The owner of the News, Huckle Publishing, Inc. / Mainstream Publications, LLC, employs about 150 people in Minnesota.  There are 15 to 20 people in the Northfield downtown office and 40 to 60 people at the Northfield uptown printing plant; there are a total of 10 to 15 full-time employees in Northfield.

Sam, on a personal level, is very satisfied with Northfield.  The company has papers in Faribault, Owatonna, Waseca, Kenyon, Lonsdale, St. Peter, Le Sueur, and Le Center.  He says Northfield is the regional standard for civic aspiration and that most of the people in other towns are envious of our vitality.  He loves the location and loves being downtown.

As for the problems he and his business face in Northfield, he laughingly notes that historic buildings require substantial on-going maintenance.  In terms of the community, he argues that the growing population of commuters is more of a challenge to engage.  He thinks it’s important for our civic, economic, and social well-being to get these residents to identify with the town.

Sam has clear thoughts on how the NDDC could better serve his business.  He names supporting events, getting people engaged, advocating for business, supporting recruitment efforts, and removing obstacles to business expansion.  He suggests that there should be more analysis of the impact of government regulations on business.  Some protections are essential, he argues, but it is important to find the right balance.

Finally, Sam offered some ideas on increasing the quality of life for workers in Northfield.  He recommends expanding the richness of offerings of activities for kids and families and increasing the safety of mobility of kids and families to the downtown.

Carl says we’re fortunate to have such a vibrant downtown.  With a relatively wide offering of products and services, there are good traffic levels to the store; people combine errands and destinations, such as the hardware store, car repair, the pharmacy, dry cleaning and the grocery store.

He says the Northfield store has a particularly loyal customer base.  He believes that downtown Northfield has a reputation for good service that builds our brand regionally.

On the challenges, Carl sees a balancing act between attracting tourists and servicing residents.  He notes that DJJD is scheduled at the same time that the college students are setting up for the new academic year; on that weekend, Econofoods, and the rest of downtown, is difficult to access.  On a related topic, he says we need additional public parking in downtown.

As for how the NDDC could better serve his business, Carl encouraged us to advocate on key issues.  He mentioned commercial property taxes and signage as important to his business.  The Northfield store is looking at expansion and these issues impact their decision-making.

Carl believes that Northfield has an exceptional quality of life.  He believes that we should build on it, particularly in the areas of multi-modal transportation and diverse cultural offerings.  Carl also praised Northfield citizens’ community involvement; he really enjoys doing Econofoods’ “bagging for bucks” program with the various youth groups.

Owner Rob Schanilec started his business in St. Paul in 1985.  Then he wanted a place to raise children and was attracted to Northfield’s river, historic downtown, and two colleges.  He’s been here 12 years and says it’s terrific.

Northfield works because it’s so integrated, says Rob.  Everything is within walking distance, at least in downtown.  The arts, culture, restaurants, and retailers attract the type of professional service firms that By All Means supports.  The small office spaces that are available, within the network of support services, make downtown Northfield an excellent location for start-ups.  Rob also notes that he’s got a great landlord.

As for possible improvements, he wishes that the bank was open later, maybe until 6 or 7 p.m.  With the tight credit conditions in the current economic environment, he hopes the City will support local business expansion by providing low-interest gap financing.  Finally, he pines for a slightly wider selection of restaurants, including another low-cost option like Tiny’s.

As for how the NDDC might help him, Rob wondered if we might organize a comprehensive downtown take-out menu.  Okay Rob, we’ll ask the Marketing Committee to get working on it.

David Hvistendahl has been a part of the Northfield scene since the 1960s.  The class of ’70 Ole returned to town after earning his law degree to open an office in downtown Northfield.

What he likes best about Northfield is the people.  He grew up in university towns and he appreciates the well-educated and socially-progressive population.

HMDH employs seven attorneys and six support people.  After the devastating flood of just a year ago, everything is back in place and even better than before.

David really appreciated the emergency flood loan from the City.  He also got financial assistance from the State for his iconic historic building.  He noted that everyone seemed to pull together to help out as the waters rose.

