IQ Magazine - Fall 2019

IQ

FALL 2019

COMMUNITY

Rolling Along— Biking the Gull Lake Trail.

Pg. 8

HOME MADE

A driveway groomer designed by students.

Pg. 50

WORKFORCE READY School-to-work programs are guiding high schoolers directly into careers.

Pg. 18

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G OV E R N I N G AND G ROWI N G CO M PA N I E S F RO M M I N N E S OTA

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IQ Initiative Foundation FALL 2019

Contents FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

12

6

18

Gold Star Giving

Education foundations provide new opportunities for Central Minnesota students.

Workforce Ready

8

Guiding high school students directly into careers.

A Look Back, A Look Forward

View an excerpt of the Initiative Foundation’s 2018 annual report and a look-ahead snapshot of its 2020-2022 strategic framework.

32

Mission Possible

40

Local Needs, Local Solutions

Financial Resiliency program helps regional nonprofits find their path to long-term sustainability.

Pilot program unites communities around child care solutions.

Regional Highlights

Get the latest highlights from the 14-county area.

Community

Happy Trail

Biking the Gull Lake Trail.

50 24

Initiatives:

Home made:

Driveway Shark

Mora students’ shop project produces dividends.

52

Where’s IQ?

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FALL 2019

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Dear Friends, A NEW SCHOOL YEAR BRINGS NEW POSSIBILITIES With leaves changing colors and kids back in school, now is a time to look forward with hope and optimism.

In the pages that follow, you’ll read about how education funds hosted by the Initiative Foundation are shaping the future and creating new opportunities for Central Minnesota students to thrive. (See Page 12.)

For younger children, the availability of quality, affordable child care remains a critical need in our region and beyond. In this edition you can read about why this is such an important issue for workers and businesses. Learn how we’re addressing the challenge through partnerships with state and local leaders. (See Page 40.)

We also present a guiding document that will shape the future of our organization, with a synopsis of our new strategic plan for 2020-22, which was recently adopted by our Board of Trustees. (See Pages 26-27.)

Among other things, the plan reflects learnings from past efforts, including activities highlighted in an excerpt from our 2018 annual report. (See Pages 24-25).

As ever, we thank the generous donors who make all of this work possible, and we invite you to consider an additional investment in the future of our region by making a gift at ifound.org/give.

Thank you, and enjoy the magazine!

Matt Varilek PRESIDENT

VOLUME 30, FALL 2019

Initiative Foundation President | Matt Varilek Marketing & Communications Director | Bob McClintick Marketing & Communications Associate | Allison Norgren Editorial Managing Editor | Elizabeth Foy Larsen Writer | Stephanie Dickrell Writer | Gene Rebeck Writer | John Reinan Writer | Lynette Lamb Writer | Maria Surma Manka Art Art Director | Teresa Lund Photographer | John Linn Photographer | Paul Middlestaedt Advertising Advertising Director | Brian Lehman Advertising Manager | Ashly Gilson Advertising Manager | Lois Head Advertiser Services | Julie Engelmeyer Subscriptions Email info@ifound.org to subscribe or to make subscription inquiries.

405 First Street SE Little Falls, MN 56345 (320) 632-9255 | ifound.org

IQ Magazine unlocks the power of Minnesota leaders to understand and take action on regional issues.

The Initiative Foundation continued its advocacy role to address the statewide child care crisis when it hosted a roundtable discussion on July 10 that included Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. See our story on Page 40.

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4 Initiative Foundation ifound.org

Partnering to equip local communities for growth and success UPCOMING EVENTS Statewide Census 2020: Info, Training, and Resources for Complete Count Committees (virtual only) Jan. 29, 2020 LEAD Academy: Managing Up and Out Feb. 20, March 12, March 19, 2020 Community Resilience Roundtables: 2020 Trends in Minnesota March 5, 2020 Mental Health Awareness April 8, 2020 Civil Discussions During the Election Year (virtual only) April 22, 2020 LEAD Academy: Time to Lead Workshop Series April 30, May 13, May 21, 2020 Leadercast May 7, 2020

Learn more at sourcewell-mn.gov

Initiatives

WADENA TODD

CROW WING

MORRISON

MILLE LACS

PINE

BENTON STEARNS

ISANTI SHERBURNE

CHISAGO

Regional Investment Highlights

CASS

KANABEC

IQ

WRIGHT

WESTERN MORRISON COUNTY | Air Force Installment Completes Veterans Art Monument With the installation of the final of five paintings at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, a 10-year, $485,000 project is now complete. Artist Charles Kapsner painted commemorative pieces to honor the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy. The project is sponsored by the Veterans Art Monument Fund, which is a Partner Fund of the Initiative Foundation. The oil paintings decorate each wall of Committal Hall, where families and friends say their last goodbyes to fallen veterans.

TODD COUNTY | Meals to Go for Seniors Takes Bite Out of Food Deserts LSS Meals to Go, an affordable frozen-meal shipment service, is helping to alleviate food deserts for seniors and shut-ins across Minnesota. In partnership with Lutheran Social Service, and supported by an Initiative Foundation grant, staff at Hilltop Regional Kitchen in Eagle Bend produce 35 dietician-approved frozen menu options, which can now be ordered online and shipped. Visit hilltopregionalkitchen.org for more information.

WADENA COUNTY | Development Firm Hired to Identify, Fill Service Gaps MORRISON: The final painting, depicting the Air Force, was unveiled on Sept. 15 at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery Committal Hall.

NORTHERN

The city of Wadena, which serves as a commerce hub for 20,000 people in three counties, is looking to boost its retail sector and fill empty storefronts through a partnership with Buxton Development Group.

Through broad-based support, including an Initiative Foundation grant, Buxton will work to identify and fill gaps and attract new businesses to town. The goal: deliver the right mix of goods and services, save residents’ travel time and create new jobs.

CASS COUNTY | Learning Aids Ramp Up Reading for Pillager Students Without well-suited materials, reading can be a chore for some middle and high school students.

Pillager students are getting a helping hand with new books with quick pacing and that include a follow-along audio recording. The addition of these learning aids, supported by a grant from the Pillager Education Foundation, a Partner Fund of the Initiative Foundation, is increasing student reading time by five minutes per day.

CROW WING COUNTY | Destination Downtown Brainerd Wins Well-Deserved Award Destination Downtown Brainerd, a three-year-old revitalization contest coordinated by the Brained Lakes Chamber of Commerce, has garnered some much-deserved recognition: the Minnesota Retailers Association’s 2019 Retail Innovation Award. The next round of Destination Downtown Brainerd, supported since its inception by the Initiative Foundation, will see three winners (not just one!) sharing a combined prize package worth $135,000. Winners will be announced in November after a public round of online voting.

MILLE LACS COUNTY | Helping Those in Need With a Free Ride CROW WING: Purple Fern is the 2017 winner of Brainerd’s Destination Downtown contest.

6 Initiative Foundation ifound.org

Getting to appointments or the grocery store can be a challenge when transportation access is limited, especially in rural areas. Lakes and Pines Community Action Council, which serves Mille Lacs and four other counties, saw the need and came up with Transportation Resources for You (TRY), a program that coordinates volunteer drivers. Supported by an Initiative Foundation grant, the program currently has a coordinator, six volunteer drivers and a plan to enlist more.

“ We’re thankful for our partnership with the Initiative Foundation.

For several financial packages I have worked with, the loans would not have happened without the Initiative Foundation stepping in as a gap lender.”

– Tim Dolan, Decklan Group partner

SOUTHERN BENTON COUNTY | K12 Connection Links Youth to Manufacturing Careers The Central Minnesota Manufacturers Association (CMMA), in collaboration with Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services, Inc., will use Initiative Foundation grant funding to upgrade its website with K12 Connection and Youth Apprenticeship Toolkit content, with a goal of exposing more students to manufacturing careers. By collaborating with schools, students can tour manufacturing businesses and even complete an apprenticeship.

SHERBURNE COUNTY | Food for Thought: Grant Fortifies School Lunch Needs The Three Rivers Community Foundation, a Partner Fund of the Initiative Foundation, is filling an important void by helping Elk River area students succeed in school. By providing a $5,000 grant to support the district’s school lunch “angel fund,” Three Rivers is helping to reduce anxiety and ensure that income-eligible students who face food insecurity are receiving a hot meal so that they can do their best in school.

STEARNS COUNTY | Melrose Cranks Up Its Biking, Walking Options A bike and pedestrian master plan is now in place for the city of Melrose. Supported by an Initiative Foundation grant, the plan provided leverage for Melrose to apply for grants that allowed for the installation of a sidewalk extension that leads to a major employer where about 40 percent of employees walk to work. The plan includes a covered shelter and the re-establishment of a bike borrowing and rental program on the Lake Wobegon Trail.

STEARNS: A shelter in downtown Melrose will soon store bikes to borrow or rent.

