Would you like to grow your business with the help of technology?  Smart Phone, Tablet, Software, Hardware, and so on and so on . . . ?  We can help!

The Southwest Initiative Foundation’s (SWIF) Social Media, Website and Technology Development Quick Loan Program is a low-documentation loan program designed for small businesses. This program provides fast access to technology and online tools. Included is customized support through ongoing technical assistance and training as needed for the length of the loan. The technical assistance is provided by SWIF staff and includes:

• Social media training
• Website development
• Technology training

Business owners may use the loan funds for:

• Software
• Hardware, including computers, peripherals, tablets, and smart phones
• Website
• Social media
• Computer training

Client must be able to describe how the funds would be used and why it will help their business grow.

In addition to SWIF’s 18-county southwest Minnesota service area, the Microenterprise Loan Program also serves Carver, Stearns and Wright counties.

Contact the SWIF Microenterprise Loan Program at 800-594-9480, 320-587-4848 or loans@swifoundation.org for more information or to apply.

Knowledge is Power…and ignorance is not bliss.

You know your business. Take that knowledge to new heights and avoid mistakes.

Get the information you need and answers to your questions during this FREE one-hour webinar…

Topic: Avoiding the Top Tax Mistakes that Small Businesses Make

Date:  Thursday, June 20, 2013

Time:  11:00 a.m. (Pacific); Noon (Mountain); 1:00 p.m. (Central); 2:00 p.m. (Eastern)

What’s Covered:

• Tips to avoid common mistakes with your business taxes
• Good recordkeeping strategies
• What is reportable income
• How to carefully choose a tax preparer
• Helpful Tax Information Resources
• Broadcast will include a live Q&A session

CPE:  CE Credit is NOT being offered for this webinar.

Information & Registration

Local business benefits from Southwest Initiative Foundation microloan program

ST. CLOUD, Minn.—Gloria DeBenedet recently received loan assistance from the Southwest Initiative Foundation’s (SWIF) Microenterprise Loan Program for the start-up of her tea shop, Willow Tea, located at 820 West St. Germain in downtown St. Cloud. DeBenedt will also operate a sewing/alterations business in the back portion of the building.

DeBenedet owned and operated Zoomski’s Coffee Shop for several years in Little Falls. She has always had a great love for tea, and decided the time was right to open this business in St. Cloud since there is no other tea shop in the area.

Willow Tea will sell loose teas, in various size quantities, as well as miscellaneous items related to tea, gourmet food items and chocolates. Willow Tea will have many different kinds of tea on hand, with specials every day on a few different featured varieties. The daily special teas will be brewed and offered as take-outs, or in an individual teapot for inside enjoyment. Customers will also be able to enjoy fresh baked goods with their tea.

Willow Tea will be open Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The business can be reached at 320-260-7488 or on Facebook.

“The Foundation is pleased to be able to assist Gloria with the start up of her business, which will be an amenity for the downtown St. Cloud retail area,” said SWIF Program Coordinator Berny Berger.

SWIF loan proceeds were used for the purchase of equipment and inventory, and for working capital for the business. The project was done in conjunction with a loan from the St. Cloud Microloan Fund at St. Cloud State University. The Central Minnesota Small Business Development Center of St. Cloud was instrumental in the business planning process.

Loan programs have been a key function of SWIF since its inception as a way to support communities and businesses throughout southwest Minnesota. In 2001, microlending was added to existing programs as a tool to support small businesses and people looking for self-employment opportunities by providing market-rate loans.

Microloan clients receive free technical assistance from SWIF staff—all who have personal business experience—to improve their business management skills, from business planning to reading financials to marketing and other training opportunities for the life of the loan.

This microloan program receives funding assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture. For more information, contact SWIF at 800-594-9480, 320-587-4848 or loans@swifoundation.org.

The Southwest Initiative Foundation is a single connection offering unlimited possibilities to grow and promote people, businesses, entrepreneurs and communities in rural southwest Minnesota. As a regional community foundation, SWIF has contributed more than $58 million through its grant and loan programs. SWIF has helped more than 580 businesses start or expand through its business finance programs, which have created or retained more than 7,700 jobs. SWIF has also established 16 Early Childhood Initiative coalitions, 49 Youth Energy Summit teams, 24 community foundations and more than 80 other funds. The Southwest Initiative Foundation is an equal opportunity provider. To learn more, visit www.swifoundation.org.

We are excited to share some very positive news for our southwest Minnesota regional community!

