Riley Stromlund, 16 Year Old Entrepreneur | Lake of the Woods, MN

Riley Stromlund, Fishing Lures

What does 16-year-old Riley Stromlund have in common with billionaires Jeff Bezos, Mark Cuban, and Richard Branson? They all started their first business before graduating from high school.

 

Riley Stromlund is not only a goalie for Lake of the Woods High School’s hockey team in Baudette, MN, he’s also a golfer, an avid outdoorsman, and an ENTREPRENEUR!

When Riley isn’t studying for school or playing sports you’ll likely find Riley designing custom painted fishing lures for anglers who fish the famous waters of Lake of the Woods, the Rainy River, really, anywhere across the country. “The first lure I made I carved out of wood and painted it. It peaked my interest! It was after that when I got an airbrush and started painting blanks that we ordered online.”

Riley is self taught, “I’ve watched a lot of YouTube videos. I’ve learned to make my own stencils and different techniques to paint them.” His sunfish and blue gill pattern are his favorite because “They are the most detailed”.

His favorite part about painting lures, “It’s relaxing and I get to be creative. I listen to music and just paint! I also like hearing people who have caught fish on one of my lures.”

Riley Stromlund, Fishing Lures

The summer of 2020, a customer caught a 30” walleye on Lake of the Woods using one of Riley’s lures, “That was exciting!” Not only do his lures catch legendary walleye’s he also caught pretty big Northern’s when he’s taken them to the dock to test run them.

Fishing Lures Lake of the Woods

You’ll find Riley’s fishing lures on local Facebook swap and sell sites or you may purchase his lures locally at his mom’s Salon, K-Salon, in Baudette. Each lures sells for $10. Not able to make it to Baudette, but still want to purchase a lure, click here to message K-Salon.

Riley Stromlund, Fishing Lures                               Riley Stromlund, Entrepreneur                               Riley Stromlund, Fishing Lures

Announcing HRFC Covid-19 Relief Loan Fund

HRFC

HRDC and HRFC are pleased to announce the rollout of our new Covid-19 Relief Loan Fund. This program is the result of a $3.14 million grant from the federal Economic Development Administration and funded by the CARES Act. The purpose is to help businesses that have been negatively impacted by Covid-19.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

A few notes about the Covid-19 Relief Loan Fund:

    • Eligible borrowers are businesses that have been negatively impacted by Covid-19. Start-ups will be considered if they are filling an essential service in their community.
    • Flexible terms.
    • Starting interest rates as low as 0% with adjustments made according to term and collateral.
    • Loans will be made to businesses in five county region: Beltrami, Mahnomen, Clearwater, Hubbard, and Lake of the Woods.

Sarah Linda is the main contact for the program (contact information below), but you can also reach out to Tiffany Fettig at tfettig@hrdc.org (Underwriter) or Vicky Hetteen at vhetteen@hrdc.org (Support Specialist).

Direct: 218-333-6536
Cell: 218-214-2848
General: 218-444-4732

slinda@hrdc.org

Lake of the Woods EDA Small Business Recovery Fund

To support and assist local businesses adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose:

To provide emergency recovery support to small local businesses in Lake of the Woods County adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lake of the Woods County Economic Development Authority (EDA) Small Business Recovery Fund will aid of up to $20,000 to small businesses most in need of support. Funds will help businesses pay for critical expenses such as current payroll obligations, rent payments, mortgage payments, utilities, and payments to suppliers. Providing this support will increase the capacity of small businesses with a physical location in Lake of the Woods County to rebound from the current crisis and will help prevent potential future blight scenarios. The Small Business Recovery fund was made possible by CARES ACT funds with the authorization of the Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners and other local government units.

Funding Availability:

  • Applications will be available at the announcement of funding (expected about August 14, 2020).
  • Applications will be due to Lake of the Woods (expected August 28th, 2020).
  • All applications will be reviewed by the funding committee within two weeks of the closing of the application period.
  • Awards will be made within one week of the committee meeting (expected by September 4th, 2020).
  • If funds are still available after the first round of funding, the EDA may solicit additional applications.

