All posts filed under: Blog

COVID-19 Business Resources

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Written by Vicki Oakes, MNbump Blogger Ortonville EDA & Big Stone Area Growth Note:  Whether local, state or federal assistance programs, you can call Big Stone Area Growth & Ortonville EDA for help/questions on forms, where to start, etc.  please call 320-839-6155 You’ll see recently reported info links (with dates) first.  Scroll further down and you’ll find the staple links to all the agencies’ main COVID-19 assistance pages.   5/20 Coronavirus Food Assistance Program – Signup runs from May 26 – August 28 (watch video below) – and following FarmersGov Facebook page (LINK) 5/20 COVID-19 New sections and links to next phase 5/18 Updated:  SBA and Treasury Release Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application.  (LINK to info & application) the Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application and detailed instructions for the application. The form and instructions inform borrowers how to apply for forgiveness of their PPP loans, consistent with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).  SBA …

Capital Investments in Ortonville over the Last 10 years

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A great article from the ortonvilleonbigstonelake.com website! Original Post Link:   2020 Listing the Ortonville Investments Looking at the past 10 years… listing the businesses that have made major capital investments (investing in the permanent structures & securing our brick and motor tax base in the City of Ortonville for years yet to come).  Investing in our town.  I personally have found this list to be impressive!  Let’s take a few minutes to reflect and celebrate these awesome investments in our community!  – and if you see that I missed someone, give me a shout by using the contact form on this website.  (you’ll see a photo and then a very brief description – click on each of their links to see more about each business) Bluestem Dental photo taken during construction. Parking lot is now paved & building complete. Bluestem Dental – or newest business and building in town which just recently opened.  The lots were cleared and construction began… what a conversation piece as we anxiously awaited the completion!  Located on First Street and houses 10 …

Shopping Local Series – Christmas Shopping at Home in the #MNbump

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Shopping the MNbump this Christmas Season (and all year round)… Please shop local first & when you can. As you scroll below, you’ll first see this post’s business partners and then you’ll find a link to every business (and organization, church, etc.) in Big Stone County sorted by category.  Remember – most have gift certificates available. (How do you become a business partner for one of MNbump’s posts? Watch our Facebook page and respond – no cost – we like to highlight a few of our businesses that stay connected to the ‘bump and reach out to help spread the news of Big Stone County. Staying connected, promoting each other – that is a great partner! Shopping in Beardsley by Matthew “Slim” Meyer The season of giving is fast approaching and one thing no one wants to give anymore is their time! What better way to keep your time than to shop local and not travel over the river and through the woods to find gift options. A quick trip to Beardsley can easily fulfill …

Shopping Local Series – Hair Salons

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The first in our “Living Rural & Shopping Local” series!  As we swing into the holiday seasons in the fall, winter, and then ringing in the new year, hair salons are likely on the top of most preparation lists.  (we’ve provided links to those that have an online presence) Also, a little reminder… our salons carry a wide range of products that make great gifts this Christmas season (or check on a gift certificate!)  #ShopLocalFirst We first hear from Gina Gilsdorf, our MNbump Connector from Graceville. The City if Graceville has three hair salons open to the public and one salon located at Grace Home for our nursing home and assisted living residents. The other three are located downtown. Kreative Hair and Nails by Kendra and Shear Grace Salon are located on Main Street. J&R Headhunters is just off main on 3rd street. The salons in our area are all a great asset to our community offering a variety of services including cuts, colors, perms, toning and much more. Next, we have Ortonville Salons submitted …

Fun Fall Activities in the #MNbump

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Fall is a special time in the #MNbump and in the upcoming days there is no exception to the activities that are available for kids and adults.  There are several Fundraising Meals, Fall Suppers, Halloween Events and other fun activities to keep us all busy!  Check out the info below and click on the events to take you to the links to the events, if available. Thursday, October 24th Chili and Soup Feed Fundraiser First English Church – 11 am – 1 pm Free Will Donation Friday, October 25th Treat Street – Downtown Ortonville Saturday, October 26th Trunk or Treat Hosted by GWO Main Street – Graceville Free Mini-Photography Session by Gina Lee Photography Saturday, October 26th Boo! and Bingo Party – Big Stone City Library 10 am – 1 pm Saturday, October 26th – 4-H Annual Halloween Carnival at the Fairgrounds 5:30 – 9:30 pm Saturday, October 26th Firemen’s Halloween Dance Sioux Historic – Ortonville  – 9 PM Sunday, October 27th Big Stone City’s Ghouls & Goblins Street 3 PM – 5 PM Wednesday, …

