KANDIYOHI COUNTY AND CITY OF WILLMAR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (EDC)

FINANCE COMMITTEE

MINUTESSeptember 11, 2018

EDC Board Room, Willmar

Present: Matt Behm, Kerry Johnson, Les Nelson, Bruce Peterson, Russ Weeks, Jeff Welker

and Randy Zinda

Excused: Bob Carlson and Russ Weeks

Absent: Nick Dalton and Justin Schnichels

Guest: Kimberle Nagle, UpGrow Business International, Inc.

Staff: Aaron Backman, Executive Director and Connie Schmoll, Business Services

Director

Secretarial: Diane Beck, Legal & Administrative Assistants, Inc.  (LAA)

Chairperson Matt Behm called the meeting to order at approximately 12:09 p.m. and extended

a welcome to Kimberle Nagel of UpGrow Business International, Inc. Nagle provided a brief bio;

she currently contracts with the Neighborhood Development Center.

MINUTES—

IT WAS MOVED BY Jeff Welker, SECONDED BY Les Nelson to approve the minutes of the

June 12, 2018 meeting as emailed.  MOTION CARRIED.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Neighborhood Development Center (NDC).  Connie Schmoll commented once the 2017 Diverse

Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Survey was completed, discussions began with the

NDC and she recently attended a training session held in St. Cloud.  With the high concentration

of immigrants and low‐income residents in Willmar, Schmoll is interested in the training

sessions offered by the NDC.  She feels a partnership with the NDC would be beneficial to

entrepreneurs and local bankers.  The NDC is a nonprofit, community development financial

institution that believes residents of low‐income, inner‐city neighborhoods have the

entrepreneurial talent and energy to revitalize their communities.  The NDC provides

entrepreneur training, small business lending, business services and real estate incubators to

start and grow vital small businesses which, in turn, creates jobs, provides needed goods and

services, revitalizes blighted properties, creates community gathering places and develops

community role models—building neighborhood economies from within.  Nagle distributed a

handout entitled Sharing NDC’s Innovative Approach in Greater MN (Update & Future Vision)

(see attached) and shared she is a coach and trainer for NDC.  Nagle shared a PowerPoint

presentation, “An Introduction to the Neighborhood Development Center” (see attached). 

Nagle will send Schmoll the PowerPoint and Schmoll will forward it to the committee.

The NDC started in 1993 in the Twin Cities and is an asset‐based approach.  It works with a

variety of cultures and targets communities in low‐income areas and areas with high

unemployment.  Programs include: 1) entrepreneur training; 2) lending; 3) technical assistance

and 4) small business incubators.  Nagle stated over the last year, she and a co‐worker have

canvassed the state to hear from communities to identify gaps.  The NDC’s values are

entrepreneurship, partnership, cultural competency, adaptability, collaboration and innovation. 

Nagle shared the following:

• barriers include language, access to business financing, technical assistance,

peer‐to‐peer networks, cultural and religious barriers and trust in institutions;

• the NDC’s outcomes and stated micro‐entrepreneurs create numerous jobs and most

jobs are recession‐proof due to the size of the companies;

• the small business financing available;

• the NDC makes 40‐70 business loans each year and provides business assistance;

• the NDC contracts with trainers and holds 12‐week training sessions in the spring and

fall; sessions are two hours in length and held one day/night a week; there is a sliding

scale fee.  

Nagle mentioned that several legislators, including Rep. Dave Baker, are working to secure

funds to establish NDC’s in greater Minnesota.  Nagle stated the EDC could apply for 501(3)(c)

status with the Internal Revenue Service.  The NDC has pilots currently in St. Cloud and Duluth

and Nagle is working with the Lower Sioux Reservation.  She is interested in having Willmar

involved in the program and train technical advisors.  Funding is very important and suggested

Southwest Initiative Foundation may be a source of funding

The EDC will study and discuss the program as there is much to learn and consider and will

meet with Nagle again in the future.  Nagle stated she will be in the area in late October or

early November.

2

Willmar Area Multicultural Business Center Acquisition Update. Backman reported the EDC’s

Joint Operations Board approved acquisition of the Willmar Area Multicultural Business

Center’s (WAM‐BC) loan program and assets and assisting with dissolution of WAM‐BC, which

the EDC Joint Powers Board also unanimously approved.  The EDC’s attorney has prepared the

Intent to Dissolve for filing with the Minnesota Secretary of State, which is expected to be

submitted this week.  Backman expects the process may be finalized in approximately 60 days.

Currently, there is $50,000 in outstanding loans and most loans are current.  The EDC will

accept loan applications for WAM‐BC funds after the dissolution process is complete.  Backman

mentioned the EDC may look at different loan rates and sizes.

Other.  Backman reported the EDC Joint Powers Board also approved an increase in reserves

for the Revolving Loan Fund from $224,052 to $300,000 for the 2019 budget.

Chair Behm mentioned the nonprofit sponsorship and how it will work, especially for bankers.

ADJOURNMENT—There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at approximately

1:22 p.m.

NEXT MEETING—The next committee meeting is 12 noon, Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at the EDC

office.

3

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inte

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sten

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arn

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clas

s

Beko

Tufa

, Ow

ner

Dilla

Ethi

opia

n R

esta

uran

t

ND

C C

urric

ulum

: One

-on-

One

s

•D

evel

op p

erso

nal r

elat

ions

hip

•R

evie

w m

isse

d cl

ass

sess

ion

mat

eria

ls &

w

orks

heet

s•

Rev

iew

bus

ines

s pl

an &

trac

k ta

sks

to b

e co

mpl

eted

•So

me

task

s m

ay b

e do

ne d

urin

g th

e on

e-on

-on

e•

Up

to 1

0 on

e ho

ur o

ne-o

n-on

es a

vaila

ble

•24

hou

rs c

ance

llatio

n no

tice

Sche

dule

afte

r eve

ry 3

or 4

cla

sses

Let’s

thin

k on

this

.