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April 12, 2009

Gibbon growing grocery

Economy has hurt efforts to raise $200,000

By Brian Ojanpa

GIBBON — Residents in the small town of Gibbon have pledged nearly $70,000 since they began rallying last summer to reopen the community’s only grocery store.

Several dozen residents started a co-op effort in hopes of raising the funds required to get a full-service market up and running.

The Sibley County Economic Development office is lending assistance, and Director Tim Dolan said the hope is to raise $200,000 in pledges, the amount required in order to secure bank financing for the remainder of the project cost estimated at $400,000.

The 800-population town had never been without a grocer until September 2007, when the store closed due to inexperienced management.

The project calls for a co-op board of directors, which would hire a store manager.

In 2008 a survey sent to 2,000 Gibbon-area residents showed that of the 357 respondents, 84 percent said they would buy groceries in Gibbon, with the average respondent willing to invest $100 to become a co-op member.

A group of Gibbon residents traveled to Houston in southeast Minnesota to observe operations at an 8-year-old co-op grocery there.

The nearest grocery stores to Gibbon are in Winthrop and Fairfax, both about seven miles away.

Co-op co-organizer Berny Berger said lack of a grocery store has been a large concern for the town’s elderly.

“There are a lot of seniors in our community who don’t drive much,” said Berger, adding that the new grocery, like its predecessor, will offer delivery service.

Project backers initially hoped to have a store in operation by this summer, and Berger said the effort has been a bonding force for residents.

“The community needed something to rally around, and this is becoming that issue.”

A recent community fundraiser dinner and talent show netted $1,700.

Project co-organizer Pat Reinhart said economic downturns have hampered fundraising efforts, and the goal of opening a store this summer is no longer realistic.

“But we’re just going to keep plugging away,” he said, adding that a grocery store has a positive synergistic effect on other businesses in town and the lack of one has hurt the town’s overall commerce.

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