ECONOMY
People-Powered Prosperity
To grow their economies, rural communities must focus on attracting and retaining people.
Pg. 8
COMMUNITY
Gathered Together
Free meal programs build community, create connection and address food insecurity.
Pg. 28
GENEROSITY
Camp’s Spirit Lives On
One Heartland sells camp, creates fund to ensure safe, affirming experiences for kids.
Pg. 10
Local entrepreneurs and nonprofits thrive with a CDFI in their corner.
Pg. 14
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Local
Free meal programs build community, create connection and address food insecurity.
Rebuilding Main Street
Grant funding helps communities across Minnesota, including Cold Spring and Pine River, revitalize their downtowns.
Small Towns, Big Change
Grassroots teams in Hackensack and Milaca show how small towns can turn ideas into lasting change.
Read our 2024 Annual Impact Report and learn about the Foundation’s work in Central Minnesota.
6 Initiatives: Regional Highlights
Get the latest highlights from Central Minnesota’s 14 counties and two Native nations. 8 Economy: People-Powered Prosperity
To grow their economies, rural communities must focus on attracting and retaining people.
Generosity: Camp’s Spirit Lives On
One Heartland sells camp, creates fund to ensure safe, affirming experiences for generations of kids.
Home made: Rainbow Hair Hats
Inspired by her daughter’s epilepsy journey, Lisa Finck created a product that now reaches families nationwide.
This fall, we’re proud to share stories of resilience, creativity and generosity across Central Minnesota.
In Pine County, One Heartland made a bold and intentional decision: It used a flexible Initiative Foundation loan to close and sell its longtime camp, transforming the proceeds into a Partner Fund that will provide scholarships for generations to come. This thoughtful choice ensures that safe, affirming camp experiences will continue to change lives far into the future.
Organizations like Community Table in Zimmerman and Care N’ Share in Emily are addressing food insecurity while offering so much more. Through shared meals and fellowship, they’re investing in belonging and creating spaces where neighbors connect, hope is renewed and kindness ripples outward. Volunteers and donors remind us that simple, consistent acts of service can knit communities together.
This issue also celebrates bold entrepreneurship and nonprofit innovation. We see the impact of mission-driven lending in stories like African Pinkylicious Salon’s journey to grow and thrive in Waite Park, and Sauk Centre’s Eagle’s Healing Nest, which has an unwavering commitment to veterans and their families.
These stories remind us of a shared truth: Meaningful change begins locally, with people who believe in one another. They are rooted in the conviction that everyone in our region deserves to feel safe, respected and empowered as they connect, create opportunities and build a brighter future for themselves, their families and their communities.
We’re grateful every day for the opportunity to invest in these initiatives and provide the resources and support local people need to continue their good work.
Thank you for reading, for sharing these stories, and for playing a part in creating strong and connected communities. I hope this issue inspires you to lead boldly, give generously and continue to invest in the vitality of this shared place we call home.
VOLUME 42, FALL 2025
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Writer | Lisa Meyers McClintick
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Nearly 100 students cultivated new experiences at the Rudolph Farm near Little Falls over the past two summers. Grants from the Family Farm Fund and the Morrison County Area Foundation—both Initiative Foundation Partner Funds—made the visits possible for youth from the St. Cloud and Little Falls Boys & Girls Clubs. Students participated in hands-on workshops in farming, food education and rural arts.
New businesses are sprouting in Long Prairie, where the Enterprise Academy celebrated two graduating cohorts in spring and summer 2025. Seventeen entrepreneurs completed the program, launching ventures from a beauty salon and thrift store to a food truck, bakery and cleaning company. Since its founding, Enterprise Academy has graduated nearly 300 people—about 38 from Long Prairie—with new cohorts underway in St. Cloud and Monticello.
The north wing of the Astera Health Legacy Campus in Wadena is now home to laughter, play and learning with the opening of a new childcare center. The facility features four suites, each with space for up to 10 children and their own provider. Supported by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, the Initiative Foundation and other donors, the project gained early momentum through Initiative Foundation funding for design bids.
At Pine River Group Home, staff are serving nutritious meals with less stress and greater consistency thanks to a streamlined meal-planning system. The approach saves time, cuts costs and ensures residents with developmental and cognitive disabilities receive quality nutrition across multiple homes. The improvements came through the Initiative Foundation’s Continuous Improvement program, which helped Pine River Group Home and seven other Central Minnesota organizations strengthen operations. All eight graduated in summer 2025 with new tools for lasting impact.
With support from two Initiative Foundation Partner Funds, Let’s Go Fishing Brainerd Lakes is casting a safety net for its riders. A grant from the Lakes Area Medical Development Fund helped to pay for an automated external defibrillator for a recently purchased second pontoon, while the Corey BorgMassanari Foundation pitched in for life jackets—keeping seniors, veterans, youth and people with disabilities safe as they enjoy time on the water.
Mille Lacs Health System is expanding behavioral health services for children, with a focus on Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe youth. Supported by Otto Bremer Trust (OBT) funding, the project will provide year-round, culturally responsive care in clinics to reduce stigma and build resilience. In total, $740,000 in OBT Community Responsive Fund grants supported 17 Central Minnesota organizations to advance literacy, foster care, children’s health, disability services, mental health and hospital improvements.
“I personally wanted ... to express our deep gratitude for the surprise $6,000 gift to the Emily Food Shelf. In these trying times for disadvantaged people, we are likely to become even more essential to the Emily area, and this gift couldn’t have come at a better time. We are sincerely grateful.”
– Cindy Miller, Emily Food Shelf Board Chair, 2025 Food Shelf Grant Recipient
Infinite Eye Care in Sauk Rapids is expanding to add an optometrist, creating one full-time job and ensuring continuity for its well-established practice. The growth supports local economic development by expanding access to quality eye care. Backed by an Initiative Foundation Impact Fund loan, the project reflects how Foundation lending—large and small—supports Central Minnesota’s economy. In 2024, the Foundation invested nearly $7 million through 56 loans that leveraged $41 million in private local investments.
A grant is helping Open Doors for Youth in Elk River launch a new program for young people experiencing homelessness. First Fridays will offer monthly gatherings for 16- to 24-year olds and will feature adult-led activities with community members, skill-building, volunteer projects, shared meals, games and quiet reflection. The organization strives to provide hope, support and a sense of belonging while empowering youth to build healthy networks, strengthen personal wellbeing and move toward housing stability.
Young adults are nearly twice as likely as seniors to report experiencing loneliness, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. In Central Minnesota, Project Optimist is turning that challenge into connection. With support from an Initiative Foundation grant, Project Optimist hosted a College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University conversation on reframing anxiety as excitement to spark social bonds. Led by founder and Initiators Fellowship alumna Nora Hertel, students shared strategies to build belonging and reduce isolation.
Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services is putting its strategic plan into action with help from an Initiative Foundation grant, supported by Compeer Financial. A key focus is to boost brand awareness through storytelling training for staff and board members. The grant also supports efforts to recruit and retain young workers and strengthen community connections—steps designed to grow the organization’s impact and better serve the region’s workforce needs.
The Initiative Foundation has relaunched its Thriving Communities program, and Taylors Falls is among the first five towns to participate. The community will focus on expanding rustic trails, creating gathering spaces and strengthening branding through outreach. After a pause since 2017, Thriving Communities also is helping Braham, Motley, Sebeka and Staples identify priorities, host workshops and design projects that build pride, resilience and stronger connections for vibrant small-town futures.
New Pathways broke ground Aug. 7 on a $3.5 million family shelter in Cambridge that will double its capacity to serve up to 10 families at a time. Supported by a $500,000 gift from the Memorial Hospital Foundation, an Initiative Foundation Partner Fund, the project also received key backing from the city, which sold the land for $1. Opening in summer 2026, the shelter will feature private apartments, on-site programming, case management and recovery services.
