56.1% +1.6% -2.6% +5.6%

December ‘14 ‘15

Construction Manufacturing Retail Services Total*

12,096 4,957 1,593 7,450 26,096

Percent change ‘14-’15

12,355 5,871 1,443 6,885 26,554

+2.1% +18.4% -9.4% -7.6% +1.7%

Services consist of administration, educational, health care and social assistance, food and other miscellaneous services. *Categories don’t equal total because some categories not listed.

Local non-farm jobs

Minnesota Local non-farm jobs

- 2014 - 2015

Nine-county Mankato region

129,173 129,932

133000

2000

111000

1000

Local number of unemployed

- 2014 - 2015

Nine-county Mankato region

200000

8000

150000

3.629 4,903

- 2014 - 2015

89,332 96,303

100000

4000

50000

2000 0

Minnesota number of unemployed

10000

6000

2,920 2,894

3000

122000

100000

- 2014 - 2015

(in thousands)

Mankato/North Mankato Metropolitan statistical area

Unemployment rate Number of non-farm jobs Number of unemployed

Unemployment rates Counties, state, nation

(includes all of Blue Earth and Nicollet Counties) November

2014

2015

2.3% 58,456 1,349

2.1% 58,013 1,235

Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

28 • february 2016 • MN Valley Business

County/area Blue Earth Brown Faribault Le Sueur Martin Nicollet Sibley Waseca Watonwan Minneapolis/St. Paul Minnesota U.S.

November 2014 2.4% 3.2% 3.8% 4.1% 3.6% 2.0% 3.2% 3.8% 3.8% 3.1% 3.2% 5.5%

November 2015 2.1% 3.1% 3.5% 3.4% 2.8% 2.0% 3.0% 3.4% 3.8% 2.7% 3.0% 4.8% C. Sankey

Retail/Consumer Spending Vehicle Sales Mankato — Number of vehicles sold - 2014 - 2015 870

977 1200

(In thousands)

500

800

400

600

300

400

200

100 J

Source: Sales tax figures, City of Mankato

Lodging tax collections Mankato/North Mankato 70000 60000 50000 40000 30000 20000 10000 0

$46,657

— 2015 — 2016

$1.93

2 $1.77 J

- 2014 - 2015 $57,200 $65,500

Source: City of Mankato

Gas prices-Minnesota

22000

$1.67

44000

66000

$1.93

88000

Source: Sales tax figures, City of Mankato

110000

— 2015 — 2016

- 2014 - 2015

$43,418

Gas prices-Mankato

$539

$463

Mankato food and beverage tax

Source: City of Mankato

- 2014 - 2015

600

1000

Includes restaurants, bars, telecommunications and general merchandise store sales. Excludes most clothing, grocery store sales.

Sales tax collections Mankato

Stocks of local interest

Dec. 11

Jan. 12

Percent change

Archer Daniels

$33.90

$33.27

-1.9%

Ameriprise

$103.28

$95.47

-7.6%

Best Buy

$29.59

$25.88

-12.5%

Crown Cork & Seal

$48.73

$45.74

-6.1%

Consolidated Comm.

$20.59

$19.33

-6.0%

Fastenal

$39.20

$38.84

-1.0%

General Growth

$25.71

$25.87

-0.6%

General Mills

$58.01

$55.49

-4.3%

Hutchinson Technology

$3.66

$3.47

-5.2%

Itron

$34.78

$31.33

-10.0%

Johnson Outdoors

$22.06

$21.40

-3.0%

$155.30

$141.45

-9.0%

Target

$71.70

$70.45

-1.7%

U.S. Bancorp

$41.90

$39.98

-4.6%

Wells Financial

$31.10

$32.96

-6.0%

Winland

$1.75

$2.00

+14.0%

Xcel

$34.92

$36.64

+5.0%

Source: GasBuddy.com C. Sankey

MN Valley Business • february 2016 • 29

greater MANKATO

COMMUNITY PROFILE DEMOGRAPHICS

TRANSPORTATION BICYCLE FRIENDLY

BRONZE Level Bicycle Friendly

COMMUTE

12 Minutes Under 5 6% 6 - 17 15% 18 - 24 18% 25 - 44 26% 45 - 64 22% 65 and over 13%

RACE/ETHNICITY White/Caucasian 94% Residents of Color 6%

Greater Mankato Growth

$163,300 Median value of owner-occupied housing units, with a mortgage

37,129

Number of housing units

Average commute to work

AGE

The largest sector of residents of color are Latino/Hispanic followed by Black/African American.

