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Minnesota communities look for ways to foster small businesses in an effort to grow the economy one job at a time

Minnesotans generate an unending stream of entrepreneurial ideas, from new food snacks to industrial tarps to replaceable lawnmower blades. And entrepreneurism is increasingly appreciated as a key economic driver for the state. But by a number of measures, entrepreneurial health in Minnesota has slipped. So even as more communities shift economic development strategies to encouraging entrepreneurism, the question remains: What are the best ways to encourage it at levels significant enough to matter?

This Ground Level project looks at places in Minnesota that have been trying to foster a more entrepreneurial culture and the people trying to take action.

ONE JOB AT A TIME
Grow more entrepreneurs

Job challenge: Grow more entrepreneurs

From the Iron Range to Winona to Montevideo, Minnesota communities increasingly talk of fostering an entrepreneurial culture to create jobs, to attract people, to enrich lives. Microloans

Microloans and a hand to hold fill gap for startups

With banks toughening up their lending practices and would-be assets like homes worth less, many entrepreneurs are looking elsewhere for startup money. Muriel Krusemark

Muriel Krusemark, the fireball of Hoffman

All a city needs is one person with a big idea and loads of enthusiasm to create a turnaround and spur small business growth. Crowdsourced micro-brewery

Crowdsourced funding for Bemidji micro-brewery

The Bemidji Brewing Company plans to have its first public batch of brew on tap in a few local pubs by early summer. Kickstarter allowed the group to move forward at the nano-brewery level and created a buzz around the fledgling business. Arts economy

Arts economy rises on the southwest prairie

People in western Minnesota, an area stretching from Ortonville to Granite Falls, are hoping that focusing on creativity, art and handwork will lead to jobs and reverse the longstanding trend toward a declining and graying population.
The only choice

When starting a business is the only choice

Facing economic uncertainty, entrepreneurs turn to start-up creation for opportunity creation.
Latino engagement

Strengthening rural Latino start-ups

More than any other racial or ethnic group in the United States, Latinos are entrepreneurs, and that tendency has been increasing.
Aging entrepreneurs

Older, wiser Minnesotans turn to self-employment

A growing contingent of people over 55 are going into business for themselves, becoming what some call "encore entrepreneurs" or "olderpreneurs."
Fostering a culture

Worthington builds on bioscience niche

On the edge of town, not far from the many livestock farms near Worthington, the employees of Newport Laboratories work to kill the microscopic bugs that sicken farm animals.
Commitment

"I had it all on the line"

A few years ago, Jason LaValley had no clue how to start or operate a business. Now he's running a multi-million dollar company that has 16 full and part-time employees and is poised for growth.
Teleworking

So you want to go into the food business

For 20 years, a big factor in launching food startups has been state-funded test kitchen in Crookston.
People to watch

Entrepreneurs to watch

Sunflower seeds, Scandinavian gifts, and wakeboarders. Three vignettes of Minnesota entrepreneurs making a run for success.
Q and A
Welding

How do you make it work?

What is entrepreneurship, can it be taught, how does Minnesota stack up? A conversation with two Minnesota experts.

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Bush Foundation

Support for Ground Level is provided
by the Bush Foundation.