Two Kanabec County nonprofits are advancing clean energy with support from the Initiative Foundation’s spring Energy Efficiency and Community Resiliency Planning grant round. Seven County Senior Federation will study solar-ready roof and insulation upgrades at its Isle and Mora facilities, while Lakes and Pines Community Action Council will install a solar array at its office. Both projects will cut costs, promote sustainability and reinvest savings into community services.
Construction is underway to transform Sandstone’s historic 1901 school into 31 workforce housing units and a new home for the Sandstone History and Art Center. The project broke ground in July 2025 and will restore a landmark once left to decay with roof damage, mold and broken windows. Expected to be completed by summer 2026, the revitalization is made possible through strong partnerships, including a mission-driven loan from the Initiative Foundation.
To sustain economic growth, rural communities must shift from recruiting businesses to attracting and retaining people.
By Gene Rebeck | Illustration by Chris McAllister
If rural Minnesota hopes to thrive in the decades ahead, the strategy needs to shift: less focus on attracting companies and more on attracting people. That’s the call to action from Kelly Asche, senior researcher at the Mankato-based Center for Rural Policy and Development.
“Minnesota’s economy is still strong,” Asche said. “But the reality is clear: if we want to sustain that strength—especially in rural areas— we need to double down on attracting and retaining people. That means investing in career and technical education, local scholarships and creating communities where people—young and old—feel like they belong.”
With job vacancies rising across Greater Minnesota, the challenge isn’t creating jobs—it’s finding people to fill them. But Minnesota’s population growth is slowing. Birthrates are low, retirements are accelerating, and immigration alone can’t close the gap. Future growth will depend on migration, especially to rural
areas that otherwise face population decline.
Asche urges communities to focus on what makes rural life appealing: outdoor amenities, smaller schools, a slower pace and a sense of belonging. “We needed to stop talking about jobs and start talking about people,” he said. What motivates people to visit is often the same reason they might choose to stay: if they’re invited, if they feel welcomed, and if they see opportunity.
In a region where job openings often outnumber applicants, West Central Initiative in Fergus Falls—one of six Minnesota Initiative Foundations serving Greater Minnesota—knew it needed more than help-wanted ads to build a thriving workforce. The answer? Live Wide Open—a resident recruitment campaign launched in 2016 to spotlight the joys of living, working and putting down roots in west central Minnesota.
Initially developed by the organization’s Labor Force Development Council, Live Wide Open was one of the state’s first coordinated
efforts to encourage people to move to, return to, and—perhaps most importantly—stay in the region. By partnering early with employers, tourism groups and local leaders, the campaign gained momentum around a simple but powerful message: You can belong here.
With a modest reboot in 2024, Live Wide Open now features a website that showcases stories of newcomers, home-comers, entrepreneurs and remote workers who’ve settled in the region. A social media presence and a regional television special have extended the campaign’s reach to nearly 130,000 people each month.
In May, the organization created and began to distribute “The View from Here: An Almanac of Life and Land in Our Region.” The 40-page publication—available in print and online—supports the Live Wide Open campaign by providing residents with a greater sense of identity and regional pride. Taken all together, the almanac and the Live Wide Open campaign express “the idea that everyone can belong and everyone can have a place and a purpose in west central Minnesota,” Anna Wasescha, president of West Central Initiative, said in an interview with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. “We believe everyone can find happiness here.”
As birth rates decline and the population ages, Minnesota’s growth increasingly depends on people moving here from other states. An April 2024 report from the Minnesota State Demographic Center found that 42 percent of the state’s growth in 2023 came from domestic migration—a share projected to keep climbing until it accounts for all new growth by the late 2040s.
But the picture isn’t all positive. For the past two decades, more Minnesotans have moved out of the state than into it, especially young adults heading off to college or pursuing early career opportunities. Older adults often choose warmer climates, while middle-aged residents tend to stay put.
Despite these trends, the report underscores opportunity. Roughly 100,000 people move in and out of the state each year, highlighting the importance of targeted efforts—especially those aimed at retaining and attracting young adults. Communities that build on what makes them special—whether it’s natural beauty, strong schools or a sense of belonging—have the best shot, according to the report, at attracting and retaining people to maintain and grow their populations.
Otter Tail County’s Rural Rebound Initiative offers a compelling playbook for others to follow.
Launched in 2017, the initiative emphasizes messaging, marketing and digital outreach to tell a positive story about rural life—and to put Otter Tail County on the map as a great place to live and work. “It boils down to building a brand,” said Erik Osberg, the initiative’s coordinator. Otter Tail County, he said, is flipping the script on outdated rural narratives.
Inspired by University of Minnesota Extension researcher Ben Winchester, the campaign directly ties resident recruitment and retention to tourism marketing, leveraging the county’s natural beauty and community assets. The outreach targets remote workers and midcareer professionals seeking stronger community ties.
“It’s important to work in coordination with each other. That collaboration takes effort, but we all recognize it leads to better outcomes.”
“The reasons people live here are the same reasons people visit here,” Osberg said. “Rather than start a new brand or create a new logo, we chose to weave our resident recruitment and resident retainment messaging with our tourism messaging.”
Marketing, however, is only part of the equation. Otter Tail County also created the Big Build housing initiative to meet the needs of newcomers. The goal of the county-wide initiative is to build, preserve or rehab 5,000 housing units to support workforce retention. It also launched a three-year pilot called the Empowered Worker Program to help existing residents enter the labor force with training that aligns with local employer needs. Childcare, broadband and transportation investments round out the support system.
The coordinated strategy is showing results. “We can’t hold a victory parade yet,” Osberg said. “We haven’t won the labor shortage war.” Still, according to recent state data, “we’ve been able to maintain a level workforce. We’ve beaten the predictions.”
With today’s domestic migration trends, jobs matter—especially in rural areas—but they’re not the only draw. People are choosing communities based on quality of life, social connections and local amenities. Research from the University of Minnesota Extension confirms what forward-thinking communities already know: Attracting residents takes more than economic opportunity. As competition for workers intensifies, Greater Minnesota communities that invest in resident recruitment and innovative livability strategies will be the ones that stand out.
“It’s important to work in coordination with each other,” said Amy Baldwin, Otter Tail County’s community development director. “That collaboration takes effort, but we all recognize it leads to better outcomes.”
After selling its longtime property, One Heartland creates fund to ensure safe, affirming camp experiences for generations of kids.
By Lisa Meyers McClintick
Amy Acker loved everything about summer camp. She attended from age 9 to 16 and then spent the next four summers working as a counselor.
“Camp was a really instrumental part of my growing up,” said the Minneapolis mother of two, who believes many of her personal values were shaped by those YMCA experiences. While one of her children was able to attend a more traditional summer camp like his mother, she was hesitant when it came to her 17-year-old, Crow.
In 2021, Crow came out as transgender and was struggling with mental health issues. When Acker found Camp True Colors at One Heartland near Willow River, it provided just what Crow needed: a camp experience in a place that was welcoming and without judgment, understanding of LGBTQ struggles and able to provide an affirming sense of belonging and camaraderie with kids from around the country.
“It really did feel like a safe space and a bubble from the outside world where I could grow in confidence,” Crow said. In addition to the welcoming community he found at camp, he also appreciated
the adult role models who had been on their own journeys and had landed in a good place in life: “It gave me a lot of hope for the future,” Crow said.
True Colors was one of many camps hosted at the 80-acre One Heartland, which started in 1993 as a summer camp and sanctuary for kids with HIV/AIDS. Additional camp sessions were set aside for kids with other struggles, such as chronic illness, homelessness, or being adopted, and who might benefit from time with peers away from daily challenges, and among adults able to support them both medically and emotionally.
Faced with declining demand for an HIV/AIDS-focused camp and ongoing challenges with fundraising and property upkeep in the wake of the pandemic, One Heartland made a pivotal decision. The nonprofit sold its 80-acre camp, located just west of Willow River in Pine County, to a Twin Cities church in May 2025 and chose a new path to continue its mission. Proceeds from the sale helped establish a $1.3 million Partner Fund with the Initiative Foundation to support safe and inclusive camp experiences for kids.