PROJECT & APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY:

  • Be able to demonstrate that they were directly and adversely affected by COVID – 19 (The recipient must be able to demonstrate a significant reduction in revenues as calculated by monthly sales from the period March 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020 compared to the prior year sales for the same time period).
  • Have a physical location in Lake of the Woods County.
  • Priority will be placed on businesses who’ve experienced a significant decline in revenue, faced closure due to Executive orders, or experienced other extraordinary hardships due to the pandemic.
  • Must be current on all financial obligations as of March 1, 2020.
  • Eligible Activities Included but not limited to:
      • Working Capital
      • Inventory and Equipment to resume operations
      • Business investments that will make the business more resilient to future disruptions.
      • Other operational expenditures necessary to keep the business from closing.
  • Ineligible Activities include:
      • Direct selling, multi-level marketing businesses, etc.
      • Home-based businesses without a physical establishment (except child care business)
      • Businesses in default conditions prior to February 29, 2020
      • Businesses that primarily derive income from gambling
  • Approval Authority
    • The EDA will have the ultimate authority to approve or deny applications on a case-by-case basis and may impose certain conditions on approved projects.

TERMS:

All funds granted under this program shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

  • Project participation is limited based on the availability of program funds.
  • The EDA will provide the business financial assistance in the form of a grant.
  • The minimum assistance granted under this program shall be $2,500 and the maximum shall be $20,000 per business.
  • Funding level is based on the total impact resulting from the pandemic during the period March 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020, number of applicants and the total funds that are available.
  • Businesses are eligible to receive the amount of the reduction due to the pandemic for the time period less any other funding received, up to the maximum assistance available.
  • Subsequent funding round applicants may receive additional resources up to the total amount of loss, based on availability of funding.

PROGRAM PROCEDURES:

  • Applicant submits application to the EDA. Including the following materials
  • Either prepared financial statements for a 2 – year period, historical cash flow, income statement, OR 2 years tax returns
  • Documentation of other assistance received.
  • The EDA reviews application and approves or denies request. If approved, the EDA may place conditions on the proposed project.
    • If denied, applicant may submit a revised application and repeat process.
    • “Assistance Agreement” is drafted by that identifies the terms of the agreement. All parties execute said letter.

Minnesota Small Business Relief Grants

This program will make available $10,000 grants to Minnesotan owned and operated businesses that can demonstrate financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. A total of $60.3 million is available for grant awards which will be selected through a computer-generated, randomized selection process.

Awards will be disbursed and administered by qualified local and regionally based nonprofit organizations. Grant funds received by individual businesses shall be used for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility bills, and other similar expenses that occur or have occurred since March 1, 2020, in the regular course of business. These are grants and no repayment will be required.

Applications for the Small Business Relief Grant Program are now open and will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 2. Please click on the application tab below to apply.

Click here for more details.

Baudette Hotel Named Best of AmericInn

AmericInn by Wyndham Baudette

BAUDETTE, MN (June 12, 2020) – The AmericInn by Wyndham Baudette at 1179 Main St W. today announced it has been awarded the annual “Best of AmericInn”, which recognizes the brand’s top-performing hotels and their staffs.

In celebration of the achievement, Jeremy Nelson, District Director of Discover Lodging Management, accepted the award from AmericInn and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts leadership.

“Receiving this honor is a testament to the incredible work of our hotel teams in delivering top-notch hospitality day in and day out,” said Nelson. “Winning the hearts and loyalty of guests is all about maintaining a quality hotel and cultivating a staff that’s passionate about the details;
we’ve succeeded on both fronts, and we’ll continue striving to set the bar even higher for what it means to be a ‘Best of AmericInn.”

To be eligible for the award, hotels must demonstrate strong quality scores, outstanding guest reviews and an unwavering commitment to the Wyndham Rewards loyalty program and its members.

The AmericInn by Wyndham is a 63-room hotel and offers complimentary breakfast, pool, fitness center, and updated rooms. Rooms feature refrigerators and microwaves, upgraded bedding and updated furnishings.