WRIGHT COUNTY | Dancin’ and Singin’ at Delano Central Park A blanket or chair was all that was needed to enjoy concerts in the park at Delano Central Park this summer. From the Pan-handlers Steel Drum Band with their zydeco and Irish jig music to Delano’s own Singleton Street, with bluegrass to celtic tunes, fun could be had by all ages. The concert series was supported in part by the Delano Area Community Foundation, a Partner Fund of the Initiative Foundation.

EASTERN CHISAGO COUNTY | Career Readiness Program Captures State Recognition GPS:45:93, a five-county economic development consortium serving the eastern region of Central Minnesota, has been recognized by the Economic Development Association of Minnesota for its Innovative Approaches to Career Readiness program. The program, sponsored since inception by the Initiative Foundation, explores unique public-private partnerships that prepare high school students for local, high-demand careers.

ISANTI COUNTY | Cambridge Disaster Relief Fund Meets Matching Goal Cambridge recently demonstrated what can happen when a team works toward a common goal. The Cambridge Area Community Foundation, an Initiative Foundation Partner Fund, recently raised $10,000 for its disaster relief fund. The achievement triggered a $10,000 Initiative Foundation and Funders’ Network match. Cambridge has since established the Hope and Recovery Team (#HART) to plan, manage and meet community needs for services and financial resources in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.

KANABEC COUNTY | City of Mora Studying Affordable Housing Plan Affordable housing is a necessity for a community to grow and attract employers. Kanabec County and the city of Mora, supported by an Initiative Foundation grant, are working with the Central Minnesota Housing Partnership to draft a feasibility study for a solution to workforce housing. If developed, the project would provide affordable housing for 32 families.

CHISAGO: North Branch ProStart students baked delicious pastries for the Innovative Approaches to Career Readiness event. ProStart provides students with food-services training.

PINE COUNTY | Sandstone Digs Deep for Historic Building Preservation There are historic buildings all across our state. Some have been fully restored and others are falling apart. The city of Sandstone recently hired an intern from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota to research potential partners, funding, design and the role of government in assisting with the restoration of historic buildings. The Initiative Foundation-supported study looked at 12 building projects across Minnesota and provided key findings for a going-forward plan.

FALL 2019

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community

ON THE MOVE: The Gull Lake Trail connects neighbors and neighborhoods.

Happy Trail

Photograph courtesy of Rob Mason, City of East Gull Lake City Administrator / Planning and Zoning Administrator

How the Gull Lake Trail came to be one of Central Minnesota’s most cherished public spaces.

By Stephanie Dickrell

They say it takes a village. In the case of the Gull Lake Trail, it took three cities, two counties and a township almost 20 years of organizing and community work to make a paved trail on this iconic Central Minnesota lake a reality.

“Trails can be a great part of a community’s economic revitalization,” said Don Hickman, vice president of community and workforce development at the Initiative Foundation. “They can become the spur for additional economic development, from attracting young families and skilled workers who wish to live near a recreational amenity to new investments in hospitality businesses.”

The trail will eventually surround Gull Lake’s western shore with 21 miles of paved paths. The most recent stretch in Fairview Township is scheduled for completion in 2020, with 7.8 miles of trail that will connect East Gull Lake and Lake Shore. In Lake Shore and Nisswa, there still are about 4 miles of trail to complete, along with infrastructure that will include parks and trail heads. Eventually, officials plan to connect the Gull Lake Trail to the 120-mile Paul Bunyan State Trail in Nisswa and trails near Camp Ripley.

MAKING MAYBERRY

The idea for the trail was hatched during an early 2000s visioning session for the future of the Brainerd Lakes area. The interest was strong, said Hickman, who noted that communities understand trails can attract outside money and interest to rural communities.

That doesn’t mean, however, that getting the green light was easy.

“Seldom does a project mature and get implemented in a short period of time,” Hickman said. “Persistence and commitment are real virtues.”

Getting the buy-in of Cass County was a crucial step. When county commissioners agreed to provide funding and access along Cass County Road 77—the main route of the trail—the first and most important piece was in place.

In 2002, regional leaders watched as East Gull Lake put the finishing touches on its trail segments. It didn’t take long for the trail to become a source of community-building pride and a hub of healthy activity.

“When it opened, it was like Mayberry,” said Marla Yoho, secretary and treasurer of the Cass County Association of Townships.

There were young parents pushing strollers, teenagers riding bikes, CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

8 Initiative Foundation ifound.org

Leave a Legacy for Future Generations Donate to the Nisswa Lake Park

ks rst Doc The Fi

walk New Walking Tr ails to Lake View s

bike picnic boat fish swim

New Gazebo

Changes are happening at the Nisswa Lake Park and Recreation Area, including a new gazebo, walking trails, benches and the first docks.

Thank you for your continued support & contributions!

view ski canoe play

Please make your tax deductible donation payable to our 501 C 3 partner — the Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation, c/o Friends of Nisswa Lake Park.

Mail to: Friends of Nisswa Lake Park PO Box 262, Nisswa, MN 56468 To learn more about this project or volunteer, call (218) 963-4444.

FALL 2019

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community, continued from page 8

Trails can bring outside money and interest into rural communities. retirees walking dogs. It seemed that everyone wanted to be outside, enjoying this new amenity.

“The trail systems are a safe place for people to go,” explained Rob Mason, city administrator and planning and zoning administrator for East Gull Lake. “They connect neighborhoods and neighbors.”

Parks and trails are also good for business: They help to attract and retain skilled workers. “For younger generations,” Hickman said, “it’s clear they often choose where they want to live before they even choose what they want to do.”

In Fairview Township, organizers highlight the 13 resorts, nine restaurants, 13 major attractions and several golf courses situated along the trail by including them on its official map.

That’s good news for those businesses, according to Mason, who worked at Madden’s for 38 years before starting his local government career. “Having those trails not too far from resorts makes them that much more attractive for [potential visitors],” he said.

It’s a formula for success that has been used elsewhere in the region, including the popular Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area in Ironton, which was supported in its early stages by the Initiative Foundation. “People were convinced the trail network was going to hurt the mining industry and was a hare-brained idea,” said Hickman.

That was 20 years ago. Today, the park has earned national accolades from Outside magazine and high praise from the International Mountain Bicycling Association. According to a recent survey, 25,000 cyclists a year ride the trails, adding an estimated $2 million to the local economy. That same survey predicts that number will increase to $21 million once the trails are expanded to the planned 75-mile total.

MUTUAL BENEFITS

When regions work together, even the smallest groups can make a big impact. When it comes to the Gull Lake Trail, Fairview Township is a good example. “We’re only a little township of 800 people,” said Yoho.

With an annual budget of about $300,000, the township has to be prudent about spending. But Yoho saw the potential that the trail could bring to her community and continued to lobby the township board to consider adding to the trail.

In 2016, Fairview Township resident Jenny Gunsbury asked Yoho what, if anything, was happening with Fairview’s portion of the trail.

Yoho invited Gunsbury to the next board meeting. Their combined enthusiasm spurred the board to take action. That night, they passed a resolution to work on a trail. Gunsbury is now the chair of the Fairview Trail Advisory Committee.

When the township’s engineering firm estimated that the project would cost $1.7 million, both Yoho and Gunsbury felt overwhelmed.

They knew they had to apply for funds, but neither one had experience with grant-writing.

Still, they remained undeterred. With a goal to not use township property taxes to pay for the trail, the two buckled down and looked for new funding opportunities. The Initiative Foundation provided $2,500 in seed money to engage the community and to research and apply for grants. Hickman also helped Yoho and Gunsbury search a database of grants and guided them on strategy. “He made us realize we could do it,” said Yoho. “There was a way—short of stealing from our kids’ college funds.”

The duo also delegated tasks according to their strengths. “Jenny’s the great writer,” Yoho said. “I know the nuts and bolts of the governmental end.”

Today, in addition to county funds, Fairview Township is using a variety of local, state, federal, nonprofit and private funding sources, including donations from local residents and businesses, Conservation Fund 73, Brainerd Community Foundation, the Federal Recreational Trail Grant program, the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission and Minnesota’s Legacy Amendment.

To attract more support and grant money, the Fairview trail group developed a theme: “Get hooked on the Gull Lake Trail.” The logo is based on the shape of the finished trail, which resembles a fishhook.

At community meetings, Yoho and Gunsbury encountered only enthusiasm from residents, who saw the potential difference in their quality of life and property values. Local fundraising events were huge successes. At an event held at the Jack Pine Brewery in Baxter, the room was so packed with people that Yoho and Gunsbury didn’t have time to enjoy even a sip of water.

“I realized for the first time that we were part of something beyond a 21-mile trail,” said Yoho. “All of these other people were making me realize this was a really big thing … and if we didn’t do it, our township would have been this huge gap in this big wonderful system.”

3G ET INVOLVED Communities wanting to learn more about bringing parks and trails to their area can contact Don Hickman of the Initiative Foundation at dhickman@ifound.org or (320) 631-2043.