“All of our camps were really to bring kids together who might
not be able to be with kids in similar circumstances,” said Patrick Kindler, former One Heartland executive director who is helping to guide the transition. “When you bring them all together, there’s this power in it. It’s amazing to see how it affects kids.”
Some view One Heartland’s closure not as a loss, but as a milestone victory. Thanks to advances in medication, the risk of an infant contracting HIV during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding has dropped to less than 1 percent. In 2021, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported just 53 HIV diagnoses nationwide among children under 13—a striking contrast to the epidemic’s early days.
When the camp began, its founders wanted to give HIV/AIDS kids the best week of their lives in a joyful setting insulated from the stigma and social isolation of the disease. As medications transformed an HIV/AIDS diagnosis from a death sentence to a disease that can be managed, the camp pivoted toward teaching life skills and preparing kids for the future, Kindler explained.
For three decades, happy shrieks could be heard from the beach of what they nicknamed Noodle Lake, and up to 150 campers and 40 to 50 staffers roamed among cabins and the main lodge on the wooded property from mid-June through mid-August.
Kids from across the country found life-changing adventures at the camp, while their families took comfort knowing trained counselors could navigate complex physical and mental health needs, and medical staff were on hand for everything from daily medications to IV treatments.
Like the campers living with HIV/AIDS who came before them, many LGBTQ youth faced deep social isolation—ostracized by peers,
“Thinking back on three decades of people coming together to offer kids life-altering connections, their legacy is going to live on in this fund.”
- Patrick Kindler, former One Heartland director
shunned by their communities, and, in too many cases, rejected by their own families, said Kindler. Supporting them was a natural extension of One Heartland’s original mission.
One Heartland often covered camp expenses for kids through fundraisers and hundreds of contributors, including pop singer Cindy Lauper, whose “True Colors” song advocated for being your authentic self and inspired the LGBTQ camp name.
One Heartland reached out to the Initiative Foundation for a loan to prepare the camp to sell. It also decided to use the Initiative Foundation to set up a Partner Fund, which includes bookkeeping support, tax reporting, comprehensive financial management and providing advice as regional philanthropy experts, said Amy Gray, community philanthropy manager at the Initiative Foundation.
Kindler said the board is still deciding how to carry One Heartland’s mission forward without a physical camp. Ideas include offering scholarships for kids to attend specialized camps elsewhere or funding training for camp counselors.
Acker, who served on the One Heartland board until earlier this year, said one option is to help mainstream camps add an LGBTQ-focused week. Another approach is to share the nonprofit’s expertise, enabling mainstream camps to better support and affirm LGBTQ youth.
For Acker’s son Crow, three summers at True Colors gave him the skills he needed as a transgender youth to speak up, be a better self-advocate and to navigate negative encounters. Those skills and strengthened confidence allowed him to attend an all-state choir camp, something he said he’s eager to experience again.
“This fund is going to set One Heartland up for success as they continue their work to support kids of all backgrounds,” Gray said. “It opens them up to a flexible approach with a fund that will be available in perpetuity. That’s really significant.”
Kindler said One Heartland’s legacy will live on through the fund. “We’re sticking with the organization’s history when we decide what to do with the money, and that’s to provide kids who need it most with a safe camp to go to. As sad as it is that [One Heartland] closed, it’s not over. These experiences will still be had.”
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By Kevin Allenspach | Photography by Paul Middlestaedt
In downtown Long Prairie, the thrum of music and buzz of conversation fill a once-vacant century-old building.
At Viva Bar and Restaurant, owners Gabrier Perez and Miozoti Nieves have transformed a long-empty main street space into a local gathering hub. Upstairs, six newly renovated apartments offer much-needed housing in a tight rental market.
An hour away, in Waite Park, Gladys Winkelman stands under a newly installed three-demensional lighted sign outside African Pinkylicious Salon. After nearly closing when faced with unexpected building requirements, the boost in visibility has elevated her hairbraiding business and helped to attract a growing base of new customers.
And in Sauk Centre, Eagle’s Healing Nest is back to business as usual. After financial setbacks nearly forced the veteran-support organization to shut its doors, a new leadership team has stabilized the mission-driven nonprofit for those recovering from PTSD, anxiety, addiction and the wounds of war.
Different stories, shared challenges and a common thread: All three businesses received flexible, mission-driven loans from the Initiative Foundation—a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Through microloans, strategic lending partnerships and business coaching, the Foundation and its Impact Fund lending team help fill gaps that likely would not have garnered loan support from more traditional lenders.
“These are the kinds of investments that lift up entire communities,” said Kate Barr, senior advisor to the Minnesota CDFI Coalition, which the Initiative Foundation helped to create in 2022. “CDFIs like the Initiative Foundation don’t just finance projects—they help fuel hope, stability and generational opportunity.”
Whether it’s helping early-stage entrepreneurs, preserving
services for vulnerable veterans or reviving rural downtowns, the Initiative Foundation’s lending program is designed to meet people where they are, positioning borrowers for long-term success by helping them graduate to mainstream lending.
Entrepreneurs Gabrier Perez and Miozoti Nieves have built a reputation for turning challenges into opportunities. Their latest venture, Viva Bar and Restaurant, transformed a formerly abandoned building into a vibrant community hub with much-needed apartments on the upper floor.
Financing the extensive renovation posed a challenge, but Perez secured an $80,000 grant administered by the Initiative Foundation through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s Main Street Economic Revitalization Program. The grant supported the apartment build-out, addressing a local housing shortage while strengthening the project’s financial foundation.
To launch Viva Bar and Restaurant, Perez and Nieves— transplants to Central Minnesota from the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico—partnered on a $125,000 loan from the Initiative Foundation and its subsidiary, the Impact Fund.
“Gabrier and Miozoti did a lot of the work themselves—they just needed help covering some of the cost,” said Doug Adams, Impact Fund finance manager. “The apartments gave us a compelling reason to get involved. It helped cash-flow the bar and restaurant idea. This building had a ton of potential. It just needed someone to believe in it.”
Viva Bar brings a big-city vibe to the rural town of 3,700. The venue seats 250 and features a circular bar, a dance floor with a DJ booth and sound system, VIP lounges, and an amusement area with a pool table and coin-operated games.
“The Initiative Foundation believed in this project,” said Nieves, a former bank teller and translator. “Without them, we wouldn’t have gotten the funding. We wouldn’t have been able to do anything. They were our main driver.”
Luan Thomas-Brunkhorst, director of the Long Prairie Chamber of Commerce, praised the pair’s resourcefulness: “They’re go-to people in town. This was probably a $500,000 project they pulled off. And it wouldn’t have happened without the Initiative Foundation stepping in to close the gap. Now, we have a building that was once an eyesore that is now a welcome main street business.”
Viva Bar is located at 140 Central Ave. in Long Prairie. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. The menu features Puerto Rican favorites like carne frita and pechuga, alongside burgers, soups and hearty entrees for dine-in or takeout.
In 2024, Air Force veteran Aaron Starrett found himself in crisis—jobless and homeless in his hometown of Austin, Texas. A decade removed from his military service, he missed the camaraderie and purpose of life in uniform.
“I got to a very bad spot,” Starrett said. “If it wasn’t for my very forward-thinking sister, I’m not sure what would’ve happened, but it wouldn’t have been good.”
Starrett’s sister searched online and found Eagle’s Healing Nest, a nonprofit campus in Sauk Centre that serves veterans and their families coping with PTSD, anxiety and addiction. Within days, Starrett arrived and began rebuilding his life.
“He’s one of the reasons Eagle’s Healing Nest exists,” said Eagle’s Healing Nest Director Shawn Kor, a former Marine and retired Minnesota Army National Guard command sergeant major. “He’s a brother who needed help.”
Founded in 2012 by a military mom, Eagle’s Healing Nest houses up to 75 residents on a 124-acre campus that once served as a juvenile
reformatory. Its approach is unique: no referrals, no time limits, no cost to residents. The nonprofit relies on donations, grants and service reimbursements to cover expenses.
