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Foundation Awards $432,000 to Projects in Five Communities

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Small business owners in five Central Minnesota communities are making meaningful upgrades to their buildings and storefronts with $432,000 in grants from the Initiative Foundation, awarded in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

The 19 grants delivered in Isanti, Cass Lake, Walker, Braham and Little Falls leveraged more than $1 million in hometown investments.

“Local businesses are the heartbeat of our main streets,” said Amy Trombley, Initiative Foundation vice president for community. “When they thrive, our communities thrive. These grants help business owners make meaningful improvements that strengthen their operations and enhance the places Central Minnesotans live, work and gather.”

In 2023 and 2024, the Initiative Foundation, in partnership with DEED, awarded $4.3 million to Brainerd, Cold Spring, Little Falls, Long Prairie, Pine River and St. Cloud. Those grants leveraged an estimated $47 million in hometown investments and improvements.

“These rounds of grants recognize the grit and commitment of our local business owners,” said Trombley. “When entrepreneurs invest in their storefronts and operations, they’re not just improving a single business—they’re contributing to the health and vibrancy of the entire community. We’re proud to partner with these cities and with DEED to help move their main street visions forward.”

Braham

  • Braham Country Floral—$1,650 for driveway repairs.
  • Braham Evangelical Lutheran Church—$6,210 for parking lot repairs.
  • Cornerstone Apartments & Retail, LLC—$18,900 to replace windows, paint and upgrade the electrical.
  • Cross Pine Holdings, LLC—$4,455 for roof replacement.
  • Central Insurance Services—$8,931 to upgrade siding, carpet, paint and install a new furnace.
  • KDJ Homes, LLC—$5,345 for exterior repairs.
  • Nuts & Bolts Auto Repair, LLC—$3,382 to replace windows.
  • The Park Cafe—$38,667 to replace venting, flooring, windows and to upgrade the ceiling upstairs.
  • Tusen Tack—$8,459 for driveway and landscaping upgrades.

Cass Lake

  • Northern Dreams Gymnastics—$48,000 to build a gym and restaurant.

Isanti

  • HearSwell, Inc.—$9,000 for roof replacement.
  • Rockstad and Co., LLC (strip mall)—$12,000 to add additional units and update landscaping and signage.
  • The Realeast Agents, LLP—$75,000 to make building improvements to the Isanti Creamery.

Little Falls

  • Boys & Girls Club of Central Minnesota, Little Falls—$46,455 for building renovations.
  • Purple Carrot Market—$42,044 for renovations to prepare for opening.
  • RP & Associates, LLC—$7,500 for storefront and window updating.

Walker

  • Chase on the Lake Management, Inc.—$51,000 for new doors and lobby flooring, and for courtyard and other exterior improvements.
  • D.B. of Walker, LLC—$10,000 for a commercial space remodel.
  • Village Square Properties, LLC—$35,000 to replace roof, door, windows, make concrete repairs and update signage.
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