US Senator Tina Smith Visits Ortonville Area Health Services

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US Senator Tina Smith visited Ortonville Area Health Services this afternoon to listen and to learn how she can support communities to keep and sustain their health care in the face of a lot of really big challenges.  Her main questions today were:  how do you make it work in your communities, what are your challenges, what are the opportunities and what can she do to help bolster the areas, especially around workforce.  Other health care representatives present joining the discussion were representatives from Appleton Area Health Systems, Johnson Memorial Health Services (Dawson) and Lakewood Health Systems (Staples).  Carrie Bendix from the SW MN Private Industry Council (who also works with the workforce development board for the 14-county area) was also present to talk workforce. There was great discussion shared amongst all in attendance which ended with Carson Ouellette, the Northwest Minnesota Outreach Representative for Sen. Smith, bringing the discussion to a close with “So I hate to cut it short but I do want to get a chance to see the award-winning OB department!”  …

Meander Art Crawl Features Several #MNbump Artists – Oct. 4-6

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  The 16th annual Upper Minnesota River Meander Arts Crawl will be held on October 4, 5 & 6, 2019. The Meander is a free self-guided tour featuring 42 artists from 5 counties in western Minnesota. The annual event offers a chance for the public to meet with the region’s top artists in their home studios nestled among the small towns and family farms found in the Upper Minnesota River Valley. We are happy to be able to highlight the #MNbump artists who will be participating in this years Crawl.   Click on the photos below to check out their locations for the Meander and also the links below the photos to follow their pages.  For full details on the 2019 Meander – the Upper Minnesota River Art Crawl click here for the link to their page. The full brochure of all the events can be found on this link.  

Blog by Kelly Lang: Your Life, Your Choice – Let the Healing Begin

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As we continue our “People of the MNbump” series which highlights some of the talented people who live here in the MNbump – meet Kelly Lang! Kelly started blogging last year when she began a series of posts sharing her journey (and struggles) through earlier health issues – with “When your life flashes before your eyes in a flood gate of memories…”  Her health has now come full circle which she documents in her first series of posts.  She now continues writing (blogging)… with her new writings starting out with: “Hello!  It’s been a while since we’ve last connected.  Since finishing sharing my personal health journey story it was time for a sabbatical from blogging.  It’s been a great break, but I’m ready to start dabbling again.  That being said, I/our family has a story to share.  It’s a story about adventure, love, rescue, and so much more.  Are you ready to join me/us in an adventure?  If so, let’s embark on this one together!” Kelly is the owner of Helping Hands Therapeutic Massage & …

Brent Olson’s Independently Speaking Column Enlightens Those Around the #MNbump and Beyond

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Brent Olson leads a complicated life. His home is in Big Stone County, a small place hanging off the western edge of Minnesota. Brent made a living as a farmer for 30 years. In 1977 he was asked to fill out a term on the Soil and Water Conservation District. He ended up staying 12 years, during which time the district won two Goodyear Awards, given for outstanding work in soil and water conservation. He was also the token Protestant on a Catholic hospital board which led to an epic trip across Saskatchewan with a van load of nuns. He’s served on the Southwest Minnesota Arts and Humanities Council, Big Stone County Pork Producers, the United Methodist Board of Ordained Ministries, and is on the board of the New Life Primary School in Mizac, Haiti. He served on the first board of directors of a wildly successful ethanol plant and an utterly failed wind turbine project. He was a 2012 Bush Foundation Fellow and his fellowship project, The Inadvertent Café, was profiled by Minnesota Public …

The Creative Bite – a Blog by Danielle Green

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Danielle Green, grew up in the small community of Graceville, Minnesota and now lives on the farm she grew up in outside of Graceville with her husband Matt and their twins Madelyn and Cooper.  Her parents are Chuck and Deb Walters of Graceville. Here is the link to her blog – https://www.thecreativebite.com/ Danielle’s blog highlights her love of cooking as and highlights her ideas of Eating Well, Being Creative and to Live Good If you have any questions or feedback please contact her at Danielle@TheCreativeBite.com! The MNbump will be sharing information on some of our local people that have blog posts and like to write and share their information.  Please note that the views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of anyone associated with the MNbump or Big Stone Area Growth.