In 2022, a state investigation prompted leadership changes and the suspension of the organization’s nonprofit status. Kor took on the director role in 2023, knowing he and his new board were inheriting an organization with reputational damage and looming foreclosures on two properties.
“We were under the gun,” he said. “We approached some banks that were willing to help, but we needed the Initiative Foundation to join the lenders to put together a package that would save us. If it weren’t for that, we would’ve had to shut down.”
The contracts for deed were converted into traditional 20-year mortgages, thanks to a team effort from the Initiative Foundation, United Prairie Bank and Minnesota National Bank.
“This was a mission-driven loan,” explained Tim Swanson, business finance manager for the Initiative Foundation. “Veterans need this support, and we were glad to be the missing piece to the puzzle.”
Eagle’s Healing Nest supports residents with five pillars: physical and mental health, social connection, spiritual healing and service to others. It offers peer-to-peer programs, creative therapies, and transportation to Veterans Affairs services—with more than 2,000 trips to the St. Cloud VA last year.
Today, Starrett is thriving as a peer leader. “I’ve got goals I want to accomplish and opportunities to pursue now,” he said. “I’m not sure exactly when it will happen, but I know the time is coming when I’ll soar the nest.”
If you know of a veteran in need of support, call (320) 351-6200 or visit eagleshealingnest.org.
When her landlord required all tenants to upgrade to new lighted signs, Gladys Winkelman faced a painful possibility: pay nearly $15,000 or risk losing her braiding salon.
“I felt overwhelmed and didn’t know what to do,” said Winkelman, owner of African Pinkylicious Salon in Waite Park. “If I couldn’t find some help to do it, I was faced with maybe closing for a while.”
Winkelman had built a loyal client base over more than a decade, with customers traveling from across Central Minnesota and the Twin Cities for braiding services that can take hours and cost hundreds of dollars. She leads a small team that specializes in cornrows, twists, extensions and more.
Originally from Kenya, Winkelman came to the United States to study nursing but discovered her calling in hair artistry. After relocating the shop to a high-traffic strip mall near the intersection of Second Avenue South and Highway 23 in Waite Park, her business grew—until the signage ultimatum threatened her lease.
Winkelman’s plain black-and-pink placard no longer met building requirements. Lacking any real collateral, she had few options for a bank loan.
That’s when a client pointed her to the Initiative Foundation. As a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), the Foundation provides flexible lending to entrepreneurs who face barriers to traditional financing.
“Gladys was at real risk of losing her space,” said Doug Adams, Initiative Foundation Impact Fund finance manager. “She had a strong business, but no collateral a bank could work with.”
Winkelman secured a $10,000 microloan from the Initiative Foundation. It covered the cost of a professionally made illuminated sign—saving her lease and boosting traffic.
“We have people just come walking in here now,” she said. “It was such a good decision. The sign really gets attention.”
With the salon thriving, Winkelman is eyeing her next goal: opening a barbershop.
“She was already doing the hard work,” Adams said. “We just helped her navigate a slight roadblock.”
To learn more, visit africanpinkylicioussalon.com.
If you’re an entrepreneur, nonprofit leader or community changemaker with a bold idea and a financing gap, connect with a member of the Initaitive Foundation’s Impact Fund lending team. Together, we can turn your vision into momentum. Visit ifound.org/business-services/lending
When Air Force veteran Aaron Starrett arrived at Eagle’s Healing Nest in Sauk Centre, he had no job, no home and no clear way forward. Within months, the nonprofit campus for veterans had given him stability, purpose and a path to rebuild his life. But the Nest itself was in crisis—facing foreclosure until a financing partnership, including the Initiative Foundation, stepped in to keep its mission alive.
The Initiative Foundation is one of nearly three dozen certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) in Minnesota and among almost 1,500 nationwide. Certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury since 1997, the Initiative Foundation and its CDFI peers across the nation fill lending gaps that traditional banks can’t always bridge, especially in rural and underserved communities.
In 2023, the Foundation created the Impact Fund, a wholly owned subsidiary with its own board of directors. Working independently or alongside banks and credit unions, the Impact Fund helps entrepreneurs and nonprofits secure the funding they need—often with flexible terms and tailored support.
We sat down with the five Impact Fund board members and asked them to share their perspectives on this work, the region’s needs and the opportunities ahead. Board members include Shirwa Adan, CEO of Credent Care in St. Cloud; Rob Aitken, executive director of Leech Lake Financial Services; Brett Anderson, a member of the Initiative Foundation’s Board of Trustees and vice president and branch manager at First National Bank of Milaca; Baabiitaw Boyd, adjunct faculty at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College and Bemidji State University; and Nick Tietz, founder and CEO of ILT Academy based in St. Cloud. Here’s what they had to say:
What is your take on the Impact Fund’s mission, and why is it important for Central Minnesota?
Tietz: The Impact Fund is here to back underestimated entrepreneurs and business leaders in Central Minnesota. It’s important work because it provides a better path for emerging entrepreneurs and their long-term success. Strong, vibrant communities need sustainable businesses that build wealth, create jobs and empower entrepreneurs to do what they do best: build new futures. How do CDFIs support small businesses differently from traditional financial institutions?
Anderson: Access to capital is foundational to community health, and we're fortunate to have many strong banks in our region that support local businesses. However, there are moments when traditional financing isn't quite enough, whether due to risk profile, collateral limitations or simply timing. As a CDFI, we do not compete with our local banks. We bring flexible capital and targeted expertise to the table, helping entrepreneurs move forward when conventional financing might fall short. In doing so, we not only support the entrepreneur directly, but also strengthen the broader ecosystem by partnering with our local financial institutions to ensure businesses get the full support they need to thrive.
What inspired you to join the Impact Fund board of directors?
Adan: As a small business founder in Central Minnesota, I've had the privilege to support countless entrepreneurs and business owners through my previous work. Nothing energizes me more than helping others succeed—whether through mentorship, resources or simply being a trusted advocate. Joining the Impact Fund Board allowed me to expand that mission, empowering even more local businesses and
aspiring visionaries to thrive. Together, we can build a stronger, more vibrant economy rooted in collaboration and shared growth.
What unique perspective or experience do you bring to the board?
Boyd: I was raised in a rural small town, attended public school and pursued a specific path to uncover gaps in my education regarding Ojibwe language and culture. From that point on, my cultural apprenticeship shaped my decision-making framework, and it fueled my desire to participate in community building for the betterment of all.
Describe a moment or story that made you especially proud to serve on this board.
Aitken: One of the moments that stands out most was our very first board meeting. I realized I was surrounded by people with deep expertise and a commitment to reinvesting in Central Minnesota’s communities. As a tribal member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Leech Lake Band, I felt proud to bring
my own perspective—rooted in a history of working with historically disadvantaged communities—to this new effort. That meeting made it clear we weren’t just overseeing a fund; we were joining forces to provide affordable capital and hands-on support for entrepreneurs and nonprofits who might otherwise be overlooked. Seeing that shared passion in action confirmed for me that this board has the right mix of vision and dedication to make a real difference.
What are some of the biggest challenges rural entrepreneurs face, and how does the Impact Fund help address them?
Tietz: Rural entrepreneurs face tough challenges: limited access to capital, fewer mentorship and networking opportunities, and long distances from key resources or support systems. It can feel like you're building a business on an island. The Impact Fund helps bridge those gaps. We offer flexible funding options, business training and personalized support that meets founders where they are. It's not just
about loans—it's about surrounding rural entrepreneurs with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to grow strong, sustainable businesses right in their own communities.
What are your hopes for the future of the Impact Fund and the communities it serves?
Boyd: My hope is that we continue to evolve and address inequities, and that we always consider communities in our region where traditional approaches to economic development have been unsuccessful.
