ABOVE: Members of GreenSeam speak to employees at Kahler Automation during an event on Tuesday. From left: Wayne Kahler, Chair of Kahler Automation Board of Directors; GreenSeam Board Member, Della Schmidt, President and CEO of Greater Mankato Growth; Chantill Kahler, Chief Financial Officer of Kahler Automation; John Christ, CEO of Kahler Automation; Holly Callaghan, Economic Development Coordinator for GreenSeam. Photo courtesy of GreenSeam.
FAIRMONT– Earlier this week eleven businesses in Fairmont that are associated with agriculture had the opportunity to take part in a conversation with GreenSeam about their business operations and challenges or opportunities impacting growth.
GreenSeam, which is based out of Mankato, is an economic development organization for food and agriculture in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. Its mission is to elevate the region as a world-class food and agribusiness epicenter.
For the day-long event, which took place on Tuesday, GreenSeam partnered with both the Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce and Fairmont Economic Development. Because of the nature of the conversations, media members were not allowed to take part of the event.
Holly Callaghan, economic development coordinator for GreenSeam, shared that this event in particular was part of GreenSeam’s business retention and expansion program.
“We go out into GreenSeam communities–it’s volunteer driven– and we sit down and ask questions of the businesses and it helps keep our thumb on what top themes and top challenges are and it also gives us the opportunity to match resources or support to some of those need areas for businesses,” Callaghan said.
She said Fairmont came about as a location for the program pretty organically as it ranks so high as a top agriculture community in the state and in the nation.
“Profinium and Kahler Automation are both investors in GreenSeam… and Ned (Koppen) at the EDA has been familiar with our work and recently we started to turn up the volume on some of our work down there (Fairmont). We’re working with Ned and Kandi (Menne, Chamber President) on potentially doing some entrepreneurship programming and education next year,” Callaghan said.
Since the visits, GreenSeam has been compiling the responses and going through the data. However, Callaghan did note that there were some common themes across the businesses.
“People who live in Fairmont are proud of Fairmont and that’s true in the business community… there were so many positive comments about the quality of life. There’s a lot of appreciation for the schools and what they’ve done with adding the new vocational wing… and how they’re shining a light on the trades so it’s not just about the four year schools,” Callaghan said.
She said there was also some excitement expressed about new city amenities but also some frustrations with how slow-moving opportunities to introduce new amenities is.
Menne said she sat in on three of the business visits and felt that the questions asked by GreenSeam volunteers were well-received by the businesses and that it was enlightening for some to realize just how affiliated with ag their business is.
Following the visits, there was a networking event, which was more open to the public, at the Marina Lodge that Menne estimated about 30 people were at.
“I think we’re very lucky that they (GreenSeam) came because they’ll give us some feedback and I think the information will be helpful,” Menne said.
Next up, GreenSeam will share the full report of their findings with both the Chamber and EDA and then follow up with businesses as needed.
“It’s so exciting to visit a community that sees the connection between agriculture and agribusiness. In some places those are separated but in Fairmont it’s talked about how the businesses are supporting ag and vice-versa. It was great to be in a community that recognizes that and I think that will spur a lot of economic vitality and prosperity in Fairmont in the future,” Callaghan said.