Northwest Blog

Dave West served NMF for 23 years CHANGES IN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Change is underway at the Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF) as Senior Program Officer of Business Finance, Dave West will retire June 30. West began working for NMF, then the Northwest Initiative Fund, in 1990. His experience in banking helped ease the way toward developing a strong business development program. As the senior officer for the Business Finance Program, West had an integral part in building a loan portfolio that began with three loans and today is at $20 million. “We’ve helped people achieve their dream of owning a business,” said West. “My work has been very rewarding – knowing that I was a little piece of the puzzle that helped create nearly 2,500 jobs in northwest Minnesota.” Agricultural related projects were the most fun to work on throughout the years according to West because agricultural processing is a benefit to business and labor. He also enjoyed the nuts and bolts projec...

               The Bemidji Area Parks and Trails Fund, a component fund of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, recently began fundraising for a special project to help develop the Nymore Dog Park. And fundraising efforts are “fetching” the attention of dog lovers everywhere! “Bark for the Park” is an online dog photo contest to raise money for the future dog park located off of Miles Avenue in Bemidji. The two acre fenced in area with a double gated entry will be equipped with water, benches and pet waste bag dispensers. There are two weeks left to vote for your favorite pooch and you can download your dog’s picture at www.360photocontest.com/184 . Be sure to tell your family and friends to vote on your dog’s picture. The top 13 dogs will be featured in a 2014 dog calendar. The calendars can be pre-ordered at the annual 5K-9 walk/run on August 24. Calendars will also be sold at area businesses this fall. Donate...

The Fourth of July fireworks in Park Rapids have become an essential attraction for the holiday celebration. The fireworks are not free nor are tax dollars used to buy them—private donations alone fund the show. The Park Rapids Rotary is asking the public to help support their efforts this year and donate! Online donations can be made quickly and securely at www.nwmf.org ! Click on the Donate Now button and select the Park Rapids Fireworks Fund from the alphabetical list, or go to the Special Projects area on the home page. You can make an online gift in any amount you choose, or set up a pledge to pay automatically--you control the start and end dates. Credit cards or e-checks are accepted. Or you may mail a check payable to NMF- Fireworks Fund, address: Northwest Minnesota Foundation, 201 3rd St NW, Bemidji, MN 56601.  Contact Lisa Peterson with questions lisap@nwmf.org.

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF) and its Business Development Program continue to create jobs and business opportunities in the Northwest region with the recent approval of a loan to the Marvelous Fish House and Market owned by Marvin D. Hanson. The Marvelous Fish House and Market will become the first casual-dining fish restaurant in Bemidji. Its “Menu with a Splash” will specialize in the sale of walleye and the "Red Lake walleye sandwich." This will be no ordinary casual dining facility and market, as all products, including native fish and wild rice will come from the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. “The Northwest Minnesota Foundation is very excited to be one of the first lenders on this deal,” said program officer for business development, Diane Morey. “We welcome having an American Indian business loan in the entrepreneur development program because it helps us to better represent the business population in our region.” The Marvelous Fish Market will feat...

The IDEA Competition announced the names of four 2013 winners on Wednesday, April 24th at the IDEA awards banquet held at the Ralph Engelstad Arena, Thief River Falls. Keynote Speaker Jorge Prince is Chief Financial Officer and part owner of LaValley Industries. LaValley Industries was a winner of the IDEA Competition in 2010 for its DECKHAND® pipe handling system, The DECKHAND®. The Bemidji-based company has since partnered with Pipeline Machinery International, CRC-Evans Pipeline International, and Vermeer Corporation to distribute the DECKHAND worldwide. Since inventing the DECKHAND, LaValley has continued to grow the product line into other markets and is now a multiple patent holder.   Following the keynote address, The IDEA Hall of Fame added Mark Larson, president and chief operating officer of Digi-Key Corporation, and Ron Stordahl, founder and chief executive officer of Digi-Key Corporation. The 2013 Winners. Bria...

              In an effort to further enhance the strong business presence in downtown Bemidji, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has established a new fund with the Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF) that will offer loans up to $5,000. The mission of the revolving loan program is to assist businesses in either locating downtown or expanding their downtown business. The loans are available to any business looking to locate or expand in downtown Bemidji. “This is an excellent opportunity to increase awareness about the Downtown Development Authority and our important work,” said DDA President Ken Cobb. “We already have a great downtown, and we are always working to make it even better.  Our mission is to promote and enhance our vibrant downtown, and this loan program will encourage businesses to locate and expand here.” Loans can be used for building improvements, equipment, inventory, supplies, and working capital. The busines...

Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination The 2013 Women's History Month Lecture and Panel Presentation; "Uncovering the Past, Charting the Future: The Rise of Women in Science," will be presented at University of Minnesota Crookston Campus -  Eagle's Nest  on March 27, 2013 at 7 p.m.  The Northwest Women's Fund is sponsoring the event for anyone interested in the past, present and future of women in Science.  Keynote Address by: Sally Gregory Kohlstedt, Ph.D.  Earth Science Professor, University of Minnesota: Twin Cities. Panelists include: Rebekah Aakre, RN  Gloria Ayuck, NP Susan Bornsen, Ph.D. Pamela Elf, Ph.D Katy Smith, Ph.D Candiss O. Williams, Ph.D Vanessa Lane, Ph.D Moderator