For more information about Fairview Township’s approach, contact Jenny Gunsbury at jenny@bercher.com or (218) 270-0229.

10 Initiative Foundation ifound.org

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Gold Star Giving Education foundations are providing new opportunities for public school students—and greater community-building possibilities for Central Minnesota.

By Gene Rebeck | Photography by John Linn

D

uring the 2017-2018 school year, fourth-graders at Avon Elementary School who had trouble sustaining interest in reading received help from some remarkable new friends.

Education students from nearby Saint John’s University and the College of Saint Benedict came to Avon Elementary to lead a “buddy reading program.”

Those buddies boosted the young readers’ confidence and desire to learn. “The more students are reading independently and reading books of high interest, their reading growth and achievement take off,” said Greg Johnson, superintendent for the Albany Area School District, which includes Avon Elementary. The college students serve as mentors, providing young readers with one-on-one encouragement as well as someone they can talk to about what they’re reading. “That enhances the educational experience for those kids,” Johnson added. Avon Elementary’s buddy reading program was extended for the following school year.

“Teachers work very hard but have limited resources,” said Daryn Lecy, co-chair of the Albany Area Education Foundation (AAEF). They’re very creative thinkers, but there’s no funding to support their ideas and translate them into action.

The AAEF, which provides grants to projects like Avon Elementary’s reading program, is one of several education foundations throughout Central Minnesota that are enabling schools and teachers to introduce new and expanded learning opportunities. Education funds provide community members with the opportunity to give back to their schools, said Brenda Gugglberger, a philanthropy specialist at the Initiative Foundation, which hosts the AAEF and nine other education funds.

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SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE: Albany Area Education Foundation board members surprise award winners (pictured) by presenting the checks to them while school is in session.

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In addition to managing each fund’s contributions and financial paperwork, the Initiative Foundation provides training and technical support to the funds’ advisory boards in areas that include governance, marketing, fundraising and grant-making. The Initiative Foundation assistance allows board members to focus less on back-office management and more on choosing projects that support their missions.

The Initiative Foundation views education funds as a fundamental source of municipal strengthening—as a tool for workforce development. “Education foundations can be a powerful way to bring communities together,” said Gugglberger. “When people come together for a common cause, everyone wins. Children are the future of our communities, so education foundations are building on that future while supporting our youth.”

BOOK BUDDIES: College of Saint Benedict student Sydney Schiffler reads with Avon Elementary School students.

An education fund improves and increases educational opportunities.

It’s a fundamental way to strengthen a community and a tool for workforce development.

COMMON CAUSE: AAEF board members (from left to right) Greg Johnson, Bob Gerads and Daryn Lecy.

Braham and the Next Generation

For Braham native Tim Nelson, helping to start an education foundation has been a way to give back.

“I owe everything I have to the fact that I grew up in a community where people supported kids—where people made generous contributions of time and energy to create opportunities for kids to achieve everything that they’re capable of,” said Nelson, now chief deputy attorney for Isanti County. Nelson also served on the advisory council for the Initiative Foundation’s Emerging Leaders program. “When kids succeed, a lot of times we’re able to benefit from the gifts they’re able to bring out into the world. That was a big part of the motivation for me.”

Braham, like many smaller towns, has successful alumni who don’t always maintain a hometown connection. The idea for an education foundation grew in part as a way for the school district to renew and rekindle its alumni relationships.

Another inspiration for the foundation came from Ken Gagner, who arrived in Braham in 2015 to become superintendent of Independent School District 314. As a newcomer, Gagner noticed that several different groups were raising money for particular activities,

“ I owe everything I have to the fact that I grew up in a community where people supported kids—where people made generous contributions of time and energy to create opportunities for kids to achieve everything that they’re capable of.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

14 Initiative Foundation ifound.org

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Gold Star Giving CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

such as sports teams and fields trips. The movers and shakers of these groups often disengaged once their kids graduated.

What was needed, he believed, was a single funding source: “We all want our kids to have better opportunities, better experiences,” he said. “What if we came together and formed something that was long-term, and sustainable?’”

Gagner knew about education foundations in other districts, and he found an enthusiastic supporter in Nelson. They started by taking a survey of the community to see what kind of foundation people might want to support—and what ideas they might want to endorse. They received more than 120 survey responses, which gave them confidence that their idea had merit.

The community has responded with remarkable generosity. Though just two years old, the Braham Area Education Foundation now has an endowment of more than $150,000. And that’s not due to any super donors—the largest single donation has been $5,000. “It’s been a lot of people stepping up to the plate and saying, ‘We want to be part of this,’” said Gagner.

A large part of the appeal is the sustainability of the foundation model, Gagner said.

Parents and students know what it’s like to sell frozen pizzas and chocolate bars to raise funds. “That money comes in, it’s spent, and it’s gone,” he said. “And the next year, you’re selling the pizzas and chocolate bars again.”

The Braham Area Education Foundation seeks to support educational opportunities and programs that aren’t already in the school budget. Notable examples of the projects that the foundation supported in its first round of grants in 2018: • A small circuit board that can be programmed by students and introduces them to foundational concepts in computer science.

• Individualized, online music lessons provided by faculty from the Minneapolis-based McPhail College of Music. (As a small district, ISD 314 has just one band instructor.)

• iPads and iPad-based tools that allow early childhood education instructors to better track kids struggling to develop language skills, and then communicate their progress to parents.

• A two-week summer theater camp for students from third through seventh grade.

The education foundation’s grants kept the fees down to $25 per student, which allowed for greater and broader participation.

Each funded initiative was proposed by a teacher within the district, Nelson said. And that’s the idea: to make more teachers’ dreams for their students come true.

Excitement in Albany

Like Braham’s foundation, the AAEF has been embraced by local residents. “We have an extremely supportive community within our school district,” Albany Area schools superintendent Johnson said. In 2015, after a successful building referendum, Johnson recruited some of the same families and community members who were active in that campaign to help get the education foundation off and running.

Now just a little more than two years old, AAEF has built an endowment of more than $70,000 and has conducted two rounds of grants. Two reasons for its fast growth are the foundation’s co-chairs, Daryn Lecy and Bob Gerads, who brought financial expertise to their roles. (Gerads is chief deposit officer for St. Cloud-based Falcon National Bank; Lecy is vice president of operations for Oakmont Capital Services, a financing services company.)

Both have three children in the district; Gerads and his wife also are district alumni.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

“ We have an extremely supportive community within our school district.”

16 Initiative Foundation ifound.org

AN APPLE A DAY: The Cuyuna Lakes Education Foundation sponsors field trips for Crosby-Ironton students.

Funding Features The Initiative Foundation hosts these community-driven education foundations: + Albany Area Education Foundation + Becker Education Foundation + Braham Area Education Foundation + Cuyuna Lakes Education Foundation (Crosby-Ironton) + Lake Region Christian School Education Foundation (Brainerd) + Little Falls Education Foundation + Patriot Foundation (Pequot Lakes) + Pillager Education Foundation + Royalton Education Foundation + Sauk Rapids-Rice Education Foundation Districts and communities interested in launching their own foundation can visit ifound.org/philanthropy/our-funds or contact Brenda Gugglberger at (320) 631-2061 or via email at bgugglberger@ifound.org to learn more.

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SCHOOL-TO-WORK PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT CENTRAL MINNESOTA ARE GUIDING HIGH SCHOOLERS DIRECTLY INTO CAREERS.

WILLOW SCHULLER: “I took a welding class for fun, but I ended up really liking it.”

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“THERE ARE ONLY JOBS FOR ABOUT 25 TO 30 PERCENT OF THOSE WHO DO GO TO COLLEGE.”

By Lynette Lamb | Photography by John Linn

On a lark, Willow Schuller signed up for an eight-week welding class while she was still a student at Technical High School in St. Cloud.

“I took the class at St. Cloud Technical & Community College (SCTCC) just to prove a point—I did it for fun,” said Schuller, who graduated from Tech High in 2019. “But I ended up really liking it!”

That moment of exploration, it turns out, also helped Schuller forge a promising career for herself. After taking that first class, she won a two-semester scholarship to SCTCC. She hadn’t even finished the course—which will end with her becoming a certified welder—when she was hired by DCI, Inc., a St. Cloud-based manufacturer of stainless steel storage and processing vessels.

Schuller is just one young person among many across Central Minnesota who local businesspeople and educators hope will soon be moving from high schools to workplaces throughout the region. As education and workforce experts rethink the current

preference for sending all high school graduates to college, local companies and nonprofits are creating innovative programs to provide opportunities for future workers. “The majority of jobs in Central Minnesota will require a two-year technical college degree or certificate,” said Don Hickman, vice president for community and workforce development at the Initiative Foundation. “If we can expose young adults to the opportunities to find fulfilling work, minimize student debt, and stay within the region, it will have a significant impact on the shortage of skilled workforce that we’re currently experiencing and we expect will last nearly 20 years.”