Editor’s note: Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Better Greens, LLC, Ostego* Easy Wash, Long Prairie FarmBrook Properties, LLC, Pine River Gatamow Logistics, LLC, St. Cloud Ideal Health, Elk River Infinite Eye Care, Sauk Rapids* Lakes Area Safe and Vault Co., Brainerd Midwest Processors, LLC, Pierz
Bernig's Auto Repair, LLC, St. Michael Princeton Dental Center Project 37, St. Cloud
Protea Health, LLC, St. Cloud*
Steve’s Alignment & Auto Repair, Wadena WhiteBox Marketing, Brainerd
With a special IRS designation that recognizes lending as a charitable purpose to alleviate poverty and create quality jobs, Initiative Foundation loans are contributing to a diversified economy in Central Minnesota. The Initiative Foundation is certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury as a Community Development Financial Institution. Loans signified by an asterisk (*) are supported by the Impact Fund, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Initiative Foundation. Learn more at cdfifund.gov.
LOOKING FOR FINANCING OPTIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS?
Connect with Doug Adams, Impact Fund finance manager, or Tim Swanson, business finance manager, to explore how the Initiative Foundation and its Impact Fund can help you access the right loan.
dadams@ifound.org
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Together, we can build a stronger Central Minnesota. Support the Initiative Foundation with your gift today. Together, we can build a stronger Central Minnesota. Support the Initiative Foundation with your gift today.
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Free meal programs build community, create connection and address food insecurity
By Ava Kian | Photography by John Linn
Jessica Anderson’s 3-year-old daughter enjoys the monthly meal she gets at Community Table in Zimmerman, just north of their home in Elk River.
“She knows exactly where the building is,” Anderson said, “and every time we pass, she’s like, ‘Can we go to the Community Table?’ So even for her, it’s like a highlight of her month.” Anderson, who has two kids and lives a busy life, said the monthly meals—hosted by the nonprofit Community Table— really make a difference for her family.
“It totally helps us not to have to worry about dinner one of the nights,” Anderson said.
At their core, programs like Community Table and Care N’ Share in Emily do more than fill plates—they fill hearts. By tackling food insecurity with nutritious donor- and grant-supported meals, they also create welcoming “third places” where neighbors can gather, share stories and break the grip of isolation. For seniors, families and anyone craving connection, these volunteer-powered efforts are helping to restore a sense of belonging at a time when community ties seem to be frayed.
For the past three years, Anderson and her family have made Community Table a regular part of their lives. What began as a grassroots effort to feed local residents just before the onset of the pandemic has grown into something much more—a gathering
place where community ties are built and strengthened.
“It started six years ago or so with a little spark and desire to feed the community,” said Amy Erickson, Community Table founder and executive director. “I ended up inviting a bunch of like-minded people in my circle of influence that I knew that had a heart for the community, had a heart for uniting the community and seeing the health improve of the community.”
Now, Anderson said, the program is a “pretty known thing” in Elk River, Zimmerman and surrounding towns. On the fourth Sunday of each month, neighbors of all ages—seniors, families, even residents from group homes—gather for a hot meal and a sense of connection.
“There is something about eating a meal, even in the presence of other people, whether you’re really talking to them or not,” Erickson said. “Some people really make an effort and want that connection, and then there are other people who just want to be around other people.”
The Initiative Foundation has helped sustain communitymeal programs like these through grants and nonprofit support. In 2024 alone, the Foundation awarded $105,000 in funding, offering grants of up to $7,000 to organizations working to address loneliness and social isolation.
Grant support has benefited programs like Care N’ Share in Emily. Founded in 2008 to feed hungry children coming to church, the program has since broadened to serve the entire community, often including residents of low-income housing in a neighboring town. In 2024, the Anderson Brothers Family Fund, a Partner Fund of the Initiative Foundation, awarded Care N’ Share a $5,000 grant to help cover costs for its weekly Wednesday dinners.
On average, about 150 meals are served each week—including comfort-food favorites like tacos or meatloaf with mashed potatoes, said volunteer coordinator Lori Nelson. Extra meals are frozen and sent to the local food shelf, ensuring that even those who can’t attend in person can enjoy a homemade dinner.
During the pandemic, Care N’ Share shifted to a deliveryonly service, but has since returned to in-person dining at a local church, along with takeout and delivery options. “The grant goes for supplies. Lots of it goes to containers; it also goes towards Second Harvest to get the food,” said Nelson, who is also a former Care N’ Share board member.
Meal programs like these fit naturally with the Initiative Foundation’s mission to strengthen community—one of the organization’s core pillars.
“When you come together over a meal, often there’s no specific agenda other than to get to know other people who are there,” said Nicole Clements, Initiative Foundation nonprofit development program officer. “These programs serve multiple purposes. For those who are food-insecure, it provides access to a healthy meal. For others, it provides another form of nourishment, and that’s community connection.”
Minnesota artist Su Legatt has explored the communitybuilding power of shared food through her project, Dish. It’s a series of potluck dinners hosted across the state where people are invited to bring a family or ancestral dish.
“Telling stories and sharing food transcends every
Improved Nutrition & Food Security
• ●Provides balanced, nourishing meals—often meeting dietary needs for seniors, low-income families and others with limited access to healthy food.
• ●Reduces hunger and food insecurity in vulnerable populations.
• ●Supports healthy eating habits through exposure to fresh, wholesome ingredients.
Social Connection & Reduced Isolation
• ●Offers a welcoming space where people can gather to renew and build friendships.
• Helps combat loneliness and social isolation, particularly among seniors and those living alone.
• ●Builds intergenerational connections by bringing together people of different ages and backgrounds.
Community Building & Civic Engagement
• ●Encourages volunteerism, giving residents a sense of purpose and pride.
• ●Strengthens neighborhood ties by creating regular opportunities for face-to-face interaction.
• ●Increases trust and cooperation across diverse community groups.
Local Economic & Resource Benefits
• ●Supports local farmers and food suppliers through ingredient purchasing.
• ●Reduces waste when surplus food is donated or repurposed.
Mental & Emotional Wellbeing
• ●Promotes comfort, joy and cultural exchange.
• ●Provides informal peer support and a sense of being “seen” and valued.
demographic.” And that, Legatt said, “looks like a potluck, which is common throughout the world, but has its own sort of cultural nuance within the Midwest.”
By sharing family favorites, she found, people could connect and get to know one another in meaningful ways.
“A lot of times, right off the bat, you either immediately connected to somebody who had a similar ancestral background as you or you became fascinated by somebody who had a completely different ancestral background as you,” Legatt said. “In one way or another, a connection was made with a stranger.”
Volunteerism is at the heart of most community meal programs. Care N’ Share has more than 100 helpers, including 30 who serve at least twice a month. They provide about 150 meals each week, primarily as takeout, though some guests stay to dine at the church. Since its launch in 2008, the group has served nearly 180,000 meals, Nelson said.
Community Table dishes out about 450 meals each month, with diners gathering at the Sherburne County Fairgrounds during the
summer months and the Elk River American Legion throughout winter. To create a welcoming environment, Community Table offers live music, lawn games, and a relaxed atmosphere.
“I heard some people actually use it as a date night or a way for their family to go out,” Erickson said. “You have music, you have other people, all that, and it’s not killing their pocketbook because it’s free. We have dads and sons out there playing flag football and Frisbee. It’s just amazing.”
Parents like Anderson value the respite. “It totally helps us not to have to worry about dinner one of the nights,” she said. Her kids enjoy the food—especially mac and cheese and potatoes—but also the chance to connect. “I feel like the more often we go, the more people we get to know … and you even start to notice the people who haven’t gone before. It’s been fun.”
In a time when community connections are on the decline, Clements sees shared meals as a bridge. “Community meals do more than fill plates—they bring people together, reduce isolation and strengthen bonds,” Clements said. “They turn food into a shared experience that nourishes, builds new friendships and creates a sense of belonging.”
The Initiative Foundation awarded $160,000 in grants to 25 organizations across Central Minnesota this summer, with a focus on sparking joy, fostering a sense of belonging and strengthening community ties. Projects ranged from neighborhood potlucks to cultural festivals, with many highlighting the power of food to create community connection.