Equipment for COVID-19, non-critical businesses

Background

Governor Tim Walz’s Executive Order 20-33 requires each business in operation during the peacetime emergency establish a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. This plan is designed to help a business keep their employees safe by taking steps to control exposure to COVID-19 by limiting contact, social distancing and assuring they have enough equipment prior to starting up, among other options. Communicating this plan and providing training to workers is key to implementing the plan.

COVID-19 is spread mainly through close contact from person to person in respiratory droplets from someone who is infected. People who are infected often – but not always – have symptoms of illness. People without symptoms are able to spread the virus. COVID-19 is also spread from contact with a contaminated surface or object.

Hierarchy of controls
Occupational safety and health professionals use a framework called the “hierarchy of controls” to select ways of controlling workplace hazards. The best way to control a hazard is to remove it from the workplace, rather than relying on workers to reduce their exposure. During a COVID-19 outbreak, when it may not be possible to eliminate the hazard, the most effective protection measures are:

1. engineering controls;
2. administrative controls;
3. safe work practices (a type of administrative control); and
4. personal protective equipment (PPE).
Types of controls

In most cases, a combination of control measures will be necessary to protect workers. The following is a description of each control listed from most effective to least effective.

1. Engineering controls involve isolating employees from work-related hazards. Engineering controls include isolation rooms and other physical barriers, such as clear plastic “sneeze guards” that can limit most workers’ exposures.

2. Administrative controls require action by the worker or the business. Typically, these require changes in work policy or procedures to reduce or minimize exposure to a hazard. Administrative controls include requiring sick workers to stay home, encouraging teleworking when possible and staggering work shifts.

3. Safe work practices are types of administrative controls that include procedures for safe and proper work used to reduce the duration, frequency or intensity of the exposure to a hazard. Safe work practices can include the following.

a. Use social-distancing measures, such as requiring all workers to stay at least six feet away from customers and coworkers.

b. Limit the number of workers entering the business. Based on the square footage and configuration of the worksite, set a specific number of workers allowed in that can maintain a distance of at least six feet from each other.

c. Designate workers to monitor and facilitate social-distancing and hygiene practices.

4. Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes gloves, goggles, face shields, face masks and respiratory protections. Businesses shall do an assessment of the work activities to determine what PPE is required.

The required PPE and training about its use, is to be provided and paid for by the business. This is the
last line of defense used by the worker.

a. Respirators (N95 or better) are not available and are being prioritized for health care and laboratories, emergency response, mortuary services and food supply.

b. Face shields are designed to put a physical barrier between workers. They are typically clear and cover the face of the worker. These are currently in limited supply.

c. Frequent handwashing is more effective than gloves. Disposable gloves are used by workers for handling items that may have contact from an outside vendor, money, parts and food safety, and when conducting cleaning and disinfecting activities. Gloves will carry COVID-19, just like workersʼ hands; therefore, require workers to wash their hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and allow them the time to do so. This includes: when they arrive and depart from work; before and after they use the restroom; before eating, drinking or using tobacco; when they leave their workstation; and after handling money. Some areas may have hand-sanitizer dispensers that can be used for hand hygiene in place of soap and water, as long as hands are not visibly soiled. Sanitizer must contain at least 60% alcohol.

d. Homemade cloth masks or surgical masks are considered a source control that keeps germs the wearer expels when coughing or sneezing from landing on others. These do not provide the wearer any type of added protection; these only protect the workers around the source person.

Other protective measures

All workers, regardless of the type of work they are doing, must:
• practice good and frequent hand hygiene;
• follow social-distancing guidelines;
• follow good cough and sneeze etiquette;
• avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands; and
• avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Resources
Resources are available on the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industryʼs “Updates related to COVID-19” the webpage at www.dli.mn.gov/updates.

Get help
Request a free safety and health consultation at www.dli.mn.gov/about-department/our-areas-
service/minnesota-osha-workplace-safety-consultation or by calling 651-284-5060 or 800-657-3776.