A magazine created to share stories, educate readers, and share opportunities to start and grow your business.
Read Our Latest Issue
Our latest (and FIRST EVER) issue of ACTIVATE Magazine is jam packed with resources, tools, and stories to help you start and grow your business. From stories of businesses working through a global pandemic, to the nitty gritty details of the SBA 504 financing program and how it can help businesses succeed, this issue showcases the best parts of Dakota Business Lending, small business, and the communities we know and love.
ACTIVATE Magazine Articles
The Inside Scoop on the ND & MT Women’s Business Centers
Across the nation, over 150 Women’s Business Centers (WBC) are helping entrepreneurs start, grow, and advance their businesses every day. We sat down with Christy Dauer (North Dakota WBC Program Director) and Shayna Blaser (Montana WBC Program Director) to get the inside scoop on what these Women’s Business Centers have to offer...
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Spika Design & Manufacturing
Spika Design & Manufacturing A Successful Dakota Business Lending Borrower Featured in Katie Spika, President & CEO of Spika Design & Manufacturing, Inc. in Lewistown, Montana stared out of her window into the expanse of the serene Montana landscape faraway wondering how the pandemic that had blind-sided businesses worldwide would impact her market. Her…
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Partnerships, Power, & Potential
Forming a partnership takes careful consideration, time, and strategy, but can have a huge impact both parties involved. Whether your business has established countless partnerships before, or you are considering forming your first one, here is just a few of the many benefits that this professional relationship can bring to you and your business...
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Setting the Record Straight: Resources that Exist for Women Business Owners
There is a common misconception that little to no resources exist for women entrepreneurs. Financing, leadership, training, management…you name it. Many believe these are hard to find. But as an entity that works with countless entrepreneurs, we have seen individuals and organizations...
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Supporting Small Business – Why and How
You hear it said over and over – “You should support small business”. You see the little stickers in every downtown window – “Shop Small.” There is even a day dedicated to it - “Small Business Saturday.”
But why is it so important? And what does it really mean to support small business?...
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Help for Heroes: Resources Available for Veteran Business Owners
Like the variety of benefits offered to active and retired veterans and their families for their dedication and service to our country, a multitude of resources is also offered to those veteran entrepreneurs who continue to support and grow our communities day in and day out through business ownership...
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Craig’s Small Engine Repair
Craig’s Small Engine Repair: A Successful Dakota Business Lending Borrower Featured in Craig Helberg has always had a knack for fixing and repairing things. Even as a child, he was constantly taking things apart, figuring out how they work, and putting them back together. It wasn’t until many years later, when he had a…
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Woodland Resort
Woodland Resort: A Successful Dakota Business Lending Borrower Featured in 30 years ago, Woodland Resort in Devils Lake, North Dakota, was nothing but cattle pastures and farmland. The grandparents of Kyle Blanchfield had purchased and lived on the farmstead off the shore of Creel Bay since the mid-1940’s. In 1988, Kyle’s grandparents were no…
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