Highlights include a new Taste of Benton County event, Saturday Night Live family nights in Cass Lake-Bena, Chisago’s Dine & Discover for older adults, and Pine City’s Silver Social for LGBTQ+ elders. Other grants support youth gatherings, camp programming, storytelling and culturally themed meals for adults with developmental disabilities. Scan the code or visit ifound.org/grants/joy-connection/ for more details.
Communities across Minnesota, including Cold Spring and Pine River, have revitalized their downtowns with state grant funding
By Suzy Frisch | Photography by John Linn
A century-old brick building on Cold Spring’s Main Street is enjoying a second act—this time serving sprinkles, sundaes and smiles. Built in 1893, the onceneglected space now sits in a prime location across from the city’s new splash pad and beside a freshly upgraded walking and biking trail. For the Sabo family, it wasn’t just a building—it was the perfect recipe for an ice cream shop that could draw neighbors together and turn a sweet treat into a community tradition.
Even with confidence in the building’s potential, the renovation list was daunting: heat, air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, bathrooms, and more. As they planned Red Truck Ice Cream, the Sabos discovered the Minnesota Main Street Economic Revitalization Program, administered in Central Minnesota by the Initiative Foundation. A $60,000 grant provided the green light they needed to get the project started.
“To start a small business like that and do what needed to be done, we would have struggled to make sure the project came together without the grant,” said Bob Sabo, who owns the business with his wife, Julie, and runs it with their three children. “Having grant access was a huge part of our decision-making.”
Since opening in 2022, Red Truck has become a destination for hard ice cream, soft serve, dirty sodas and more—drawing customers from across the Cold Spring area and beyond.
Launched in 2021, the Minnesota Main Street Economic Revitalization Program is breathing new life into businesses with its $80 million investment through three rounds of funding. Designed
by the Minnesota Legislature to counter setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest, natural disasters and business closures, the program has funded 625 projects statewide—44 percent in Greater Minnesota and 56 percent in the Twin Cities metro. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) estimates the effort has increased Minnesota’s tax base by $369 million. It’s also credited with creating 8,700 jobs and delivering a $10 return in local investment for every $1 in state funds.
DEED partnered with the Initiative Foundation to manage grants in Central Minnesota for rounds two and three. In 2022 and 2023, the Foundation awarded $4.3 million to support 110 projects in Brainerd, Cold Spring, Little Falls, Long Prairie, Pine River and St. Cloud. A thirdround distribution of $500,000 is now underway for projects in Braham, Cass Lake, Isanti, Little Falls and Walker.
Recipients could apply for a 30 percent matching grant of up to $200,000. “DEED’s mission is to empower the growth of the Minnesota economy for everyone, and that is what this grant program did,” said Neela Mollgaard, executive director of DEED’s
Office of Small Business and Innovation.
“The diversity of the investment, and the density of the investment, have had a compounding impact in communities.”
For the Initiative Foundation, the program’s goals align perfectly with its mission. “We know that downtown revitalization can be a spark to help communities thrive,” said Amy Trombley, vice president for community. “It really was an alignment of our mission and vision as an organization to support vibrant economies and thriving communities throughout Central Minnesota.”
That spark extends beyond brick-andmortar improvements. Grants have created new partnerships, boosted collaboration and strengthened community connections.
“When partnerships happen,” Trombley said, “it creates synergies and a stronger community that people want to come and support and where they feel like they belong.”
For Red Truck Ice Cream, the results are clear. Meeting his renovation goals and adhering to grant requirements was no small task, Sabo said, but the reward has been sweet. “The biggest part of it for us is being part of the community, getting more involved and getting support back from them.”
A community revival is readily apparent in Pine River, where 13 entities received about $435,0000 in Main Street grants. One of the key efforts involved renovating a building that sat vacant for eight years to prepare it for a new tenant. A $180,000 Main Street award significantly reduced the $600,000 price tag for the building’s transformation, which previously housed an ALCO retail store. It also paved the way for the owner to land Tractor Supply Company as a tenant and put the long-vacant property back on the tax rolls, said Mike Paulus, executive director of the Cass County Economic Development Corporation.
A restaurant underwent a complete remodel, a pharmacy and couple of real estate buildings received fresh exteriors, and the fitness center and bowling alley got modern upgrades—transformations that infused fresh energy into the entire city.
“It’s truly night and day,” Paulus said. “When you look at Pine River and the
$3.5 million that was invested in all, that is life-changing. It’s a completely different city with much more positive vibes and excitement for the future. The Main Street revitalization program is one of the best programs I’ve ever worked with because it provides actual, measurable results.”
After spending a career in real estate, Jana Johnson knows potential when she sees it—and she saw it in Pine River. When a downtown restaurant became available, Johnson purchased the building, applied for a Main Street grant, and used the $25,000 award for renovations. She loved that the 1902 building is steeped in history, once operating as a hotel and saloon owned by Pine River founder George Barclay. With support from the grant, Johnson gave the building a complete makeover— including exterior painting, new plumbing and flooring, and two renovated upstairs apartments. The transformation paved the way for the opening of the Barclay Cafe. Energized by that project, Johnson purchased a nearby vacant building, renovated it and rented space to Subway. The previous owner had received a $15,000 Main Street grant to remodel the building, and Johnson took over that work. During the renovations, she discovered an upstairs rooming house with six rooms sharing one bathroom. She remodeled them into two apartments. Johnson has since snapped up yet another building with plans to turn it into a pool hall and restaurant—proof of her confidence in Pine River’s future, even if the project didn’t garner Main Street funding. Her vision is part of a broader wave of community revitalization fueled by grant investments. A $75,000 Main Street award helped breathe new life into the Damsite Supper Club, which reopened in 2023 with live music and a fresh vibe. Other community wins include a revamped playground at Dam Park, all contributing to the town’s renewed energy and momentum.
“I truly believe that Pine River is on the threshold of really remarkable things— not that there was anything wrong with it before,” Johnson said. “The energy and the synergy of businesses collaborating hasn’t been seen for decades.” People’s collective
“ It really was an alignment of our mission and vision as an organization to support vibrant economies and thriving communities throughout Central Minnesota. ”
eagerness to invest in their businesses has played a big part in local renewal, she added: “I probably wouldn’t have been as inspired to invest if not for that. There is strength in numbers.”
Thanks to the changes around town, Pine River has more jobs and more opportunities. “People don’t have to leave Pine River for entertainment and food— we’re keeping it local,” Johnson said. “We also want to draw people to Pine River and spend their dollars with us.”
In Cold Spring, the Main Street boost goes beyond ice cream. More than a dozen projects have received nearly $500,000 in grants, helping building owners tackle updates to the movie theater, a demolition to prepare for new development, construction of a chiropractor’s office and rental space, exterior improvements to a fitness company, and more.
A few years back, Cold Spring did its part by first improving its two main downtown roads with refurbished streets, new benches, flowers and boulevards with trees, said City Administrator Kris Dockendorf.
The town’s central business district is hopping with every building now occupied.“That’s always been a big part of Cold Spring,” Dockendorf said. “We have a lot of really popular businesses downtown, and it’s always been busy. But I don’t think it’s shined like it does now.”
Local investments have been great for business—and for community morale, she said. “Before, people would come here because we have a great bakery and some really good restaurants. Now they look around and say, ‘This looks really nice.’”
Nic Stang, co-owner of The Great Blue Heron restaurant with his mom, Kathy, and wife, Chrissy, transformed the property’s courtyard and landscaping with the help of a Main Street grant. After 21 years running the 50-year-old establishment, the family set out to craft a welcoming outdoor wedding venue and a beautiful spot for diners to relax. Today, a fresh gazebo, new fencing, vibrant shrubbery brighten the space—turning it into a relaxing retreat that invites guests to linger.
Though Stang said they likely would have completed the work at some point, “it would have probably gotten put further down the list. Sometimes you need a push to make something a priority.”
