Nonprofit Org.

U.S. POSTAGE Vision in Action

PO Box 318 PAID
Fergus Falls, MN 56538 PERMIT No. 234 Maker Camp Inspires Local Students to Create
Fargo, ND
West Central Initiatives vision is uniting ideas
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED and resources to help people and communities

on the region
create a better tomorrow. This story is a great
example of how WCI partnered with the Rural

FOCUS
Schools Collaborative to provide funding for its
Grants in Place program.

Y
oung children with power tools are not
on the region everyones idea of a fun time, but for
Jodee Lund, technology integration
specialist at Minnewaska Area Schools, it
West Central Initiative is an equal opportunity provider, lender and employer. was a dream come true with the schools
first-ever Maker Camp. Jodee and colleagues
1000 Western Ave wcif.org | blog.wcif.org our mission
Serving to improve west had a vision of creating a makerspace in
FOCUS on PO Box 318

FOCUS
the region f facebook.com/westcentralinitiative central Minnesota through the school that would inspire their students
Fergus Falls, MN funding, programs and technical
is published 56538 twitter.com/wciminn assistance. to design, innovate and create using
t
quarterly by 218.739.2239 our vision technology, machinery, tools and critical
West Central 800.735.2239 Uniting ideas and resources to thinking skills.
Initiative wci@wcif.org
help people and Technology Integration Specialist Jodee Lund (left) lent
communities create a better
tomorrow.
During Maker Camp, held the week of July advice to campers designing a little library prototype.
31-Aug. 4, more than 50 local elementary
children worked together to design and
build free little libraries that will be placed
throughout the community.
Vision in Action [In the Makerspace] we can give students
real world problems, with real technology,
said Lund.
The week started with learning design basics
then dividing into groups and developing
prototypes for the little libraries. The children
then voted on their three favorites. The top
vote-getters included a structure with a
built-in bench and roof, a gingerbread house

West Central Initiatives Quarterly Report

and a vending machine design.
Hilltop Lumber provided the lumber free of
charge, and a grant from the Rural Schools
Collaborative and West Central Initiative
helped with funding the week-long camp.

SUMMER REVIEW 2017

Maker Camp was a hit, said Lund. Our
students loved the project.
WCI is pleased to partner with the
Rural Schools Collaborative to help
fund its Grants in Place program that
encourages teachers to develop place-
based projects that connect students with Students broke into teams to design and construct lit-
community. You can learn more at http:// tle library prototypes. This design with a built-in bench
Minnewaska Schools first-ever Maker Camp. Funded in part by a Grants in Place award from the Rural Schools was one of three chosen by the students to be built.
ruralschoolscollaborative.org/.
Collaborative and West Central Initiative. More of the story inside!
 WCI Welcomes Putting the
New Board Heart in
Members Heart~Land
Giving
T
he West Central
Local farming, local giving, from the heart.
Initiative Board and
staff welcome three

new board members: John
Dahlseng, Mark Helland and
Steve Kent.
John Dahlseng is from Lowry
and will be the boards Pope
County representative.
The former owner of LMC
Enterprises, Inc., also known
as Lowry Manufacturing
Company, he still helps with
product design. He is active
in the Lowry Lions Club and
serves on the BenWade
Township Board. He and his
wife, Judi, have four children
and seven grandchildren.
Mark Helland will repesent
Otter Tail County on the
board. He is the vice
president of customer
John Dahlseng
service at Otter Tail Power
Company. Mark joined the
utilities company in 1998 as
director of marketing and
development. He has also
served as director and later
vice president of marketing
and South Dakota and
Minnesota customer
service. Before joining
Otter Tail Power Company,
Mark was an economic
development consultant,
worked for the City of
Fergus Falls, was a building
contractor, and farmed.
He is a native of North
Dakota. He attended
Minnesota State
Mark Helland
Community and Technical
College, Fergus Falls,
and the University of
Minnesota.
Steve Kent is from
Breckenridge and
represents Wilkin County.
He has a 39-year career in
the seed business, primarily
involving sunflowers.
Most recently, he was the
past president of Seeds
2000, Inc. based out of
Breckenridge. Now semi-
retired, he works part-time
as a sunflower product
specialist for Nuseed.
T
Steve Kent
heres a reason we named return, these families have Heart~Land Giving as a way for
Steve served as volunteer our farmland donation provided a lot of support to their people to donate tillable land,
chair of the National program Heart~Land hometowns. They are the heart keep it locally farmed AND provide
Sunflower Association Giving. First of all, farmland of their communities, making income for charitable giving to the
research committee for is at the heart of our regions sure these rural cities continue communities they love.
eight years. commerce. Some of the most to prosper for their children
Are you trying to decide what to do
Active in the community, fertile land in the Midwest and their childrens children.
with your farmland? We invite you
Steve has coached several is right here in west central But times change, and fewer
to learn more about Heart-Land
youth sports, has served Minnesota. The towns we children want to take over the
Giving. Contact Tom McSparron or
as president of local sports serve sprouted up to provide farm. The decision to sell can
Sandy King at 800-735-2239, or visit
booster clubs, and has been support for farm familiesgrain impact not just the family but the
heartlandgiving.wcif.org. As always,
a Sunday school teacher for elevators, banks, grocery and community as well. Thats where
we recommend you consult with
more than 20 years. drug stores, implement dealers, Heart~Land Giving comes in.
your financial advisor about your
Steve and his wife Nancy schools, clinics and more. In West Central Initiative designed
estate plans.
have four children and
nine grandchildren. They
enjoy spending time with
grandchildren and fishing
and hunting. An Economic Snapshot
West Central Minnesota: An Economic Development Snapshot 2016
REGION GROWTH of West Central Minnesota
Most diverse
counties:
Regionwide