Case in point: Schuller’s was a workforce development scholarship offered by SCTCC, which was funded by a consortium of local businesses, including Rotochopper, a grinding equipment manufacturer in St. Martin. The young person who won that scholarship in 2018, Alex Bromenschenkel of Rocori High School, began working full time for Rotochopper in May 2018, after he finished his yearlong welding class.

Besides scholarship support, Rotochopper also provides a school-to-work program with local school districts. Last year,

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“ WELDING IS NO LONGER A DARK, DIRTY JOB—INSTEAD, IT’S A SUCCESSFUL CAREER.” CAREER SPARK: Paynesville High School junior Davis Peltz worked over the summer as a welder at Rotochopper.

Paynesville High School junior Davis Peltz worked mornings and over the summer as a welder and in other areas of the company.

Rotochopper hopes to have an additional student worker from Paynesville or another nearby school this academic year. “It is awesome to watch them experience many areas of the company and to grow,” said Angie Brick, community relations director for Rotochopper.

Brick and others from Rotochopper also visit area high schools to meet with students and parents to educate them about today’s manufacturing world. “We do this to open the eyes of students and parents about manufacturing,” she said. “We want them to know it’s no longer a dark, dirty job. Instead, it’s a successful career. We can show them what the environment is really like and what the salary potential is.”

TECH OPPORTUNITIES

Along with scholarships and company internships, the region also boasts some broader initiatives designed to fill Central Minnesota’s growing number of tech and manufacturing sector jobs. The Initiative Foundation supports these school-to-work efforts with grants, including the Brainerd Lakes Area Bridges Workforce Academy, Greater St. Cloud’s Exploring Potential Interests & Careers (EPIC) and a matching grant program for high schools in Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Pine counties, which is administered by the GPS 45:93 economic development group.

One of those school-to-work programs is St. Cloud-based Partners for Student Success (PFSS), which is affiliated with the United Way of Central Minnesota. Among the main missions of

Photo provided by Rotochopper, Inc.

PFSS is career readiness. “It might mean college or a two-year degree program,” said Amy Trombley, director of education partnerships.

“Or it might mean going directly into the trades.”

A major Partners for Student Success offering is the EPIC program. The inaugural EPIC event at SCTCC in February 2019 brought together more than 2,300 students, 32 schools, 200 businesses and 60 different career fields. Going beyond the offerings of a traditional job fair, EPIC provided hands-on, interactive activities that allowed students to experience aspects of various jobs.

Starting next year, EPIC will morph into a yearlong student experience, with many companies holding pop-up events and in-school opportunities that provide students with mini-job experiences during the regular academic day. “We might have five health care organizations visit during lunchtime, for example,” said Trombley, “at an event at which kids can ask questions about possible health care careers.”

EPIC is sponsored by many organizations besides PFSS, including the Initiative Foundation, the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation, SCTCC, Career Solutions, Rasmussen College, the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

In turn, the Initiative Foundation is supported in its engagement on these issues by generous donations from East Central Energy and Great River Energy.

“It’s important that we prepare all our students for post-high school life,” said Trombley. “Many have a limited view of the possibilities. Our first job is to expose them to the breadth and scope of opportunities that are out there. We want to build a quality, productive workforce and get our young people ready for that next step in life.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

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EDUCATING TOMORROW’S WORKFORCE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

Partners for Student Success and other organizations are tightly focused on helping to address Central Minnesota’s workforce needs. “Right now, there is so much demand in the trades, such as jobs in health care, manufacturing and trucking,” said Trombley.

“Just [recently] someone told me there were 400 to 600 open jobs at CentraCare in St. Cloud alone.”

SKILL-BASED SUCCESS

Another successful school-to-work program is Brainerd’s Bridges Career Academies & Workplace Connection—a program that the Initiative Foundation has supported since it inception. This workforce development initiative connects the Central Minnesota business community and educational partners, with the goal of optimizing students’ career or college readiness. It does this by offering career academies, business tours, classroom speakers, a career exploration day and job listings.

A third program, just getting started in the Belgrade-BrootenElrosa (BBE) school district, is Jagways—the brainchild of school superintendent Patrick Walsh. While he was the principal of Hutchinson High School, Walsh ran a successful program called TigerPath Academies, which provided hands-on opportunities for students.

Jagways is a high school career readiness program that focuses on three areas: construction, manufacturing and engineering; health care and human services; and business occupations. The idea, according to Walsh, is to fix the current mismatch between educational training and the jobs available in the workforce.

For the past 30 years, high schoolers across the nation have been urged to pursue a four-year college degree. “There are only jobs for about 25 to 30 percent of those who do go to college,” explained Walsh. “It’s not a good start to your career to spend four to six years on a degree that you’re not sure what you’ll do with and that you cannot monetize. We believe kids need on-time, on-point education that meets their initial career goals.”

Jagways, he said, is designed to allow high schoolers to take an array of skills-based courses, such as welding and first aid, because “that’s where the jobs are.”

Jagways already is making a difference. Nearly 60 students took the welding class last spring. By contrast, just 13 students had enrolled during the prior three years.

When Walsh arrived at BBE, the school already had a successful work-based learning program in place, with 72 kids signed up for internships with employers that included seed companies, nursing homes and larger businesses such as Louis Industries and Belgrade Steel Tank. He hopes to expand that program, thanks in part to a $25,000 Bush Foundation grant his district recently earned to help fund personalized learning.

One recent BBE graduate, Kody Bertram, made good use of his high school’s internship program. Bertram, who grew up on a dairy farm just northwest of Belgrade, spent two years plus summers working as a technician at the Belgrade Tiremaxx. “I came into this job with only a simple understanding of cars, but I

22 Initiative Foundation ifound.org

KODY BERTRAM: “Work experiences like mine teach a work ethic, adaptability and a sense of pride.”

am now confident in my abilities as a mechanic,” said Bertram, who graduated from BBE in 2019.

Although Bertram is switching to computer science studies at Alexandria Technical & Community College, another sector with strong employment and wage potential, he believes his automotive internship taught him valuable workplace skills. “Work experiences like mine teach a work ethic, adaptability and a sense of pride,” he said. “Plus, they help high schoolers explore available careers, enabling us to choose fields we will really enjoy.”

That on-the-job learning is a crucial part of education, according to Walsh. “I believe learning is more of an active process,” he said.

“We’re trying to inject the workforce into high school a little bit more.

“Skilled labor is the No. 1 job opportunity,” he continued.

“If you can step into the workforce in a skilled position, such as an understanding of computer-aided design, so many more possibilities open up for you. Instead of having a transcript made up only of classes like English and social studies, we envision one full of skills mastered and certifications acquired.”

Such school-to-work programs and opportunities, according to Rotochopper’s Brick, are key to keeping Central Minnesota prosperous and vital. “It is part of our company’s mission statement to keep people in this area employed,” she said. “We know the importance of keeping our Central Minnesota communities growing and vibrant.”

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Accelerating Opportunities Looking Back. Looking Ahead. Growing Home.

A MESS GE FROM TRACI TAPANI, BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR

Dear Friends, As a community foundation dedicated to improving the economic and social wellbeing of the region, the Initiative Foundation is constantly working to accelerate opportunities—forging partnership and investing in activities that lift people up and close opportunity gaps.

On the next few pages you will see a look back and a look ahead at our work in Central Minnesota, including an excerpt of our 2018 annual report and the framework of our 2020-2022 strategic plan. Combined, they provide a snapshot of where we’ve been and how we’ll ...

• Improve the status of financially disadvantaged people

• Support communities as they seek to creating affordable, reliable child care solutions

• Elevate the capacity of regional nonprofits to deliver vital services

• Inspire and accelerate the next generation of entrepreneurs and community leaders.

It’s all part of Growing Home—a hopeful, optimistic mindset that all of us in Central Minnesota can rally around to bring about the change we seek. And it’s all supported by the generosity of funders and donors like you.

Consider joining our Community Builders Circle and unite with Central Minnesota donors who believe in our role, our values and our commitment to improve prosperity in our region. It’s through donor generosity that the Initiative Foundation and its partners can do the good work to lift up early childhood literacy; advocate for quality, affordable child care; help workers gain new skills and grow their income; and develop new leaders so that families and communities can continue to be healthy and vibrant.

A sincere thank you from all of us to all of you for making this important work possible!