After completing the roughly $44,000 project—supported by about $8,500 in Main Street funding—The Great Blue Heron began hosting weddings and other events in 2023. It now offers a weekly farmers’ market in its parking lot, drawing people to admire the courtyard and others who ask to have photos taken there. Stang said foot traffic has increased since the remodel, including many more customers visiting the restaurant and Cold Spring from across the state.
The Stang family wanted to improve their building to set up the business for continued success. The effort demonstrates the restaurant’s commitment to Cold Spring—a sentiment shared by other business owners in town, Stang said. “What I see now is more forward thinking of what the next 10, 20 or 30 years is going to bring,” he said. “Everybody is embracing those future changes by investing in their businesses. To be here for that—it’s so fun.”
In early 2025, the Initiative Foundation secured a $500,000 grant from Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development Main Street Economic Revitalization Program. The funding is driving improvement projects in Braham, Cass Lake, Isanti, Little Falls and Walker, with up to 30 percent matching grants available for infrastructure, renovations and other updates. In Braham, the Tusen Tack thrift store is adding a new concrete driveway and refreshed landscaping. In Walker, D&B Outdoors is investing in building repairs and renovations. In Isanti, grant dollars are helping restore The Creamery Crossing, a property that includes apartments, office space and plans for a reopened restaurant.
“ Everybody is embracing those future changes by investing in their businesses. To be here for that—it’s so fun. ”
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Grassroots teams in Hackensack and Milaca show how small towns can turn ideas into lasting change
By Jon Spayde
Photography by John Linn and Paul Middlestaedt
Adecade ago, Hackensack, with a population of about 300, was in the civic doldrums.
Located in Central Minnesota’s lake country, the town lacked the public amenities that could attract tourists and lake-home owners. The were no childcare facilities, no community center, no dog park. The surface of its municipal tennis court had buckled so severely it was unplayable. The town looked and felt run-down, tired, even defeated.
Today, Hackensack has come alive. A colorful sign welcomes visitors approaching from the south on Highway 371. Hang a left on Murray Avenue toward Birch Lake and you’ll see the revamped tennis courts, an expanded basketball court and a new pickleball court surrounded by an even newer wind-blocking screen.
Go east to the end of Lake Avenue and you’ll find the dog park, an 18-hole disc golf course and the town’s community garden. Towering over it all is a spruced-up water tower bearing a town logo that mirrors the welcome signage. All of this and more—thanks to the work of a grassroots nonprofit called the Game Changers.
About 100 miles southeast, Milaca—a town of 3,000—has been charting its own path forward. In 2011, with help from the Initiative Foundation, residents launched the Rum River Community Foundation to fill the gap left by the absence of traditional service clubs like the Lions or American Legion. Since then, the Rum River Community Foundation has fueled a steady stream of community projects.
It’s no surprise, then, that the Initiative Foundation’s reboot of its Thriving Communities program is drawing inspiration from the work in Hackensack and Milaca as it helps small towns chart the next wave of community projects.
Amy Trombley, the Initiative Foundation’s vice president for community, believes the stories of Hackensack and Milaca will spark ideas in other Central Minnesota towns. “What’s powerful about these communities,” she said, “is that the projects they’ve built aren’t just quick wins—they’ve delivered real results and stood the test of time.”
The Thriving Communities program relaunched in July as the second act of a once-popular program that first debuted in the late 1990s. It was phased out a decade ago when funding ran dry, but its mission remains the same: empower residents to pinpoint their community’s toughest challenges and draw on their knowledge and creativity to solve them. The first round of this new chapter for hometowns with populations of 5,000 or less includes the
“ Residents will work side-by-side to shape the future and make the changes last.”
communities of Braham, Motley, Sebeka, Staples and Taylors Falls.
The program provides training, coaching and program referrals to homegrown teams who will spearhead the work in each town. Each community will receive an initial $2,500 grant to support the planning process and another $2,500 for implementation. Each will then be eligible for additional grant funding of up to $10,000.
The goal is simple: inspire and equip local leaders to spark action from within their communities. “Residents will work side-byside to shape the future—and make the changes last,” Trombley said.
When Milaca’s leaders joined the first iteration of Thriving Communities, they knew they needed a project that would prove the effort was more than just talk. The town’s aging band shell— scallop-shaped, crumbling, and poorly lit—was an easy choice.
“It was in bad shape,” recalled Mayor Dave Dillan. “I mean, really bad shape. It was falling apart.”
Backed by a $2,500 seed grant, the team launched its bandshell repairs. The transformation was dramatic: Today, the pristine band shell is the site of concerts and community gatherings. More than a facelift, Dillan said, it built trust. “Revamping it made something that people could look at and say, ‘If I give my $500, I see where it’s going. It’s not going to some mystery fund.’ That really helped us build credibility.”
That early win didn’t just save a highly visible local landmark— it sparked new community-shaping ideas.
In its decade and a half of existence, the Rum River Community Foundation has gone on to support a constellation of community needs and amenities, including a parade, new equipment for the fire department, fireworks displays, a club supporting diabetic youngsters and a program that secretly slips free food into the lockers of students experiencing food insecurity at home.
The foundation keeps itself in the public mind by sponsoring
two annual events: a spring gathering during which grants are announced, and OktoberFiesta, a German-Mexican mashup of tacos and tankards aimed at attracting a younger crowd.
Hackensack’s Game Changers got started when a group of locals, including soon-to-be mayor Bill Kennedy and businessmanturned-life-coach Gary Dietrich, came together to see if they could change the town’s game. Informal conversations and pandemic-era Zoom calls turned into a gathering in a local restaurant where town folks—and people with homes on the 127 lakes within a 10-mile radius of town—shared their visions of a revitalized community.
“There were, I think, five or six ideas that were floated around,” Dietrich said. “And all of those ideas later on became Game Changer teams.” Two other milestones advanced the civicchange agenda: the election of Kennedy to the City Council in 2019, and, in the same year, the creation of the Hackensack Lakes Area Community Foundation, a Partner Fund of the Initiative Foundation. Kennedy would later go on to become mayor in 2021.
The Game Changers formed their own 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2020 and routinely receive grants from the Hackensack Lakes Area Community Foundation. Today, 15 teams are working on various projects.
The Game Changers’ scheme is straightforward: anyone can form a team and submit a simple application to the Game Changer board. If approved, the application goes to the City Council for a final thumbs-up. The team is responsible for fundraising as well as execution. “It’s not like you pitch the idea over the fence and run away,” Kennedy said. “Your team has to be the vehicle to help make that thing happen.”
Plenty happened. The Game Changers raised $8,000 to add Hackensack’s colorful logo to the town’s water tower. The dog park was created on land donated to the city. “That one took a long
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time to fundraise for, because not everybody’s into a dog park,” said Game Changers treasurer Kris Biessener. Still, the project moved forward and proved successful. “It’s quite busy, with a lot of tourists bringing their dogs.”
Another big draw has been the Hackensack sports courts. When a citizen gave the city $5,000 to repair the decayed tennis court, a couple of Game Changers swung into action to go beyond those repairs. Dan Kellogg, a member of the local pickleball club, teamed up with Sue Toth, co-owner of Rendezvous, the town’s brewpub, to fundraise for an outdoor pickleball court and an expansion of the basketball court, too.
“We were able to raise money faster than anyone thought we could,” Toth said. The project proved popular, with people traveling from towns near and far to play.
Toth was also the sparkplug for that welcome sign south of town, and she’s currently negotiating with MnDOT to create wayfinding signs within city limits and another welcome sign north of Hackensack on Highway 371, which is being resurfaced through town.
To keep neighbors informed and engaged, the Game Changers publish quarterly editions of Lucette’s Gazette—a newsletter for the Hackensack Lakes Area. Its pages are filled with local news, event spotlights and updates on community projects, helping residents stay connected and invested in their town’s success.
The newsletter riffs on the local statue of Lucette—Paul Bunyan’s sweetheart—which gives Hackensack its own playful twist on Minnesota folklore.