REAL ESTATE

Backgrounds

Residents hail from more than 26 different racial and/or ethnic backgrounds.

AIRPORT Mankato Regional Airport

$1,337

Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage

76 Miles

Closest International Airport, MSP. There are four major airports within a 3 1/2 hour drive

Owners PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION Greater Mankato Transit System

SOURCES Age, Ethnicity, Real Estate: Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010-2014 American Community Survey Languages: Mankato Area Public Schools Race/Ethnicity: Greater Mankato Diversity Council

Different languages are spoken here

30 • february 2016 • MN Valley Business

Renters

There are 37,129 housing units in the Mankato - North Mankato MSA. Approximately 25,248 (68%) are owneroccupied and 11,881 (32%) are occupied by renters.

2.45

Average household size

greater MANKATO

ECONOMIC PROFILE WORKFORCE

300

er-occupied mortgage

ner costs,

BUSINESSES

RETAIL, TOURISM & DINING

Private Sector Businesses

Annual Retail Sales

2,634

TOP EMPLOYERS 1,500+ EDUCATIONAL LEVEL Some High School 6% High School 28% Some College 23% Associate Degree 12% Bachelor’s Degree 21% Post-Graduate 10%

25,000+ Enrolled students in our five higher educational institutions

57,729 Total number employed

Unemployment Rate

SOURCES

Educational Levels, Household Income: 2014 Census Bureau, ACS Total Employed, Unemployment: MN DEED LAUS, October 2014 data Number of Businesses: MN DEED QCEW, Q1 2015 Top Employers, Enrolled Students: Greater Mankato Growth Retail, Hotel, Recreation and Food Sales: MN Department of Revenue, 2014

100 - 449 Taylor Companies, Mayo Clinic Health System, Minnesota State University, Mankato Mankato Area Public Schools, MRCI WorkSource, Verizon Wireless, Le Sueur Inc., Mankato Clinic, Gustavus Adolphus College Kato Engineering, CHS, Consolidated Communications, Davisco Foods, MTU Onsite Energy, Coughlan Companies, Ridley, ADM

$203M Annual Hotel, Recreation and Food

TRANSPORTATION ASSETS Mankato Regional Airport Direct access to U.S. Highways 169 and 14, State Highways 22 & 60 with highway connections to Interstates 35 & 90 Access to two Class I rail lines

HOUSEHOLD INCOME

TAXES Mankato .5% Food & Beverage Tax .5% City Sales & Use Tax .5% County Sales Tax* 6.875% State Sales Tax *starting April 16, 2016

North Mankato .5% City Sales & Use Tax 6.875% State Sales Tax

$100,000+ $50,000 - $99,999 $25,000 - $49,999 $24,999 and under

For expanded information on Greater Mankato’s economy visit: greatermankato.com.

MN Valley Business • february 2016 • 31

Greater Mankato Growth

2.4%

500 - 1,499

$4.5B

NEW BUSINESS

Greater Mankato Growth

Growth in Greater Mankato

AT&T 1854 Madison Avenue, Mankato

NEW BUSINESS

NEW LOCATION

Calling All Paws Pet Grooming 402 Hope Street, Mankato

Interiors Home Furnishing 482 Raintree Road, Mankato

Little Stars Early Learning Center 115 South Second Street, Mankato

MAJOR RENOVATION

NEW BUSINESS

GRAND REOPENING

Minneopa Golf Club 410 Pintail Street, Mankato

VIDA Salon Suites 1351 Madison Avenue, Mankato

Walmart 1881 Madison Avenue, Mankato

As the regional chamber of commerce and economic development organization we are committed to Advancing Business for a Stronger Community. The posts you’ll find on this site come from our staff authors and span our organizations different areas of focus.

