Spring Valley EDA

Tools for Economic Growth in Spring Valley, Minnesota.

Spring Valley EDA News

Amex Shop Small Grant Program accepting applications through January 16th (Small Business Grant up to $20,000)

by

Information taken from Mainstreet.org 

 

The Amex Shop Small Grants Program, in partnership with American Express®, will fund more than 500 grants of $20,000 each, empowering small businesses to grow, innovate, and support their local communities. The program was initially launched with a $5 million contribution, and as a result of its giving pledge for eligible transactions made on Small Business Saturday®, American Express will now contribute an additional $5.1 million to the program – totaling over $10 million in grants.

The Amex Shop Small Grants Program reflects the shared commitment of American Express and Main Street America to champion small businesses that strengthen communities and help local economies thrive. Applications are currently open and will close on Friday, January 16, 2026 at 11:59 CT.

Recipients will have a 6‑month period in which to complete their projects, so applicants are encouraged to prepare a ​“ready-to-execute” project plan and a detailed, itemized budget. During that period, Main Street America will provide opportunities for grant recipients to connect and network with each other, complete self-guided e-learning courses, and share the story of their business and their Amex Shop Small Grants Program project journey with a variety of audiences.

Learn more and apply at Mainstreet.org and make sure check out the Spring Valley EDA Grant Qualification Checklist to help determine if this grant program might be a good fit for your small business, as only the businesses are eligible to apply. (these cannot be submitted by non-profits on behalf of the business entity)

Still have questions? Reach out via email to director@springvalleyeda.org.

Answering the Bell

by

Original article published in the Mower County Independent, Thursday, December 11, 2025.   Reprinted with permission and gratitude.

By David Phillips 

When the holidays come around, Joe Bezdicek is one of the most familiar faces to shoppers at Sunshine Foods in Spring Valley.

The Spring Valley resident isn’t an employee of the grocery store picking up extra hours for the holidays, although he does help out Sunshine employees after customers are done checking out. Instead, he mostly sits in a chair, ringing a bell to draw attention to the red kettle by his side for people to donate money toward Salvation Army activities in Fillmore County.

Bezdicek isn’t the only volunteer to man the kettle, but he is the most prolific, putting in seven hours per day at times and often showing up seven days a week. Last year, he put in nearly 100 hours during the season, roughly from the week of Thanksgiving through the end of the year.

Staffing the red kettle at Sunshine Foods is a project of the Spring Valley Kiwanis Club. Bezdicek isn’t part of Kiwanis, but his wife, Rita, is a conscientious member who has been quite active throughout the years. “Rita said they need somebody to ring the bell. And I said, ‘Well, I’ll go over there and ring the bell for a while.’ And nobody relieved me, so I just kept ringing it,” said Bezdicek.  That was three years ago, and he has been busy ringing ever since then. The personal interaction is what keeps him coming back.

“I see a lot of people,” he said. “I taught industrial arts here for 32 years, and so a lot of the people I see are students I had in school years ago, plus their parents. So I know quite a few of the people by name, and they know me, so it’s a pleasant situation.”

With all the hours he has spent at Sunshine Foods, he knows the employees and understands the flow of activity through the store. The store has provided a chair for him, which makes his time there more comfortable. In turn, he helps put carts away, even devising a system for keeping one row of carts without the small baskets in front to help out families that bring in their children in car seats so they can fit them in the large basket.

Kiwanis has a signup form on the Spring Valley EDA website (springvalleyeda.org), so anyone in the community can volunteer to ring the bell. However, Bezdicek just shows up each day, and if a volunteer comes in to help, “I tell them if they want to ring the bell, just come on over, and I’ll give them the bell and tell me how many hours they want to ring it. I’ll come back and relieve them when they are done.”

Bezdicek estimates that about 65 to 70 percent of the customers take out coins or bills to stuff in the red kettle before exiting the store.

“People are surprisingly very generous. I’ll see anywhere from a few coins up to a $20 bill going in there — and people that you thought probably couldn’t handle it, they’ll put a couple of dollars in there. It’s just encouraging to me for a community this size. But I know in a community like Spring Valley and Wykoff, when there’s a need, the people will come to help.”

The Spring Valley Kiwanis Club took in more than $10,000 last year, which was more than the total collected in all other Fillmore County communities combined. The local red kettle has collected more than $4,000 as of Saturday, Dec. 6, this year, by far the largest amount of any location in the county.

An annual summary by Salvation Army Secretary/Treasurer Geraldine Williams of Spring Valley shows that the Fillmore County chapter touched the lives of approximately 2,500 people in the county during the most recent fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30. Funds went to items such as county care center projects, Shop with a Cop, Easter and Thanksgiving food baskets, hygiene supplies for seven elementary schools in the county, educator appreciation baskets, and emergency assistance.