Traci Tapani

24 Initiative Foundation ifound.org

OUR NUMBERS: 2018 ANNUAL REPORT SOURCES OF FUNDS: $10,485,758

USES OF FUNDS: A SNAPSHOT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS FINANCING, INVESTMENTS Inspire Local Ownership, Quality Jobs Investment Total:

$3,444,000 Grants & Contributions $5,730,300 | 55% Investment Income* $2,283,863 | 22% Business Financing Revenue & Repayments $2,276,901 | 22% Other Operating Revenue $194,694 | 2% *Excludes $5.7 million unrealized loss on investments for 2018.

o

etail/Wholesale R $648,350 | 19%

anufacturing/ M Construction

$520,500 | 15% o

o

ealthcare/Service H $334,499 | 10%

o Tourism

$160,000 | 5% o Alternative

Agriculture $125,000 | 4%

o Nonprofit

Organization $120,000 | 3%

o Housing

$85,000 | 2% o Technology

$79,000 | 2% o Child

Care $30,000 | 1%

GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS & FELLOWSHIPS Empower People Investment Total:

$2,027,155 USES OF FUNDS: $8,493,818

o

artner Funds P $981,649 | 48%

quatic Invasive A Species Prevention $352,775 | 17% o

o

I nnovation Fund $248,002 | 12%

E arly Childhood/ Dental Network $119,500 | 6% o

ommunity & Economic C Development/ Workforce $101,629 | 5% o

cholarships & S Fellowships $223,600 | 12% o

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

Create Thriving Communities Investment Total:

$1,291,095 Economic Development, Business Financing, Investments $3,444,000 | 41% Grants, Scholarships & Fellowships $2,027,155 | 24% Community Programs $878,490 | 10% Foundation Operations $822,738 | 10% Fund Development $474,507 | 6% Communications & IQ Magazine $434,323 | 5% Partner Fund Program $412,605 | 4%

I nitiators Fellowship/ Enterprise Academy/ Technical Assistance $1,341,651 | 39% o

o Thriving

Communities/ o Volunteers in Service Early Childhood to America $431,152 | 34% $257,998 | 20% artner Funds P $412,605 | 31% o

o Nonprofit

Organizational Development $189,340 | 15%

A complete audit report prepared by Schlenner Wenner & Co. is available upon request.

Endowment Value $48.7 Million Total Assets $71.6 Million

To view our complete 2018 annual report, visit ifound.org/about-us/annual-reports.

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OUR 2020-2022 STRATEGIC PLAN OUR MISSION To empower people throughout Central Minnesota to build a thriving economy, vibrant communities and a lasting culture of generosity.

OUR VISION Community: We are a region of robust, highly engaged communities where people choose to live, work, give and play.

Economy: We have an abundance of talented people and job-creating enterprises that contribute to economic growth and vitality.

Generosity: People across our region give generously of their time, talent and resources.

OUR ROLE

OUR VALUES

OUR COMMITMENT

• Convene and connect people and organizations to elevate and advance emerging issues and move toward concrete action.

• Civility: Civility across perspectives and interests is essential to our shared future.

• We embrace our responsibility to introduce, promote and defend pioneering ideas—even when they incur risk.

• Provide access to strategic funding in the formof grants, loans, scholarships and fellowships.

• Deliver expertise and build capacity through technical assistance, training opportunities and partner referrals.

• Localism: Our primary resources are local people who invest their time, talent and assets.

• Diversity: Advancing equity and inclusion honors the rich diversity of our region.

• Partnership: A shared vision among many partners is the best way to achieve lasting change.

• Promote philanthropy and leverage resources through funding tools and volunteer opportunities.

• We will remain responsive, nimble and ready to adapt to emerging needs and opportunities.

• We pay particular attention to resource gaps that prevent those we serve from contributing to their full ability.

• We communicate our mission through the programs and resources we provide to the region, through our many partnerships, through high-quality media, and by the example we set in our daily interactions.

In keeping with the entrepreneurial spirit that is core to the Foundation’s identity, we’re proud to share with you a synopsis of our 2020-2022 strategic plan.

As a refresh of our current plan, it calls for significant continuity with the highly effective approaches that have long been central to the work of the Foundation. At the same time, it also makes meaningful refinements to our priorities and strategies, all to better reflect the ever-changing nature of the environment in which we operate.

This plan is a product of months of dedicated work by the board, staff and partners. We present it with a sense of great pride in our track record, and an eagerness to shape the future and advance our mission.

Matt Varilek, Initiative Foundation President

26 Initiative Foundation ifound.org

OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES THRIVING ECONOMY ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUPPORT: Foster growth of businesses by providing training, financing and technical assistance, with an emphasis on underserved communities and social enterprise ventures.

WORKFORCE AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT: Tap under-utilized pools of talent and support career exploration and skill development in high-demand fields.

CHILDCARE AVAILABILITY: Catalyze innovation within the region and coordinate with partners in support of economically sustainable, quality child care.

VIBRANT COMMUNITIES NONPROFIT CAPACITY BUILDING: Provide training to anti-poverty organizations, other nonprofits aligned with our values, and Foundation Partner Fund volunteers and board members to enhance their impact throughout our region.

NONPROFIT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT INNOVATION:

WORKPLACE BEST PRACTICES:

Use training, technical assistance and grant funding to support innovative early-stage projects that foster inclusive engagement and development of emerging leaders.

Model best practices through a holistic approach to diversity, equity and inclusion; workplace wellbeing; organizational culture; and other operational activities.

LASTING CULTURE OF GENEROSITY ENDOWMENTS:

LEGACY GIVING:

INTEGRATED IMPACT:

Grow endowment assets and secure major gifts by cultivating donor relationships and making direct asks across multiple forms of media so that we can do more good for the world.

Preserve and grow the region’s wealth by encouraging bequests and maintaining and initiating region-wide relationships with priority stakeholders.

Multiply impact by seeking opportunities for coordination across Innovation Fund grantmaking, Foundation programming and Partner Funds, and by connecting to external grant-makers.

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YOUR GENEROSITY: THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR HEARTLAND. If you believe growing the economy, building community and creating a lasting culture of generosity are important to Central Minnesota, then you believe in Growing Home.

As a donor-supported community foundation, the Initiative Foundation is powered by you—your friends, your family, your neighbors—and a range of carefully cultivated partnerships to ensure that Central Minnesota remains prosperous and vibrant—now, and for future generations.

We accomplish this by ...

• Strengthening our donor-supported endowment, a permanent investment fund serving the 14-county region of Central Minnesota that powers our grant-making and operations.

• Providing loans for existing and new Central Minnesota businesses and nonprofits.

• Convening regional community leaders to champion common causes.

• Cultivating the next generation of entrepreneurs and emerging leaders.

• Supporting and educating hundreds of nonprofits in our region.

• Hosting 100-plus Partner Funds that preserve our region’s wealth and turn it into a force for good in support of students, families, nonprofit organizations and volunteer-led groups.

DONATE TODAY You have the desire to give. We have the programs, partnerships and community-based Partner Funds that benefit Central Minnesota. Let’s work on Growing Home together.

Visit ifound.org/give to make your recurring gift or call (877) 632-9255.

28 Initiative Foundation ifound.org

CONNECT Join our COMMUNITY BUILDERS CIRCLE with a $1,000 annual gift. Contact a member of our External Relations team to learn how to maximize your Growing Home gift.

CARL NEWBANKS

Grants & Development Manager cnewbanks@ifound.org (320) 631-2042

BRENDA GUGGLBERGER Philanthropy Specialist bgugglberger@ifound.org (320) 631-2061

MIKE BURTON

External Relations Officer mburton@ifound.org (320) 631-2059

To enquire about creating a donor-advised fund to support Growing Home in your community, contact a member of our Community Philanthropy team.

KATE BJORGE

Community Philanthropy Manager kbjorge@ifound.org (320) 631-2048

KERIE THOMA

Program Associate kthoma@ifound.org (320) 631-2054

OTHER WAYS TO ENGAGE Subscribe to IQ Magazine at ifound.org/subscribe and follow the region’s economic development, community vitality and philanthropy trends.

Subscribe to our monthly newsletters on ifound.org Follow us on social media: Facebook (@ifound)

Twitter (@ifoundmn)

Instagram (@ifoundmn)

(877) 632-9255 | 405 First Street SE, Little Falls, MN 56345 | ifound.org

FALL 2019

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PLANTING SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE. Make a Charitable Gift From Your IRA. Initiative Foundation supporters 70 1/2 or older are achieving tax benefits while benefiting Central Minnesota by supporting the Foundation’s general endowment.

To learn more about how to give through your retirement account, or to add the Initiative Foundation as a beneficiary, consult your adviser or contact us at info@ifound.org or (877) 632-9255.

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MISSION POSSIBLE The Initiative Foundation’s Financial Resiliency program helps regional nonprofits find their path to long-term sustainability.

By John Reinan | Photography By John Linn

32 Initiative Foundation ifound.org

I

n January 2015, a woman approached Rose Surma, who was new in her job as executive director of Little Falls-

based Oasis Central Minnesota. At the time, the organization provided resources and referrals for people who were experiencing food scarcity. “She told me that she was homeless and didn’t have family, friends or support within the community,” said Surma, who learned the woman, even on frigid winter nights, was sleeping in a junkyard car.

After calling every government organization and nonprofit she could think of, Surma was dismayed to discover there were no local solutions to alleviate homelessness. So she decided it was time for Oasis to expand the nonprofit’s mission to include emergency housing for those who need it.