Thank You, Early Childhood Funders! 2010

221,688
2016
228,562
2025
241,844
DIVERSITY

Every year, Business and

FOR INFO: Greg Wagner, Business & Economic Development Director // greg@wcif.org // 800.735.2239
1 in 7 people new to region are
from a minority group

A $120,000, two-year Otto Somali-American children in In 2015, 8% of population was from a

Economic Development Director

West Central Initiative compiles the CEDS plan for the Region IV Economic Development District of Minnesota.
PEOPLE
minority group. The 2035 projection
2000-2016 change in population: 16,979 of 10% will be greatly exceeded.

Bremer Trust grant to WCI Moorhead. The grant funds 65+ AGE WAVE The Age Wave will continue and greatly impact
Greg Wagner and Donor Services
will help more children in will help provide coaching to Officer Tom McSparron take
communities, the workforce and services.

PERCENT OF POPULATION 65+ state west central region

Greater Minnesota receive Somali women to become the Tom and Greg Show on
26% 28% 28% 27% 26%
30 23% 22%
20% 19% 21% 21% 21%
20 15% 17%

2017-2021 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy at ceds.wcif.org.

10

the road to share information

0
2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045

dental care and educate legal non-licensed or

about West Central Initiative
4 INDUSTRIES TOP EMPLOYMENT

Data resources are available through the West Central Minnesota

WITH THE MOST NEED INDUSTRIES &

families and child care licensed child care providers,

TRENDS
Need for larger workforce
AVERAGE WEEKLY
WAGES
Employment # Average weekly
and our region with county
providers on the importance and learn the skills needed
wages

Whats Your
Education & Health Services
Housing affordability Regional Total

commissioners and city council

and availability 88,540 $ 743

of good oral health. The grant to operate a child care members. Workforce Solution?
Need for increased wages Trade, Transportation & Utilities

Healthcare and Social Assistance

15,139 $ 730

will support and expand the business.

Need to expand broadband
access & coverage Professional & Business Services

As part of WCIs work as the Building a strong workforce

reach of the Early Childhood
Manufacturing

The McKnight Foundation

Need for more child care

Economic District Designee,

12,389 $ 949

is vital to the success of our

openings and providers
Leisure & Hospitality

Dental Network throughout recently renewed its

Rising cost of energy
11,784
Retail Trade
$ 524
Greg pulls together an businesses and our region.
rural communities in
2016 Average Weekly Wage by

economic snapshot of our

$
764 $ 762

commitment to the
WAGES
$758 Economic Development Region
$ 743 Educational Services
$728

southern, central and WCI encourages nonprofits and

727
$
9,190 $ 778

region and each of the nine

$ 714 $ 699

statewide PreK to Grade 3

693
$

counties we serve. governmental entities in the nine

Accommodation and Food Services

southwest Minnesota.
7,706 $ 279

The West Central Early Childhood Initiative Design Team by awarding

EDR 9 EDR 1 EDR 6E EDR 4 EDR 2 EDR 8 EDR 7E EDR 6W EDR 5

counties we serve to develop

Mankato Crookston Willmar Fergus Falls Bemidji Slayton Mora Appleton Brainerd

Learn more at:

coordinators honored WCIs early childhood UNEMPLOYMENT POVERTY

A $60,000 grant to WCI WCI $90,000 to support the
ceds.wcif.org

Interested in learning how solutions to help develop projects

coordinator Nancy Jost with an Our Nancy award
Unemployment Rate US, MN Poverty Rates
18

from the Blue Cross and

and West Central 1996-2016

groups next phase, ensuring west central Minnesota is

12
16

10 14

through our Workforce Solutions

Poverty Rate as Percent

for her tireless dedication to our youngest children.

Percent Unemployment

12
8

Blue Shield Foundation will Minnesota has a stellar doing? An infographic for
10

grant program.
6 8

From left to right are Diane Strobel, Jena Burt, Fran

6
4
4

the region and each county

2

help fund a two-year pilot early childhood workforce

2

Rethwisch, Nancy Jost, Julie Smith, Carolyn Strnad,

0 0
United MN Becker Clay Douglas Grant Otter Tail Pope Stevens Traverse Wilkin
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is available for you to view Learn more at

US Minnesota EDR 4 - West Central 2012 2013 2014 2015

Marsha Erickson, Kristi Maas and Connie Fields. Not project to provide culturally to educate and care for its
at ceds.wcif.org. workforcesolutions.wcif.org.
pictured: Deb Hengel, Jeannie Pederson. relevant child care for young children.