He does see an opportunity for the Building Inspections Department to develop more flexibility in working with historic buildings, particularly in the area of access.  He owns historic buildings in Faribault and notes that their City staff demonstrates great understanding of the nuts and bolts economics of historic buildings.  He suggested doing what the cities of Faribault and Duluth have done: bring the staff from the State building and historic departments to Northfield for a session with City staff and local building owners to find shared solutions.

Finally, David suggests that Northfield should leverage its assets and build on its strengths for future economic development.  He believes that the City should focus on supporting, expanding, and creating professional service jobs, the kind that would attract graduates from the two local colleges.

Jodi Lundell, the company’s Chief Operating Officer told us that PRMIA recently celebrated its 10th anniversary; from its very beginning, the company has been based in Northfield.  PRMIA currently has 16 employees plus additional contractors.

PRMIA provides member services, professional certification, and training to risk management professionals globally, including access to over 750 online professional development courses and webinars.  PRMIA partners with more  than 25 leading universities around the world to offer specialist and advance classroom courses in risk management.   Their  partners in the United States include universities such as Columbia Business School, The Kellogg School of Management, George Washington University, and Duke University.

The company has been very happy with Northfield.  They like Northfield’s value system, with the commitment to community engagement and a welcoming attitude to all kinds of people.  They believe that the company and the community both value hard work but make time for family.  As a result, they have almost no turnover.

As for what could be improved in Northfield, they mentioned a need for high quality office space, restaurants, and lodging that serve a professional clientele from around the world.  In particular, they discussed a high-end boutique hotel for their visitors from New York, London, and Hong Kong.

PRMIA’s top people think that Northfield’s economic development policy should include retention programs along with recruitment efforts.  They believe that most of our economic growth will come from existing firms that currently employ a dozen or so people but could easily quadruple in size over the next decade and that there should be a focus on these companies’ needs.

The company’s leaders are interested in supporting efforts to enhance Northfield’s transit system.  They believe that it will become increasingly important to transport workers into Northfield as local employers grow.  It’s just one piece of their potential corporate engagement in the community.

The Nothfield Union of Youth was formed in 1993 and in 1995 they purchased their first building to establish a  youth-run youth center.  In 2010, they acquired a new property and have been steadily building out the greatly expanded space.

The Key serves approximately 800 youth (ages 12-20) each year with free daily programming including Book Club, Art Project, Game Night, Movie Night, Cooking Class, and Hip-Hop Club.  In addition, the youth contribute over 600 hours of volunteer work each quarter.  Perhaps most importantly, The Key gives youth an opportunity to run their own organization.

They like living in Northfield because of the colleges.  They said that the colleges set a kind of atmosphere for the town, make substantial contributions to the culture, offer youthful energy and a tradition of volunteering in the community.

The youth noted that downtown Northfield has lost a few of their favorite hang-outs over the years, such as Tiny’s.  They also note that there has been a steady reduction in free activities for youth.

They are really disappointed by the loss of the Skatepark.  They had an agreement with the City of Northfield to raise $40,000 for the new Skatepark; they raised the money but the project has ground to a halt.  They have preserved the pieces of the old City Skatepark but can’t afford the cost of the insurance.

As for ways for making them feel more welcome, they suggested that businesses reach out to The Key, both in marketing and collaborations.  They note that The Key brings at least 50 youth each day to downtown and that they value proximity and an inviting atmosphere.

The quality of life for their workers could be increased through affordable health insurance and greater stability of funding.  All creative ideas in these areas are appreciated.

The firm was established in 1949 and has been located on downtown’s west side since the very beginning.  The firm currently has five full-time employees and five part-time employees and has “given birth” to a number of other firms in town.

Like so many of Northfield’s creative or knowledge-based companies, SMSQ is a major exporter.  They perform quality work in other communities and bring the money back home to Northfield.  Currently the firm is working on projects in Montana, Wisconsin, Kansas, California, and Duluth.

Edwins and Wilmot said that Northfield was a delightful place to live and work.  Edwins noted that it’s very efficient to live and work in town.  Wilmot suggested that it is important for the community to be attractive to people in the creative professions.

Edwins added that Northfield should do more for existing businesses.  In particular, the City should enhance the mix of incentives and programs available for these firms.  He joked that we should become known for Cows, Colleges, and Capital.

Wilmot and Edwins encouraged the NDDC to propose or initiate projects that enhance the quality of life.  They suggested that we should be pro-active, bring groups together, identify needs, provide continuity, and support persistence.