The trick was figuring out how to make it happen. Oasis would, Surma realized,

MEETING A NEED: When a woman told an employee at Oasis that she was living in a car, the Little Falls nonprofit decided to expand its offerings to include temporary housing.

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TELL IT: Through their work with the Financial Resiliency program, Oasis Central Minnesota staff and board learned how to share their story in new ways.

(Pictured from left to right: Hank French, Rose Surma, Peter Keyes, Greg Spofford.)

“ THERE’S MORE ONUS TODAY ON THE NONPROFITS TO MAKE SURE THEY’VE GOT THEIR DUCKS IN A ROW.” need a new set of tools to improve the nonprofit’s financial health as it expanded to meet this pressing need.

Nonprofits are at the heart of any community. Whether they are providing food for the hungry, job training for teenagers, or advocating for cleaner lakes and rivers, our region’s not-for-profit organizations touch the lives of every person who calls Central Minnesota home.

And like any organization, community nonprofits come with their own set of challenges. With small staffs and modest budgets, the typical nonprofit is stretched between carrying out its day-to-day mission and doing the essential fundraising work to ensure it will be around in the future.

Providing the support nonprofits need to survive and thrive has been an Initiative Foundation priority. Last year, the Foundation’s Financial Resiliency program gave a dozen Central Minnesota

nonprofits, including Oasis, new tools to build their future. The most recent round of the program launched in September.

“The program takes a business-minded approach to nonprofit development,” said Zach Tabatt, a nonprofit organizational development specialist with the Initiative Foundation. “What we’re doing is walking participants through a deep dive into what they see as their model and their enterprise— to improve their marketing and financials, and to come out with a new way of looking at how they operate. The intent is that they are able to find new sources of income or creative ways to bring in new donations.”

In this way, the program serves as a boot camp for nonprofit leaders and board members. In a yearlong, 13-session program, nonprofits get intensive training in finance, marketing and other areas critical to their ongoing health. Participants say it’s been a game-changer.

“All I can say is, ‘Thank you very much,’” said Rick Hest, board president of Hilltop Regional Kitchen in Eagle Bend, which prepares nearly 70,000 packaged meals a year for statewide distribution. The program enabled Hest and other Hilltop board members to examine areas of their operation, including board governance, branding and articulating the nonprofit’s mission.

“This is going to make a big difference,” Hest said. “It’s taken us from somewhere in the middle of last century to somewhere closer to where we should have been all along.”

ONE ASK Using a mix of volunteer and paid experts, the Initiative Foundation convenes an annual cohort of eight to 12 nonprofits for monthly sessions. Each five-hour gathering is focused on a particular business discipline. Experts guide participants through lectures and exercises geared CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

34 Initiative Foundation Quarterly ifound.org

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MISSION POSSIBLE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34

toward building knowledge that will help nonprofit to make sure they’ve got their them discover their own solutions. The ducks in a row if they want that money.” sessions also include one-on-one time LARJP is now enrolled in a second with the experts, who are also available for track of the Financial Resiliency program, consultation after the program ends.

Jumpstart, which provides nonprofits “These people all had such depth of access to donor management software and knowledge,” said Hest, who particularly instruction in how to use it. appreciated the insights of mentor and retired Initiative Foundation grants specialist Barb Downs, who helped with both big-picture Graduates said the involvement of thinking and more practical matters, including their nonprofit board members is essential how to set up an equipment repair fund. “It’s to unlocking organizational potential. all about, ‘We’re not going to tell you what to “It really engaged them in the work of do, but we’re going to probe and think through building our organization, not just going what your future might look like,’” he said. to board meetings,” said Surma. “It allows In addition to learning from expert presenters, participants gain knowledge from one another, said Steve Berg, a board member with the Lakes Area Restorative Justice Project (LARJP) in Brainerd, which works with juvenile offenders and their victims to bring healing and reduce the chances of repeat offenses. LARJP was recently named Brainerd Area’s Nonprofit of the Year by the Community Action Council of Crow Wing County.

RESILIENT & READY: Graduates of the 2019 Financial Resiliency Becoming a Program participants make High Performing Nonprofit program. connections with other nonprofit leaders that bring lasting benefits them to be empowered and informed about as the network of graduates grows. finances and balance sheets, so everybody For Berg, the biggest takeaway was can have input on that, and it’s not just developing a sharper sense of his group’s something people vote on at a meeting. It’s mission, which is bringing crime victims and being able to work as a team, and not just offenders together to make things right for one person taking on everything.” the victim while also keeping the offender As a result of their work in the out of the court system.

Financial Resiliency program, LARJP has “We’ve got a pinpoint message now of revamped its board. “The expectations of what we do, what we mean to a community a board member are significantly different and how your donation helps us,” he said. than they were five years ago,” Berg said.

“No matter if it’s our executive director “You’re not just going to a meeting. You or a board member, it’s one message, one have to be actively involved. You have to purpose, one ask.” understand the message. You have to go out That level of clarity is crucial at a time in the community. And you have to make a when nonprofits are increasingly being asked financial commitment, as well.” to raise more money on their own. “You’ve The Financial Resiliency program is got to use all the tools you have, because free to participants—a tremendous benefit a lot of grants now have strings attached,” when you consider that similar courses Berg said. “There’s more onus today on the offered through universities or private

ON BOARD

36 Initiative Foundation ifound.org

contractors typically cost thousands of dollars per person. The Initiative Foundation invests the equivalent of $10,000 for each nonprofit that goes through the program.

For Hilltop Regional Kitchen, which moved into a larger kitchen in 2018 and already is dishing up about 40 percent more meals than it did in its old location, the Financial Resiliency experience has helped the group stay focused as its mission expands.

In her work as the organization’s mentor, Downs brought home the need to ensure that every idea aligns to the nonprofit’s mission.

“We’ve had a few ideas come up, and when we looked at it, we said, nope—that’s not in our mission,” said Hest.

For Surma and Oasis, the program became the bridge to a successful grant application that is paving the way for the Oasis homeless shelter. “The Financial Resiliency program let us tell our story in a way that gave us legitimacy,” said Surma. “And it got us all rolling in the same direction.”

When Oasis found out the building they were hoping to get for the shelter was available, one of Surma’s first phone calls was to a consultant in the Financial Resiliency program. After working together to determine if it was a good opportunity, Oasis partnered with St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls to secure $100,000 in legislative funding and a $75,000 grant from Sourcewell, which they hope will allow the nonprofit to open its shelter doors sometime this winter.

A new Financial Resiliency cohort is now under way. Some graduates of the previous cohort are continuing with further courses to supplement their training.

“We’re helping to improve the financial stability of these organizations,” said Tabatt.

“The community benefits by having more stable and successful nonprofits, regardless of what their individual missions might be, and clients of these nonprofits can be assured that the programs they rely upon stand a good chance of being around well into the future.”

PROTECTING YOUR ASSETS: QUINLIVAN & HUGHES

Myths on Wills & Probate Busted You’ve worked hard, acquired assets that matter to you and you want to leave a legacy when you die. It’s common for individuals to create a will when they start having children to ensure their wishes are granted, but those wills are not enough to protect against what can be a costly probate process. Today’s baby boomers are seeing the effects of that personally as they experience it upon the death of their parents.

“It can be a heartbreaking, confusing and stressful process,” said Jolene Klocker Schley, a trust and estates attorney at Quinlivan & Hughes.

“At Quinlivan, we come alongside individuals and couples to help them understand their assets and transfer them easily without probate. It saves time and money, and more importantly, gives everyone peace of mind.”

MYTH: A will protects me from probate.

FACT: A will states your wishes for your assets upon your death, names a personal representative, and names guardians of your minor children. However, having a will does not of itself mean your estate will pass free of probate. There are additional steps to take that vary depending on your circumstances.

- Melinda Gau

Probate takes time and can easily cost between $4,000 and $5,000. Individuals and couples can ensure their wishes are being met and there is not undue burden placed on their loved ones upon their death with thoughtful planning. “Wills and estate planning is not a one-size-fits all process,” said Kevin Spellacy, a trust and estate attorney at Quinlivan & Hughes. “It’s deeply personal and there are a variety of tools and techniques that individuals can employ to get the results they desire.”

The team of Trust & Estate attorneys at Quinlivan & Hughes share common myths they hear on wills and probate. Get the facts at Quinlivan.com/MythsBusted

MYTH: Someone will step forward to take care of my assets when I die.

FACT: Many family members are reluctant to step forward

and take on the responsibility of handling the probate on behalf of the family. It takes time. It can be stressful to ensure the orderly collection and allocation of assets, even when there is trust between the heirs. Naming a personal representative removes the unnecessary stress on the family of having to select who should act upon your death.

- Brad Hanson

MYTH: Assets of any kind can lead to probate.