Biessener and her Lane Changers team are bringing a multimedia approach while the road repairs are underway. Each week, they send an email to 500 subscribers. The email includes drone footage of road construction and tips on the best routes people can take to avoid delays when visiting Hackensack.
The Game Changers are several years into tackling two of Hackensack’s larger challenges: affordable housing and childcare.
Mann Lake Beekeeping and Ag Supply, a national business with 200 local employees, is the town’s largest employer—but workers there, like many others, often face long commutes because starter homes and rental properties are scarce.
Dietrich led the Game Changer effort to create a childcare center for these families. The Great Start center now operates in the basement of Union Congregational Church, and Dietrich is working with Biessener and the Resilient Housing team on Woodland Corners, a multi-family housing project. The land has been purchased, and the team is collaborating with St. Cloud nonprofit developer Central Minnesota Housing Partnership.
Some residents worry that multi-unit housing could bring socioeconomic decline, but Dietrich remains optimistic. “I can’t think of a single Game Changer project that hasn’t been a success,” he said, confident that the town’s track record will carry the project forward.
Added Biessener: “We’re just a perfect storm for positivity and change.”
The Foundation’s Thriving Communities program (previously known as the Healthy Communities Partnership) has worked with 80 cities, six counties and, in the greater St. Cloud area, eight core neighborhoods since the late 1990s to plan for healthy, vibrant futures. A snapshot of past participants and their accomplishments:
LITTLE FALLS: The community team helped to develop the Shoppes of Little Falls—a retail incubator where as many as two dozen local vendors display their products under one roof. The team also addressed park improvements and economic development work to make industrial sites shovel-ready.
FOLEY: A desire to better connect the community led to the creation of two family-friendly annual community events. The Foley team also completed a downtown revitalization plan in conjunction with Center for Rural Design and kick-started a local farmers market.
BRAHAM: Thanks to the work of the Braham Area Committee For Kids (B.A.C.K.), the town raised funds to improve its football, baseball and softball fields. And the crown jewel of their efforts was the Braham Event Center, which offers programs for seniors and the area’s youth and features banquet space for weddings and other events.
How communities come together to plan for more vibrant futures
LONGVILLE: The Longville area rallied around park development, economic development and aquatic invasive species control. They produced a community guide for visitors and residents; relocated and improved a community skating rink; and created and distributed invasive species materials to resorts and area businesses.
LONG PRAIRIE: One of the program’s earliest participants, members of the Long Prairie community focused on downtown revitalization, community theater and local park expansion. The improvements included the creation of Veterans Memorial Park and a Long Prairie tourism board. The team also championed a renovation of the historic Reichert Hotel, a onceabandoned building in the heart of downtown, to create affordable multi-family housing.
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1) The Initiative Foundation hosted a July meet-and-greet and Enterprise Academy alumni market at Viva Bar and Restaurant in Long Prairie. Nearly 100 community members connected over conversation and great food while supporting local vendors. Pictured: Karina Morales Banks (right) with her mother, Dolores Banks Berroa.
2) Impact Fund Finance Manager Doug Adams was on hand for loan client Mustafe Abdulahi’s grand opening for Central Towing Service in St. Cloud. After 21 years in an Ethiopian refugee camp, Abdulahi resettled in St. Cloud and built multiple businesses, including his newest venture, Central Towing Service.
3) Initiative Foundation staff joined Little Falls Community Schools for its 14th Annual Day of Caring in May. Alongside 400 community volunteers and Little Falls students, Foundation staff helped spruce up 185 homes in Little Falls, Randall, Sobieski and Flensburg. The team filled dozen of leaf bags—proof that a bit of elbow grease goes far when fueled by community spirit.
4) Thanks to the generosity of 11 local banks and a partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Des Moines, the Initiative Foundation secured $140,000 in community investments. This funding—boosted by a 3-to-1 FHLB match—will make a huge difference across Central Minnesota. Pictured: Foundation staff with BankVista’s Stefan Freeman.
5) In June, Amy Gray and Elizabeth Mboutchom brought the Initiative Foundation’s mission to the Loons and Lakes Festival at the National Loon Center in Crosslake—raising awareness about the Foundation’s work and how people can start a fund to support causes that matter to them.
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By Kevin Allenspach
Photography by John Linn
Lisa Finck’s life changed almost 10 years ago when her infant daughter, Espen, was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis complex—a leading genetic cause of epilepsy—as well as with autism. Almost overnight, Finck gave up her job as a patient care coordinator at Essentia Health in Brainerd to become Espen’s full-time caregiver. Somehow, amid seemingly endless office visits, expensive medication and consultations with physicians, Finck found the threads of a new career.
While Espen underwent electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring, Finck saw how the tangle of wires was bulky, awkward and hard to ignore. The setup not only made her daughter self-conscious but also looked intimidating to others. To calm Espen, Finck described the experience as wearing her “princess rainbow hair,” and a spark of ingenuity struck: Why not create headwear for those undergoing EEG tests that would ease the experience for both the wearer and those around them?
“Crafting and doing something by hand is something we’ve always done in our family,” Finck said. “It was basically, what kind of fabric looks interesting? What patterns look silly? What would make her feel better? I wrapped some fabric around her head to see how it looked and refined it from there.”
• Rainbow Hair Hats went through a half-dozen iterations before the current prototype was born. In late 2022, Finck launched a mission-based LLC that sells the hats for $50 each, with 80 percent of net profits going to support families facing similar challenges.
• As demand quickly outstripped what Finck could make on her own, an apparel designer in Parkers Prairie (Melissa DeWenter of Melissa Sue Designs, www.melissasuedesigns. com) and a manufacturer in Minneapolis (Abby Hansen of Aletheia Design + Sewing Service, www.visit-aletheia.com) provided hat patterns and production.
• To be easy on the skin and stretchable, the hats are made entirely of U.S.-milled organic cotton in three general sizes (infant, regular child/adult, and large to accommodate braids, dreadlocks or voluminous hair). One piece of fabric makes up the body, a tubular design with openings through which
“I’d love it if this grows to where I could hire other moms who can’t work outside the home to make these,” she said. “I think that would be amazing. It’s not hard and it can be done anytime, in the middle of the night or for an hour here or there.”
the wires are pulled before they’re attached to the head. All that is sewn to a second piece of fabric, which makes up the top band. Once the wires are connected to the wearer, the hat can be pulled up to cover the head and neck. The EEG leads go down the back into a pack that the wearer can carry. Unlike other designs, Rainbow Hair Hats don’t use zippers, ties, snaps or magnets, making them more comfortable.
• The hats are made in gender-neutral colors and patterns. Future goals include developing a version that can be customized or personalized with Velcro badge and tag patterns that can be changed at the whim of the wearer.
• Finck is in the second half of a two-year Initiators Fellowship that provides a $30,000 annual stipend to grow her Verndale business through mentorship and training with others in a nine-person cohort that was selected from more than 100 Greater Minnesota applicants. Her goal is to mass-produce the hats at
wholesale rates for nonprofits and hospitals around the world that work with the 1 in 26 people afflicted with epilepsy. She’s also striving to make the hats an insurance-covered item.
• Today, Espen is 9 years old and making steady progress, though the future remains murky. She continues to qualify for a state waiver that compensates her mother’s time, but Rainbow Hair Hats now gives Finck a professional purpose on top of her central identity as a parent of a child with special needs.
Send your best guess to IQ@ifound.org by Nov. 17, 2025.
Three winners will be chosen, at random, to receive a $25 credit to apply toward their favorite Initiative Foundation Partner Fund.
HINT: For more than a decade, Bruno—a Chesapeake–Labrador mix—walked four miles into town each day. Honored with a statue in 2015, the beloved “town dog” passed away in 2018.
Congratulations to all who correctly identified the Holdingford mural in the spring 2025 edition. Readers Merlin Bruns, Terry Skoczen and Dean Uselman were the lucky winners of the “Where’s IQ” contest.
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