 

Courtesy of the Mower County Independent, 135 E Main St. LeRoy, MN 55951, (507)-324-5325

UPDATE: Frozen Feet run still on, but shortened due to Arctic blast

by

Updated December 11, 2025 
By David Phillips

 

Despite the subzero temperature predicted for Saturday, December 13, the Frozen Feet 4k fun run is still on, although the race route will be shortened due to the extreme conditions.

The new route is one mile long, so runners and volunteers won’t be exposed as long to the frigid conditions and to eliminate the portion of the route in the country where winds will be more prominent and gravel roads that are icy. The route will stay on paved roads close to downtown with a portion going through the loop of the Trail of Trees and coming back through the straight-away part of the tree display.

Another change is the annual Frozen Feet fundraiser for Kingsland Youth Football will be open to anyone, including those people who just want to run from their car to the Mundfrom Building in downtown Spring Valley. Non-runners can still enjoy the perks of the race by donating funds to the Kingsland Youth Football program.

People who show up to the Mundfrom Building Saturday morning and register to run or merely make a donation of any size to Kingsland Youth Football will get:

  • Cookies and hot chocolate or coffee
  • A free drink ticket for Stellar 181
  • A free Santa hat (while supplies last)
  • Entry into a drawing for gift cards from local businesses

The race is opening up to non-runners this year due to the small field of runners willing to go out in the Arctic air and to provide another activity for Christmas on Historic Broadway celebrants to keep warm and enjoy the special day in Spring Valley. All the money from the donations goes to the Kingsland Youth Football program.

Donations can be made ahead of time on the race website at https://runsignup.com/Race/MN/SpringValley/FrozenFeet4k or the day of the race. If you donate online, click on the donate button in the upper right corner of the first web page.

Runners will line up at 11 a.m. near the intersection of Broadway Avenue and Courtland Street. Non-runners can stay in the Mundfrom Building, 124 North Broadway Avenue, or take a walk down to the Trail of Trees to view the festive displays in Spring Creek Park.

During the post-event festivities, awards will be presented to the overall male winner, overall female winner, and the runner with the most festive outfit. The awards are being made by students in the metal art program at Kingsland High School.

The Mundfrom Building will open at 10:30 a.m. for same-day registration or donations. Cookies and hot chocolate or coffee will be available after the start of the race at 11 a.m. The drawing will be held around 11:30 a.m. at the conclusion of the awards.

The event is part of Christmas on Historic Broadway put on by the Spring Valley Chamber of Commerce and Brave Community Theatre. Other events include a supper with Santa Claus and a light parade in the evening of Dec. 13. The entire list of events is at springvalleychamberofcommerce.com.

 

Spring Valley Kiwanis busy throughout fall and early winter

by

Original article published in the Mower County Independent, Thursday, December 4, 2025.   Reprinted with permission and gratitude.

By Gretchen Mensink Lovejoy

The Spring Valley Kiwanis Club, in mid-October, honored its 2025 Kiwanis Citizens of the Year, Spring Valley Area Ambulance Service co directors Lucy Drinkall, Sue Puffer and Mike Zimmer. The Kiwanis host a reception each year as a fundraising initiative to garner scholarship monies for graduating Kingsland seniors.

The club’s current president, Dennis Cornell, welcomed those at tending the Citizen of the Year recognition reception, calling the trio the “unsung heroes of this community” who “deserve every bit of recognition we can give them.” “They’re there 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. They’re there if you need them, and when you don’t, they’re in the background where they want to be. We really should be honoring these people who serve us so well.”

A friend of each of the co-directors stood to speak about their individual contributions to the Spring Valley area community and how they continue to make a difference for others still. Former emergency medical technician (EMT) Wes Peterson stated that when longtime Spring Valley ambulance director Jim Cooper passed away, the city had a difficult time filling his position because he’d done such an excellent job. “Efforts to fill his shoes were unsuccessful, but Sue, Mike and Lucy stepped up and agreed to share an annual salary. They were not in this for the money – they were doing it because they cared.” Peterson recounted an incident of his own that required EMT intervention, and he credited Puffer because “she out-stubborned me.”

Longtime EMT Jim McCabe spoke about Drinkall and how he’d had the opportunity to respond to calls with her as “friends and neighbors” who had come to know one another well.

Retired Fillmore County deputy Don Kullot “got to know Mike personally” after pulling him over for a burnt-out headlight, after which Zimmer’s daughters were employed with the Kullots as babysitters, Kullot and Zimmer ventured out to go fishing together, and when it came time to share space professionally, Zimmer was available to assist at the Kullot home. The attendees were advised to “learn from these folks and cherish them… they are a very special part of the community.”