FACT: Not every asset is subject to

probate. In Minnesota, it is limited to only the assets in the deceased person’s name and no successor is legally named. In Minnesota, probate is required when there is real estate in the deceased’s name, and/ or at least $75,000 in other assets in the deceased’s name. It is a good idea to have your assets reviewed with an attorney to determine if probate will be necessary.

- John Wenker

Established more than 95 years ago, Quinlivan & Hughes, P.A. ranks among the oldest and largest law practices in Central Minnesota. The firm’s legal teams are known as leaders in both their industries and their communities. Serving individuals and organizations in the areas of: 1740 WEST ST. GERMAIN STREET ST. CLOUD, MN 56301 305 CEDAR STREET, SUITE 101 MONTICELLO, MN 55362

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A Special Thanks to Our

Become a Community Builders Circle member and make a local difference:

COMMUNITY BUILDERS CIRCLE Members.

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BUSINESSES

• Frandsen Bank & Trust

INDIVIDUALS

• American Heritage National Bank

• Granite Equity Partners, LLC

• Rick & Helga Bauerly Family

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Construction Company • Arvig Communication Systems • BankVista • Benefit Innovations • BlackRidgeBANK • Brainerd Lakes General Fund of the Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation • Bremer Bank • Brenny Transportation • Cambridge Medical Center on behalf of Allina Health System • Citizens State Bank of Waverly • Clow Stamping Company • Compeer Financial • Connexus Energy • Consolidated Telecommunications Company • Crow Wing Power • East Central Energy • Edelweiss Cabinetry • Falcon National Bank • Farmers & Merchants State Bank Charitable Fund of the Central Minnesota Community Foundation • First Bank & Trust • First National Bank North • First National Bank of Milaca • First State Bank of Wyoming

• Harvest Bank

Fund of Central Minnesota Community Foundation • LINDAR / Avantech • John E. Babcock • Little Falls Area Chamber • Dick & Mimi Bitzan Family of Commerce Fund of the Central Minnesota • Long Prairie Packing Company Community Foundation • Marco Technologies, LLC • Michael & Kathleen Burton • Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative • Lynn & Darren Bushinger • MINPACK, Inc. • Linda Eich DesJardins • Monroy Law Office & Joseph DesJardins • Neighborhood National Bank • Kathy & Neal Gaalswyk • NOR-SON, Inc. • Lee & Jan Hanson • Park Industries, Inc. • Don Hickman & Sandra Kaplan • Pequot Tool & MFG., Inc. • Jo and Larry Korf • Pine Country Bank • Martin Paradeis • Schlagel, Inc. • John & Bonnie Schlagel • Schlenner Wenner & Co. • Steve & Leila Shurts • Sherburne State Banks • Kimberly & Denise Slipy & Sentry Banks • Rita and Everett Sobania • Sourcewell • Charlotte Stephens • Stearns Bank NA • Tim and Carrie Tripp • Stearns Electric Association • Maggie & Matt Varilek • The Bank of Elk River • Ludmila Voelker • Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative • Jeff & Laurie Wig • U.S. Bank Foundation • Wadena State Bank • Widseth Smith Nolting and Assoc., Inc. • West Central Telephone • Wyoming Machine Inc.

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Make a gift of $1,000 or more per year to the Initiative Foundation’s programs or General Endowment—a forever fund that powers the Foundation’s grants, programs and services. When you give, you’re helping our communities thrive and grow—from our youngest to our most senior members.

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Give today at ifound.org/give To make a pledge, contact a member of our external relations team or call (877) 632-9255.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, your Initiative Foundation contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. The Foundation owns and manages financial contributions for the benefit of Central Minnesota communities.

38 Initiative Foundation ifound.org

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Child Care Shortage

the numbers

CENTRAL

M I N N E S OTA

40 Initiative Foundation ifound.org

cambridge

-409

Monticello

-638

brainerd

-1,273 -224 little -475 falls

-736

A sampling of city-by-city numbers st. cloud staples

hinckley

-238

By Gene Rebeck Photography by John Linn

Local Needs.

Local Solutions.

An Initiative Foundation pilot program helps three Central Minnesota communities navigate child care barriers and create desperately needed options.

A couple of years back, Jason Polovick stood up at a community meeting in

Todd County, pulled out his wallet and declared, “I will help pay for child care for any qualified employee.”

Polovick is an administrator at the Central Todd County Care Center (CTCCC) in Clarissa, which provides care for older residents in several small towns along U.S. 71, from Browerville to Bertha.

Polovick employs nearly 90 full- and part-time workers. He needs to hire a few more to be fully staffed.

To attract and keep employees, Polovick and his management team know they have to provide the right mix of benefits. That’s why CTCCC in 2017 introduced a flexible-spending account program that allows employees to earmark up to $1,500 of their annual pre-tax pay to help cover child care costs. For those who participate, CTCCC makes a dollar-for-dollar match.

The flexible-spending program is an example of the creative thinking rural areas need to employ as they address their child care challenges. In Greater Minnesota, the total number of licensed in-home family child care operators—the child care option most rural parents depend on—has dropped by more than 25 percent in the last decade. That’s a loss of 20,000 child care slots, which are only partially offset by the 5,000 new positions that have been created by the expansion of child care centers—mostly in higher population centers—that have opened across the state.

“Child care is an economic and workforce development issue,” said Matt Varilek, Initiative Foundation president. “Without adequate child care, businesses can struggle to attract and retain employees, especially younger members of our workforce. At the same time, child care centers are having difficulties of their own, since they can’t charge enough to pay competitive wages.”

This issue has gotten statewide attention. The Minnesota Legislature in 2019 awarded $1.5 million in funding to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development for distribution

FALL 2019

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STATEWIDE ATTENTION: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan visited the Initiative Foundation’s headquarters to discuss the region’s child care shortage.

around the state, including $120,000 to each of the six Minnesota Initiative Foundations, to add at least 2,000 slots of quality, affordable child care. To champion and highlight the cause, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan visited different regions of the state—including a stop this past July at the Initiative Foundation’s Little Falls headquarters—to talk with those who are on the front lines of the issue.

Additional funding of $150,000 from the Minnesota Department of Human Services has helped the Foundation kick off its Child Care Solutions pilot program, which is designed to encourage innovative, local solutions that meet community needs. The Foundation is teaming up with First Children’s Finance, a national nonprofit that provides loans and business assistance to child care providers that serve low- and moderate-income families.

Little Falls, Greater St. Cloud and Todd County are the first three communities to take part in the pilot program. Each will work with First Children’s Finance to determine the barriers their communities face and to identify opportunities to narrow the gap.

Both family child care providers and child care center owners face razor-thin profit margins. With average pay hovering around $10 per hour, it can be difficult to find staffers. In rural areas with lower incomes, it is not uncommon for providers to say they cannot raise rates—or increase employee pay—because families will be priced out.

These circumstances reinforce the widely held perception that the child care profession amounts to “low pay, long hours, no benefits, and no respect,” said Marcia Schlattman, program manager for Waite Park-based Milestones, which administers several early childhood learning and development programs. To be sure, there are people who find fulfillment in the profession. But when the economy is strong, it’s not uncommon for prospective employees to seek jobs with higher pay and better benefits.

Some communities also confront what might be called the 24-hour problem. In the Todd County community of Long Prairie, agricultural processor Central Bi-Products operates around the clock. “Home providers can’t possibly cover 24 hours,” said Luan Thomas-Brunkhorst, director of the Long Prairie Chamber of Commerce. Another local business, Long Prairie Packing, has 12-hour shifts, which is equally difficult for child care providers to cover. Adding to the challenge: a language barrier. A full one-third of Long Prairie’s population is Hispanic, and many still are refining their

Child care is an

The Challenge

At a time when a record number of child care providers are retiring, people who want to get into the child care business face numerous obstacles, including high startup costs and complex regulatory laws. The economics are equally daunting:

economic and workforce

development issue.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 44

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LOCAL NEEDS. LOCAL SOLUTIONS. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 42

MAKING THE CONNECTION: Rhys Varilek, son of Initiative Foundation President Matt Varilek, greets Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan during the Initiative Foundation child care summit with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and his team.

At a time when a record number of child care providers are retiring, people who want to get into the child care business face numerous obstacles, including high startup costs and complex regulatory laws.

English-speaking skills. Currently, there are no licensed Spanishspeaking providers in the area.

A lack of child care flexibility also is a challenge for people who want to continue their education to advance their careers. At Central Lakes College in Brainerd, skill-building programs such as nursing and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining tend to cater to older students, many of whom have children. The dearth of child care access has forced some students to discontinue their studies.

Piloting The Possibilities

Each of the three communities in the pilot program are working with Heidi Hagel-Braid, regional director for Minnesota and the Dakotas at First Children’s Finance, to identify ways to increase child care options. The Staples-Motley area is exploring what’s known as a pod system, which houses different care providers in one location to lower overhead costs. The Little Cardinals Academy, which is operated through the Motley school district, could also become a pod center since it has a playground and indoor space designed for kids.