Finally, they suggested we should all work for alternative transportation options, be more aggressive in supporting bicycle transportation, and design for sustainable lifestyles.  Like I said, they were very generous with the time and ideas.

As part of the founding family of Mother Earth Gardens in South Minneapolis, they have over a decade of experience in the business.  They sold the business a few years ago, eventually moving to an old farmstead west of Northfield. After seeing the vitality of our historic commercial district, they decided to get back in the garden store businesses.

Howie and Jeni love it in downtown Northfield.  They note that the market is really sophisticated, appreciates being informed, and knows quality.  They also enjoy how well the downtown business owners communicate with each other, work together on collaborative efforts, and are active in the community.

The business is already reinvesting in Northfield.  Their landscaping project, using the familiar elements of downtown streetscape projects, was approved for a matching grant from the Streetscape Funds back in April.  Howie hopes to be able to begin work soon.

Their plans don’t end with that project, however.  Howie told us that he’s looking at building a deck and terrace out the back door of the old garage bay.  He thinks it makes sense to make use of the entire property.

I’ll have to encourage the Downtown Councilors, Buckheit and Nakasian, to visit with Jeni and Howie about their plans.  It would be good to help eco gardens continue to “grow”.

Adam Osterkamp says his family loves retail, loves customer service, and loves Northfield; the downtown shop Monarch has been part of their family since 2001.  The Osterkamps love Northfield for the quality of life in our community.  Adam believes it’s a great town for families: it feels safe, healthy, and very friendly.

Adam says his family also loves cooking (and eating) together.  They wanted to combine this love of cooking with their love of retail.  They also believed that Northfield needed a kitchen store.  When the space became available, they opened The Measuring Cup.

Northfield has a really great mix of restaurants for a town its size, he notes.  Adam also says he’s noticed that retailers work to complement each other’s offerings.  He believes that downtown Northfield is an unusually supportive, and vibrant, business district.

According to Adam, people have had a really positive reaction to the concept.  He believes that Northfield is a town with great “Foodie” potential.  He hopes that the store will inspire people to come out and share their stories, ideas, and aspirations about cooking.  Adam envisions Northfielders celebrating their appreciation for food.

Asked for closing comments, Adam said that he really loves the sense of community in Northfield.  He noted it’s the only place he’s ever been where everyone greets you on the street.

Krin would seem to be pretty happy with Northfield.  She grew up here, married her high school sweetheart (first date was at The Grand when it was  movie theater), is raising a family here, and has owned and operated the Rare Pair for twenty years.

The Rare Pair is widely recognized as a leader of Northfield’s retail community.  The stored has been expanded by 80% during Krin’s ownership.  She would consider expanding more if the space and the rent were right.  It would also have to be something fun, Krin added.

Krin highlighted a couple of things that make Northfield work for her business.  She noted the customers’ loyalty to her store and the citizens’ loyalty to the downtown (they look for it first in town) are the keys to success for main street businesses.

She also talked about the many attractions of downtown, including the historic buildings, the scenic river, the post office, the public library, and the grocery stores.  Krin noted that the loss of the post office would be a significant blow to foot traffic in downtown.

As for concerns, Krin cited the limited number of stores with late hours, the challenges of occupying historic buildings, and rising commercial property taxes.  She said that when she was working with her landlord to renew her lease, and was surprised at the rent increase, her landlord showed her his costs.  The property taxes were driving up the operating expense for her business.

When asked how the NDDC could better serve her, Krin said she is pleased with the organization’s performance.  She believes that if you feel your voice is heard, then the organization is doing its job.  She says if you don’t speak up, then you can’t complain about things.

Krin did say that she would like to see the NDDC, and other groups in town, encourage local businesses to increase their presence on the internet.  She says that it has been an on-going learning experience, and process of improvement, for the Rare Pair, but that all retailers need to get in the game.  Each additional business on the ‘net increases the town’s visibility on the web.

Finally, Krin said that although  she can rarely attend the Downtown Forums (her business and family keep her running) she appreciates the summaries on our website.  She’d really like one or two social mixers added to the annual schedule of gatherings.  Just getting together, without agenda, to blow off some steam, would be great.