Clarification
In the March 25 issue of the St. Joseph Newsleader, in the story titled “St. Joseph potter sets world record,” the number of pots the potter threw was inadvertently left out of the story. The previous record was 150 pots. Joel Cherrico, the potter in question, threw 159 pots.
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Sue Borgert is the 2016 St. Cloud Area Small Business Owner of the Year. The award is presented annually by the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce.
Borgert Concrete Products was established in 1923 by Lawrence A. Borgert in East St. Cloud. In 1953, Lawrence’s son, Kenneth J. Borgert, took over the business, moving it to St. Joseph.
In 1976, during an economic downturn, the company expanded its product offerings by manufacturing pavers, in addition to concrete block and septic tanks. Sue Borgert joined the company in 1982 to sell pavers and by 1992 she had assume the leadership role in the company, acquiring sole ownership in 2006.
During that time, the company sold the concrete block business and doubled in size from 25 employees and $5 million in sales to 54 employees and $11 million in sales. Today, the company manufactures concrete paving stones, retaining walls and slabs.
Strategic planning and product development have been a focus for the company for the last several years. They now offer pavers in a wider variety of shapes and sizes, have patented a permeable paver, and expanded into outdoor fireplaces and ovens.
Borgert will be honored at the 2016 St. Cloud Area Small Business Awards Luncheon from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 3 at the Holiday Inn and Suites, 75 S. 37th Ave., St. Cloud. The luncheon is open to the public. Reservations can be made by calling the Chamber of Commerce at 320-656-3826 or at www.StCloudAreaChamber.com.
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Nadine Leibfried of St. Joseph has received the Association for Nursing Professional Development Scholarship from Western Governor’s University, Salt Lake City, Utah. As a nonprofit, WGU typically awards scholarships based on the applicant’s academic record, readiness for online study, financial need and other considerations.
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Kennedy Community School has recently received several grants from the District 742 Local Education and Activities Foundation, that awarded $34,184 during its spring Academic and Activities Funds granting cycle.
Each year, LEAF awards supplemental funding to academic, activities, arts and athletic programming. Teachers, coaches and advisers submit grant applications for special projects twice during the academic year.
Grants awarded this spring include: Kennedy Computer Science Curriculum for K-8 math and literacy standards; $2,000; Kennedy 8 Acer Chrome Books for fourth-grade students to access ALEKS, $600; Kennedy Artist to Work with a specific standard in 2016-17, $1,107; Kennedy “FUSE” Community Garden, $750; and Kennedy Guided Math Stations, $500.
