Learning Zone Xpress receives grant funds on Owatonna

OWATONNA — Even Learning Zone Xpress has to get ahead of the curve.

To stay competitive in a global market the company is co-opting the Internet in a big way — and now they have some help from an unexpected source.

Learning Zone Xpress received $10,000 from the Pohlad Family Foundation, which pledged $4.3 million in grants and loans to help small businesses weather the recession. The Minnesota Chamber and its local affiliates are charged with distributing the money.

These grants and loans are intended for small businesses with less than $10 million in sales annually and fewer than 50 employees. The money can be used for a number of things: retaining employees who would otherwise be laid off, buying equipment, operational expenses, capital improvements and consulting services aimed at helping the business develop a growth strategy.

Learning Zone Xpress benefited from a $10,000 grant dedicated to Internet consulting. The goal is to develop online courses, which would open up new markets across the world.

“We’re thrilled. It’s a great opportunity,” said Joyce Mattson, the chief operating officer.

The consultant will do research and planning for the Internet initiative, which will allow the company to put more energy into the project.

“I had so many intiatives all the time. By getting a grant we can focus on that area and I can work on other projects at the same time,” said president and founder Melanie Nelson.

Having an expert on hand to help will also make the project come off quickly — with as few mistakes as possible, Mattson said.

“It would have been much slower without the grant,” Mattson said. “We would do it but it would be five or six years. With this we’re hoping to condense that to 24 months.”

Learning Zone Xpress was hardly the only company interested in the Pohlad family’s offer. The first round opened on May 29 and closed on July 15. In Owatonna alone, 24 businesses vied for grants. The Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism only submitted four from that pool to the next level — the Minnesota Chamber. Of those, three applications were successful.

“It was a relatively competitive process,” said Brad Meier, CEO and president of the Owatonna chamber.

Apart from Learning Zone Xpress, two local manufacturing companies recieved funds as well: One loan and one employee retention grant for $77,400. The grant will allow the company to keep 2.5 workers in the coming year.

Only Learning Zone Xpress agreed to be named.

Fortunately for businesses that missed out the first time, the Owatonna chamber is now taking applications for the second round, Meier said: The Pohlad Family Foundation is distributing $1 million in low interest loans. Each company is eligible for up to $75,000 per loan, to be paid over a three-year term at three percent interest.

The deadline is Sept. 8.

Clare Kennedy can be reached at 444-2376.

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Member Opinions: By: atlascollapsed on 9/1/09 We give the Pohlad's a $160M stadium and they give $4.3M in grants??? I feel abused. By: TaxPayer on 9/2/09 Let's see . . . we're upset if they don't give back . . . we're upset if they DO give back . . . we're just not happy unless we're upset!! By: atlascollapsed on 9/2/09 LOL. I guess one could look at it that way. But IMO the richest family in MN getting a stadiom built for them is a bit much. What they choose to do woth their money is their business. But I reserve the right to complain about taxpayer money until it is paid back in full.
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