Visit the GMG blog at greatermankatoblog.com 32 • february 2016 • MN Valley Business

5:00 - 7:00 pm February 2 March 1 April 5 May 3 June 7 July 5 August 2 September 6 October 4 November 1 December 6

Pantheon Computers at Mankato Brewery Wow! Zone The Loose Moose Saloon & Conference Center CCF Bank Chankaska Creek Ranch & Winery August Schell Brewing at Pub 500 MinnStar Bank Verizon Wireless Event Center Toppers Plus BankVista Eide Bailly

2016 Business After Hours Sponsored by:

7:30 - 9:00 am February 17 March 16 April 20 May 18 June 15 July 20 August 17 September 21 October 19 November 9 December 21

Minnesota Valley Action Council Friesen’s Family Bakery & Bistro MRCI - East Park Mankato Clinic Unimin Corporation City of Madison Lake Ridley, An Alltech Company Walmart Distribution Center Emergent Networks Mayo Clinic Health System School Sisters of Notre Dame Central Pacific Province

2016 Business Before Hours Sponsored by: November Business Before Hours hosted by Consolidated Communications

December Business After Hours hosted by Gislason & Hunter LLP

December Business Before Hours hosted by Wells Federal Bank

Business After and Business Before Hours gives representatives from GMG member businesses at the Engaged Level or higher an opportunity to get together with one another to exchange ideas and learn about each other’s businesses. For more information on these and other member events, visit greatermankato.com/events.

MN Valley Business • february 2016 •33

Greater Mankato Growth

November Business After Hours hosted by Blethen, Gage & Krause, PLLP

Cavalier Calls on the Newest Greater Mankato Growth Members

Bennett Coaching and Consulting Mankato bennettcoachingandconsulting.com

Insperity 8500 Normandale Lake Boulevard Suite 150, Mankato insperity.com

Orthodontic Specialists of Southern Minnesota 1591 Tullamore Street, Mankato mankatobraces.com

Cavaliers

Kwik Trip 1721 Premier Drive, Mankato kwiktrip.com

SouthPoint Financial Credit Union 105 South Third Street, Suite #100, St. Peter southpointfed.com

Greater Mankato Growth, Inc.

Greater Mankato Growth

Annual Meeting Greater Mankato Growth,Visit Mankato and City Center Partnership look forward to sharing their accomplishments of 2015 and plans for 2016 at this year’s annual meeting. Tickets and information available at: greatermankato.com/annual-meeting. Event Sponsors

34 • february 2016 • MN Valley Business

March 10 11:30 - 1:00 pm

Centennial Student Union Minnesota State University, Mankato

Visit Mankato: A Free Community Resource By: Anna Thill, President Event Assistance Sales staff are there to help large groups with their event planning. This includes being a single stop to find venue availability and costs, hotel availability and costs, off-site activities for additional fun and much more. Events, conferences and tournaments that are looking to get started or grow and have the ability to bring a large economic impact to the area could qualify for financial assistance and paid promotion of the event. Visit Mankato has an application process for this type of assistance. To learn more about Visit Mankato’s services call 507.385.6660 or email visitors@greatermankato.com.

Yes, Visit Mankato is all about attracting visitors to the community. However, the organization has many tools and services that can benefit local residents and businesses as well. The experienced staff are there to help with community information, event planning and promotional assistance. All of these services are free and can save valuable time. Below are just three examples of the benefits Visit Mankato can offer to local residents.

Keeper of the Master Calendar Visit Mankato works hard to be in the know of all public events that may be of interest to visitors and residents alike. This comes in handy when groups are looking for the perfect date for their event and want to avoid conflicting with other major community happenings. Some businesses want to know when there will be large influxes of event goers so they can staff accordingly. Others simply want to be able to inform guests or their employees of current events. Anyone can sign up for the weekly email that lists the upcoming events for the week.

6 Play on the trails be it on land or water

12 Adventure with the kids

14 Experience Mankato’s Must Do Events

2016 Guide to Visiting & Living in Greater Mankato

MN Valley Business • february 2016 • 35

Greater Mankato Growth

Community Information for New Employees or Residents Visit Mankato is equipped with community brochures and maps. These resources are often requested by large group events such as reunions, conventions and tournaments when many visitors are coming to town. In addition, local businesses often request the Guide to Visiting & Living in Greater Mankato for new employees or others they are trying to entice to come work for them.

2016 GUIDE TO VISITING & LIVING IN GREATER MANKATO

36 • february 2016 • MN Valley Business