We want to recognize the Southwest Initiative Foundation’s Microenterprise Loan Program/Entrepreneurship team for receiving a statewide award last week!

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and MAP for Nonprofits selected SWIF’s microloan program to receive their Dot.Org Award for Innovative Program Delivery. The annual awards honor Minnesota nonprofit innovators for their forward-thinking approach to utilizing technology and communications in their organizations.

The microloan program is a prime example of how SWIF connects many aspects of economic and leadership development, continually looking for ways to better serve entrepreneurs. The team has focused on integrating the Center of Rural Entrepreneurship (CORE) website into our program delivery. It empowers entrepreneurs to follow steps, with the support of staff, to explore and move their business ideas forward.

Congratulations and words of thanks go to the microloan team for finding new, great ways to help people in southwest Minnesota start, expand or transition their business!

These days, almost all of Idea Champions’ clients are talking about the need to establish a culture of innovation.

Some, I’m happy to report, are actually doing something about it. Hallelujah! They are taking bold steps forward to turn theory into action.

The challenge for them is the same as it’s always been — to find a simple, authentic way to address the challenge from the inside out — to water the root of the tree, not just the branches.

External systems and protocols are not sufficient to guarantee meaningful change. In the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes, “Systems die. Instinct remains.”

Red Rose Fine Art & Text Receives Loan Assistance from

Southwest Initiative Foundation

Teri Jensen recently received loan assistance from the Southwest Initiative Foundation’s (SWIF) Microenterprise Loan Program to start up her Watertown art business, Red Rose Fine Art & Text. Jensen is a self-taught artist whose work includes paints, watercolors, colored pencil and charcoal drawings. Subjects include both landscape and nature, and individual portraits.

Jensen creates and sells custom art prints as frameable art or note cards and stationery, through local venues, as well as at art and craft shows. A unique niche for Jensen is that she can take portraits or heirloom photos and create them in an artistic print that a customer can then use as they wish. She is also a writer with stories, poems, and motivational and wellness materials for sale.

Jensen will be the featured “new artist” in the Hutchinson Center for the Art’s April show. In the future, her artwork is will be on display in downtown Watertown through the Historical Society. She can be reached at 952-955-2025 to inquire about her artwork.

“Teri is a talented, artistic person, and SWIF is pleased to be able to assist her in pursuit of her life’s dream,” said SWIF Program Coordinator Berny Berger. Proceeds from the SWIF loan were used for equipment, art supplies and working capital.

SWIF’s Microenterprise Loan Program offers loans of up to $50,000 for starting or expanding for-profit small businesses located within the 18 counties of southwest Minnesota. This program also serves Carver, Stearns and Wright counties.

In addition to financing, SWIF provides free technical assistance to all clients who have received a loan through the Microenterprise Program for the life of the loan. SWIF staff and business consultants provide one-to-one business planning, accounting, marketing and other training opportunities that will help entrepreneurs succeed in their venture. The program receives funding assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture. For more information, contact SWIF at 800-594-9480, 320-587-4848 or loans@swifoundation.org.

The Southwest Initiative Foundation is a single connection offering unlimited possibilities to grow and promote people, businesses, entrepreneurs and communities in rural southwest Minnesota. As a regional community foundation, SWIF has contributed more than $58 million through its grant and loan programs. SWIF has helped more than 580 businesses start or expand through its business finance programs, which have created or retained more than 7,700 jobs. SWIF has also established 16 Early Childhood Initiative coalitions, 49 Youth Energy Summit teams, 24 community foundations and more than 80 other funds. The Southwest Initiative Foundation is an equal opportunity provider. To learn more, visit www.swifoundation.org.

Talk about supporting small businesses!  Capital One is currently matching any $25 loans a Kiva Zip project receives.

This online crowd-funding tool, widely known as the international microlending site, Kiva recently started a pilot project called Kiva Zip, the online microlending platform specifically for businesses within the U.S. The Southwest Initiative Foundation was invited to become a Kiva Zip trustee—currently the only one located in Minnesota—which allows the organization to endorse a project.

Crowd-funding is the newest wave in financing small business projects in a unique way by directly involving friends, family, community members or anyone who takes an interest in the business. The idea is based on small loans making a big impact in the lives of business owners and the communities in which they live.

SWIF has endorsed two projects through Kiva Zip: Angie Horkey from The Recipe in Westbrook and David Truong from Ultra Spa Nails in St. Cloud.  Angie has reached her goal and David has reached 35% of his goal.  Now with the help of Capital One, he can reach his goal more quickly!

