June 10, 2021 at 1:12 p.m.
Initiative Foundation official briefs Cass Board
He introduced Travis Kelly, a Backus resident, who has benefited from Initiative Foundation and Cass County Economic Development help in getting his business, JenTra Tools, off the ground. The firm makes a small tool to speed and make more accurate the installation of new doors.
Kelly said he now has a patent for his device, which will run another 17 years.
When he went to banks to fund his start-up, he learned he needed at least two years experience with sales records to qualify. Since he was just beginning his business, he had no sales to report yet.
So, he said, the help with financing he obtained through the Initiative Foundation was the difference between getting his business started and not being able to do so. They also helped him with his patent application, he added.
The leveling product attaches to a door frame, enabling a contractor to see the level reading without having to hold a level. It makes installations more accurate in a fraction of the normal time to install a new door, Kelly explained.
He began his business thinking he would sell his product to the retail market. Now, he has learned he likely will be able to sell it to door manufacturers, who in turn can include it with their door and frame kits.
While the cost for the door will increase slightly, that increase will be more than offset by a lower labor cost to install the door, Kelly said.
Stommes said Kelly is just one businessman among the many business owners, communities, nonprofits, small governments and individuals seeking higher education whom Initiative Foundation has helped since it was formed in 1986 to serve 14 central Minnesota counties.
In 2014, others benefiting from Initiative Foundations grants include three Pillager Schools projects, two Pine River-Backus Schools projects, Longville Area Community Foundation and Rose Country Dental Inc. of Pillager.
The foundation is supported by the member counties, major foundations like the McKnight Foundation and individuals and businesses. Cass County's 2015 preliminary budget proposes to contribute $17,000 to the foundation.
Stommes said Cass has received $5.20 back from each $1 the county has contributed since 1986. That includes $1.8 million in 45 loans and $2 million in 329 grants. The projects the foundation supported have secured 361 jobs, Stommes reported.
Those grants and loans have leveraged another $13 million for Cass County projects, Stommes said.
The Initiative Foundation oversees a business loan fund, a green business loan fund, a lender match loan program and a technology capital fund for business financing.
Some Cass businesses benefitting from these loans in addition to JenTra Tools include CavCom of Walker, Riverside Assisted Living in Pillager, Trussworthy Components Inc. of Pine River, Scamp Trailers (Eveland's Inc.) of Backus and Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL) of Pine River.
Initiative Foundation engages citizens through its Thriving Communities Initiative program, Thriving Organization Partnership and Early Childhood and Early Childhood Dental programs.
It offers innovation grants to private, public and non-profit sectors and supports planning for community-based recreational amenities.
Among recent beneficiaries of these grants are Adult Day Services of Walker; Leech Lake Tribal College in Cass Lake; Thrift, Nifty and New Thrift Store in Remer; Northern Cass Kinship Mentoring and Student Success (Walker area family center programs); and Strategic and Technology Planning through the Northland area Family Service Center at Remer.
Cass County Economic Development Corporations also received grants for Backus strategic planning, Longville and Backus small cities grant preparation and for a wood pellet market analysis.
The Initiative Foundation has contributed to the Pillager Education Foundation and Scholarship Fund, Central Minnesota Manufacturing Fund, Longville Area Community Foundation Endowment, Roosevelt and Lawrence Area Lakes Association Conservancy Fund, Leech Lake Watershed Foundation and Madden's Pine Beach Scholarship Fund.
Anyone interested in more information about the foundation's programs can contact Stommes at [email protected].
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