SBDC Rural Edge program needs one more participant

By Robert Williams

Editor

The Vergas Economic Development Authority (EDA) / Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA) continued discussions with potential daycare providers locally with the aid of Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA) Associate Maddi Petrick seeking out future funding opportunities as the village continues to operate without daycare options for residents.

The pursuit has quickly become the main objective of the EDA/HRA and the group is looking at both short-term and long-term options.

Vergas is a candidate for the Rural Child Care Innovation Program (RCCIP), an innovative community engagement process designed to increase the supply of high quality affordable child care in rural communities.

The EDA/HRA gave Petrick the go-ahead to form a core team of individuals from around the region who meet to find ways to provide daycare options. Petrick reported there are 10 current candidates who volunteered, including three alternates.

“We’re sitting in a really good spot,” Petrick said. 

The group includes two county officials and Petrick is hoping to add at least one school board member and an alternate to the group to make 15 in total. The current number is enough for Petrick to submit an application to be part of the program.

RCCIP is a source for communities identified as having child care challenges. Child care shortages have a broad impact beyond the family, and communities need to address these issues with right-sized solutions that meet the unique aspects of the community.

The application will be submitted later this month.

Petrick has also discussed a potential home build with Anderson Homes of Sebeka. Anderson has submitted specs for a 28×48 manufactured home and a 24×56 modular home. This option would place a home on one of the EDA’s few-remaining, tax-forfeited lots in the Sunny Acres subdivision. 

Petrick has also discussed municipality-led day care options and examined a lease from the City of Perham, which operates a daycare through Mahube-Otwa. NY Mills also uses Mahube-Otwa by leasing a building to the non-profit, while a private daycare facility worked with the City of Ottertail to provide services there, according to Petrick’s report.

The Mahube-Otwa program provides services through its Head Start program. Head Start and Early Head Start offers help to pregnant moms and families with children age birth to 5 years. Head Start is free. The mission of Head Start is to strengthen children and their families by facilitating learning, independence and trust.

Petrick has a future conversation planned with Mahube-Otwa Executive Director Liz Kuoppala, upon her return from vacation.

Mahube-Otwa does have other programs for older children, as well.

EDA Vice President Bruce Albright and Board Member Paul Sonnenberg also met with Tom Bunkowski, President of St. John’s Lutheran Church on where the church’s preschool Jesus Little Lambs may be in the process.

“Knowing they had a new director starting this fall and I know they had a booth up at Looney Days—they were looking for more candidates, he didn’t rule out anything and would like to meet with the chair Jeremy Flatau of the preschool committee,” said Albright.

The preschool committee consists of three members from St. John’s and three from St. Paul’s Loon Lake Lutheran. The committee actually owns the Jesus Little Lambs property.

“Paul and I left it with…we don’t care if private industry, the churches or somebody comes along, what we want from an EDA perspective we want a daycare in Vergas,” Albright said. “Who does it? Could we step up and do it? Yes. May we have to step up and do it? Maybe. But if there are others out there…”

Albright proposed the EDA create a mission statement pursuant to daycare.

“Then maybe we can take a look at some goals; say, if nothing happened by April 1 of 2026, then we have to shift into a higher gear,” said Albright. “Goals, of course, are only statements on a piece of paper, but at least then we have some ideas and the mission statement might help guide us in some regard.” 

The Vergas Lions have expressed potential interest in helping to fund daycare with a grant through their organization.

“Hopefully, we can get something going,” said Albright. “It would bring business; it would keep people in Vergas and that’s what we’re all about.”

Petrick mentioned one other grant opportunity, the Childcare Economic Grant through Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). That grant is significant in amount at $300,000 for one location or $600,000 for multiple locations.

The program had two rounds of funding over the past year and has yet to be guaranteed to open this year.

“If it does open, I think that Vergas the city or the county would be a very good applicant,” said Petrick.

“This is going to be a long-term need; it isn’t going to go away and as our community grows the need is going to become greater,” said Albright.

Small business 

strategic sessions

Vergas EDA is seeking at least one more participant to fulfill the minimum need to provide the Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) Rural Edge program beginning Monday, Sept. 15.

What is Rural Edge? It is a seven-part cohort designed to empower rural entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in their communities. The program addresses the unique strengths and challenges of running a business in smaller communities like Vergas while covering essential topics like financial management, marketing strategies, and long-term planning. Participants will learn how to leverage local networks, embrace digital tools, and adapt to evolving market conditions. 

This hands-on curriculum equips business owners with practical strategies to build resilience and sustainable growth. By the end of the cohort, attendees will be ready to make a lasting impact in their local economies.

What is the format? Cohorts are 7 in-person group sessions that last approximately 2 hours each as well as 1 to 3 one-on-one client sessions for individual work on the business.

When: Mondays from 4-6 p.m.

September 15 – November 3

No group cohort on Oct. 13

Where: Vergas Event Center 140 W. Linden St. Vergas MN 56587

Sponsored by West Central Minnesota Small Business Development Centers (SBDC).