The club provides the scholarships for graduating Kings land seniors, holds an annual children’s Halloween party at the community center, recognizes high school students for their achievements, hosts the annual Love Lights a Tree event at the city Christmas tree on High way 63, oversees volunteering at the Salvation Army kettle at Sunshine Foods each Christmas – Joe Bezdicek will be there if there isn’t anyone else available, collaborates to lend a hand with various community projects, and raises funds for Kiwanis Inter national’s global initiatives to support children.

A Nov. 24 post on the Spring Valley Kiwanis Facebook page shared that the “Kiwanis Club of Spring Valley is proud to be able to continue on with the Love Lights a Tree program that Loretta Ascheman coordinated for so many years.” “Thank you to everyone that gave donations for luminaries, and to all those that attended Sunday night’s program. If you were not able to at tend but would still like to donate, you can send donations to Love Lights a Tree, c/o Kiwanis Club of Spring Valley, P.O. Box 133, Spring Valley, MN, 55975. All donations are then used to help local cancer patients and those with other major medical expenses.”

The Spring Valley Kiwanis Club meets at noon on Wednesdays at the Spring Valley Community Center. Visitors interested in becoming Kiwanians are welcome to join them and learn more about the organization’s mission to serve children of the world and community.

 

 

 

Courtesy of the Mower County Independent, 135 E Main St. LeRoy, MN 55951, (507)-324-5325

Frozen Feet 4k ready for another festive run

by

Sunday, November 23, 2025

By: David Philips

 

The Frozen Feet 4k fun run and walk will return for another year during Christmas on Historic Broadway Avenue in Spring Valley Saturday, Dec. 13, with a drawing for prizes and free drinks at Stellar 181.

The Kingsland Youth Football group will sponsor the event again this year, handling organization of the run set for 11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 13. All proceeds will go to the program, which is the training ground for varsity players who have had much success in recent years.

The Mundfrom Building, 124 North Broadway Avenue, will be the meeting place and finishing location again this year. Baked goodies and other treats will be available at the end of the event.

During the post-event festivities, awards will be presented to the overall male winner, overall female winner and the runner with the most festive outfit. The awards are being made by students in the metal art program at Kingsland High School.

Once again, the event will have several gifts available to participants through a drawing at the conclusion of the run/walk through a festive Spring Valley that is decorated for the annual Christmas event. Several local businesses have generously donated gift cards and other goodies that will be distributed through the drawing.

Participants in this year’s event will receive one free drink from Stellar 181. Those under 21 years of age will get a virgin Stellar Punch while people 21 and older will get their choice of a virgin or regular Stellar Punch. The drinks will be available at Stellar 181 after the post-run awards.

Participants will be able to join the run for a $15 entry fee. There is also an option to contribute additional dollars to the Kingsland Youth Football program. Donors will get extra tickets for the drawing of prizes.

Advance registration is encouraged online at springvalleyeda.org or https://runsignup.com/Race/MN/SpringValley/FrozenFeet4k. People can also donate to the group online. Paper forms are available at City Hall. Same-day registration is an option at the Mundfrom Building starting at 10:30 a.m.

During the event, runners will leave downtown Spring Valley, run south on Washington Avenue, head west on Sample Road, then head back north on Territorial Road before hitting the trail off of Church Street, crossing the creek and continuing through the Trail of Trees and back to downtown. The route is just short of 2.5 miles. Walkers can traverse the entire route or take a shortened jaunt around and through the beautiful Trail of Trees.

The event is part of Christmas on Historic Broadway put on by the Spring Valley Chamber of Commerce and Brave Community Theatre. Other events include a supper with Santa Claus and a light parade in the evening of Dec. 13. The entire list of events is at springvalleychamberofcommerce.com.

 

REGISTER ONLINE HERE 

The Spring Valley Kiwanis Club Seeking Bell Ringers for 2025 Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign

by

The Spring Valley Kiwanis Club is seeking volunteers to sign up as bell ringers for the 2025 Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign.

 

All donations received will remain in Fillmore County to support local & county-wide Salvation Army activities.

 

Shifts are 2 hours long, daily from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Sunshine Foods located at 501 North Park Dr.  in Spring Valley.  The Red Kettle Campaign officially begins Monday November 24th, and runs through Tuesday, December 30th, ending at 3:00 p.m.  (There are no shifts scheduled for Thanksgiving Day!)

 

Bells and aprons for each shift can be picked up at the service desk at Sunshine Foods.

 

Please take a minute, click on the link below, and sign-up for a bell ringing shift this holiday season!

 

SIGN-UP HERE! 

Reset password

Enter your email address and we will send you a link to change your password.

Powered by Estatik