Anyone can become a lender by going on the Kiva website and loaning a business $25 at a time—or more, but the idea is to promote that you made this loan through social media and other channels, prompting others to get involved and also support the project.

Lenders can search for Ultra Spa Nails online at www.zip.kiva.com. The money pledged is an interest-free loan that he will pay back during the next 12 months. Kiva and its Trustees, including SWIF, hope lenders will see this as a way to help others and once repaid, would look for another project to fund.

This endorsement is being paired with a loan from SWIF’s Microenterprise Loan Program which offers loans of up to $50,000 for starting or expanding for-profit small businesses located within the 18 counties of southwest Minnesota. This program also serves Carver, Stearns and Wright counties. In addition to financing, SWIF provides free technical assistance to all clients who have received a loan through the Microenterprise Program for the life of the loan. SWIF staff and business consultants provide one-to-one business planning, accounting, marketing and other training opportunities that will help entrepreneurs succeed in their venture. The program receives funding assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture. For more information, contact SWIF at 800-594-9480, 320-587-4848 or loans@swifoundation.org.

Westbrook is the home of The Recipe and homemade goodness!

For the last 17 years Angie has worked in the food industry. She says she is happiest when preparing and serving meals. She also runs the senior dining program in her community of Westbrook.

When the local EDA purchased the old bowling alley and approached her about opening a café she jumped at it. The EDA would lease the building at an affordable price (with an option to buy down the road) if she funded the remodeling and equipment. “I jumped at this opportunity to do what I love,” said Angie.

Angie was thrilled to be SWIF’s first Kiva Zip project. This crowd-funding program assisted in the creation of “The Recipe” while inviting family, friends, community members, and beyond to be involved.

“The Recipe” not only fulfills her passion for preparing and serving food, but it also fills a community need by providing a local restaurant. It also serves as the senior dining site that now has room to grow at its new location. Angie’s husband and children are involved in the operation and she has created jobs in the community. The people of Westbrook are very supportive and excited to have this locally owned, café for home-cooked meals and meetings.

Find The Recipe on Facebook where you can “like” it and find the daily specials!

The Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF), as one of Minnesota’s leading microlending organizations, has partnered with Kiva to introduce Kiva Zip and crowd-funding to southwest Minnesota.

Lenders (anyone) can log into the Kiva website at www.zip.kiva.com and search for a business project and loan $25.00 at a time. Lenders can loan more if they like, but the idea is to promote the idea on social media sites which will provide an opportunity for others to get involved in the project.

Contact the SWIF Microenterprise Loan Program at 800-594-9480, 320-587-4848 or loans@swifoundation.org for more information.

Heading over to New London to meet an Encore Trep!

The Southwest Initiative Foundation’s Microloan and Entrepreneurship programs have the privilege of working with aspiring, innovative, and passionate treps in southwest Minnesota. Not only are these treps smart, driven and successful, they have great stories that we want to share!

This story is about Nyla, an encore entrepreneur in New London.  What is an encore entrepreneur?  They are someone who grew up believing that hard work, dedication and a little creativity could help them build a good life for themselves and their family. Throughout their lifetime, they’ve gained invaluable knowledge, skills and experiences. Now, they may be looking for options outside of traditional retirement, supplemental income and a way to fulfill what they’re truly passionate about.  Let’s meet Nyla!

Nyla has always actively participated in quilting retreats, small quilting groups and has been past Vice President and President of her local Country Quilters group.

In 2009 she found herself displaced from her job due to the recession. As she was re-accessing her career an acquaintance gave her some inspiring advice – “Take your time and follow your heart”.

Her heart said quilting and she began to explore starting her own business.  Her CPA told her about the Encore Entrepreneurship program at the Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF). She contacted them and they matched her up with their Encore Entrepreneur staff person. “The first thing I did,” shares Nyla, “was attend their Starting a Business class and began working on a business plan and exploring the financial feasibility of owning my own business.”

“I found a machine and location that suited my needs perfectly,” says Nyla. “Through SWIF I was able to secure a loan to purchase a machine and inventory to open Quilted4You in New London. I continue to work closely with SWIF to utilize the technical assistance offered through the program.”

Today Nyla is fulfilling her passion proving that as an “encore entrepreneur” it is never too late to live your dream!

Nyla is very progressive marketing her business by having an on-line presence through social media and blogging.  Visit Nyla’s Facebook page, “like” her, and check out her blog!

Quilted4You Facebook Page

Quilted4You Blog