Public-private partnerships are another possible approach: • Central Lakes College is interested in providing access to under-used space on the Staples campus for a child care facility.

44 Initiative Foundation ifound.org

• A partnership between the Little Falls school district and an area construction company has resulted in plans for a new child care center with space for 70 children. The center’s employees will be on the school district’s payroll, which will provide district wages, benefits and vacation time. The fees paid by parents will be used to service the debt on the building.

• Little Falls High School plans to offer care assistant classes for students 16 and older. Students who complete the course can work in the child care facility, which is scheduled to open in time for the 2020 school year.

Once communities decide on a viable approach, First Children’s Finance will help them develop financial modeling and a strategic plan to get the idea moving forward. Upon completion of their strategic plan, the Initiative Foundation will provide a match grant of $10,000 to implement their goals.

Employers like Polovick know how important it is to strive for community-based solutions. “We are trying to do whatever we can to keep the community healthy—by providing good jobs with good benefits,” he said. “And then we need to help those people to raise their families, because those children will someday run the community.”

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Gold Star Giving CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

“ It’s nice to have these driven young adults looking for a way to help fund things like classrooms, and provide help for teachers—that’s what we definitely need in this town.”

Together with their foundation board colleagues, Lecy and Gerads have raised funds through a number of initiatives. The biggest is an annual “date night” gala that includes dinner, live music and raffles. “The generosity of the community has made the work of our board much easier,” Gerads said. “We haven’t needed to get super-creative. We’ve had a lot of input, and we’ve had a lot of good support.”

AAEF, in turn, has been supporting new student learning opportunities as well as teacher creativity. In 2019, the foundation awarded five $1,000 grants. One grant provided Avon Elementary students the opportunity to program robotic devices. Other grants were awarded for music and outdoor library programs, one of which was also funded by the Albany Jaycees.

One of the ways AAEF grants have made an impact is the way they’re awarded. Foundation board members surprise teachers by presenting the checks to them while school is in session. “They’re pretty excited when they find out they’ve earned that grant,” said Johnson.

Getting Started in Becker

Launched in March 2018, the Becker Education Foundation is one of the region’s newest education funds. A couple of years back, Nathan Ernst (Becker High School class of 2012) contacted Nick Crowley (a fellow soccer team member who graduated in 2009) about organizing a Becker school-district alumni network. Shortly thereafter, Ernst got wind of the educational foundation idea, an idea that also appealed to Crowley.

Crowley, who now serves as assistant director of the Benedictine Volunteer Corps at Saint John’s Abbey, and Ernst, who teaches 7th and 8th grade in Crosby-Ironton, no longer live in Becker.

That makes it challenging to meet and organize. That they are younger and not experienced fundraisers means they don’t have the professional chops to be able to determine what will or won’t appeal to potential donors. So they’ve relied on the guidance of Alex Jurek, their former soccer coach and a technical education teacher at Becker High School.

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Financing Innovation in Education Like education foundations, the Innovative Schools Project (ISP) is giving Central Minnesota schools the chance to think differently.

“It’s nice to have these driven young adults looking for a way to help fund things like classrooms, provide help for teachers—that’s what we definitely need in this town,” Jurek said. While Ernst and Crowley do the lion’s share of the work, they rely on Jurek for advice about anything from whom to contact and what types of programs they should support.

As of early August, the Becker Education Foundation had a little over $1,200 in its coffers, most of which was raised at a foundation-sponsored gala this past spring. This fall, Ernst and Crowley are launching a campaign called the Power of 100, based on an idea suggested by the Initiative Foundation. The idea is to get 100 people to donate $100 each. They also plan to reach out to area businesses for larger donations.

The Becker Education Foundation is still getting started. But if the success of other education funds in Central Minnesota is any sign, it won’t take long for Ernst, Crowley and the community that nurtured them to help open up new worlds of learning to a new generation.

Established four years ago, ISP provides matching funding to a community-led charitable organization—such as a Lion’s Club chapter or even an education foundation—from each district. Funds are matched up to $5,000. ISP is backed by Staples-based Sourcewell, a government-established service cooperative that funds school-related initiatives and other community-building projects in the Region Five area that serves Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties. The Initiative Foundation serves as the project’s legal and fiduciary entity.

ISP supports innovative thinking from teachers without risking taxpayer funds, which allows them to be more creative in the classroom, said Steve Uban, board chair of the Pillager Education Foundation and an ISP board member. ISP grants have supported a Spanish-language study desk; others have allowed schools to set up flexible seating in classrooms, which can help students be more attentive and participatory. Another grant helped launch the Metier (pronounced meteor) program, which provides middle-school students insights into what makes them excited and fulfilled in life. Designed by two Pillager teachers a couple of years ago, the Metier program is now used extensively throughout Region 5 school districts.

“We don’t assess the individual grants that the districts give out in their district,” said ISP board member Kristi Ackley. “Something that might be innovative in one district might not be innovative in the next district.”

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home made

Driveway Shark Mora, Minn.

By Maria Surma Manka Photography by Paul Middlestaedt

As an industrial technology teacher at Mora High School, Josh Norby looks to bring realworld experiences to the classroom. So when his friend complained that the drags he’d used to groom his driveway weren’t up to par, Norby assigned the challenge to his students.

(A drag is a tool that is pulled behind an ATV or tractor to scrape and smooth a gravel road.)

After some trial and error, students created a promising product for Norby’s friend, which also caught the attention of other landowners. As word got out, orders flooded in and roughly 150 students and teachers from multiple classes chipped in to cut, weld, grind and paint the new product, which the class named the Driveway Shark. Between tracking inventory, managing purchase orders and enforcing safety practices, Norby described the last two months of the 2018-2019 school year as an incredible learning experience for the students.

Mora High School doesn’t want the Driveway Shark to be a one-hit wonder. Assistant Principal Nick Bakke hopes the students’ innovation spurs community investment that will allow the school to update and buy equipment so that it can offer more classes to meet the needs of residents and businesses.

We talked with Norby and Bakke to uncover the secret to Driveway Shark’s success.

PROBLEM SOLVED: When a friend complained about the condition of his driveway, Mora high school teacher Josh Norby saw an opportunity.

•T he Basics Weighing about 75 pounds, the front section of the Driveway Shark measures 3’10” wide; the rear drag is one foot wider. The total length is 4’10”—smaller than most drags, which makes it easier to handle. Gravel gets chewed up by the front section and then smoothed by the Shark’s back end.

•N ame Game The Driveway Shark resembles its namesake with its triangular shape and jagged teeth. Norby admits that his 3-year-old’s love of the hit song “Baby Shark” may have also influenced the name.

• List Price Driveway Sharks sold for $175. Norby hopes students will be able to make and sell them again this year, with future proceeds going to update and expand the department’s equipment.

50 Initiative Foundation ifound.org

•B uzz Factor Driveway Shark’s overnight success made the school and community curious. “We had staff visit our shop who’d never set foot down there,” said Norby.

“I lost count of how many tours I gave to community members who wanted to see what was going on.”

•L ocal Resources Steel for the Driveway Shark was purchased from a local welding shop and hauled to the school with a shop teacher’s trailer.

•Q uality Counts Once inventory was counted, students and teachers planned which pieces to use for each part in an effort to minimize waste. Next came the cutting and grinding: “We’d grind and bevel the edges so the weld would be stronger and not just a surface weld,” explained Norby. “It’s remarkable that kids are making such a high-quality product with very little experience.”

•P rocess Makes Perfect After the front, middle rack and back were formed, the teeth were attached. Excess splatter was ground off and any ugly welds were redone. Then the Driveway Shark was taken outside to be painted. Finally, a label was added to the front.

• Practical Math Students who had previously struggled with classroom math concepts were suddenly faced with their real-world application. The hands-on learning made a difference for many. “There were a lot of ‘aha’ moments,” said Norby. “They used geometry to figure out angles or worked with fractions on a tape measure.”

•J ob Skills Bakke hopes Mora can grow its classes and show students that manufacturing is innovative, interesting and provides a good income. “We tell the kids about former students who make impressive incomes as welders and carpenters. We need to emphasize that skilled labor.

This is what the future of education looks like.”

•O ther Uses The students’ excellent welds have held up, even under surprising conditions; customers have used the Driveway Sharks for everything from ripping up sod to tilling ground for a food plot.

FALL 2019

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where’s IQ?

THINK YOU KNOW? Send your best guess to IQ@ifound.org

by Nov. 25, 2019.

Three winners will be chosen, at random, to receive a $25 credit to apply toward their favorite Initiative Foundationhosted Partner Fund.

HINT: This 12-foot sculpture is a mosaic depiction of the Mississippi River based on a painting by a prominent local artist.

Congratulations to everyone who correctly recognized Royalton’s Treasure City. Melissa Gerads, Dan Weber and Steve Beekhuizen were the lucky spring 2019 winners of the “Where’s IQ” contest.

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