Federated Rural Electric in Jackson has assisted the Round Lake Vineyards and Winery with a $150,000 Revolving Loan Fund check. The Round Lake Winery has a building project and renovation underway that required an updated septic system for a permanent kitchen, additional indoor restaurant seating and expanded banquet seating.
Federated and the winery signed the 10-year loan paperwork on Nov. 2. The winery also provided matching funds with a loan from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation in Hutchinson. As funds are repaid to Federated, they can be loaned to other organizations.
Round Lake Vineyards and Winery co-owner Jenny Ellenbecker noted that this economic development funding helps the winery finance a new septic system. With the renovation of three buildings, this system will tie all four buildings together in a common septic system for long-term efficiency at reduced maintenance costs.
Ellenbecker added that for five years, the winery has been cooking out of a food trailer. With this renovation, there will be two new spaces: an 80-seat banquet room and a seasonal picnic space with a permanent indoor food and bar service building. In the winter, this building will be used as a warming house.
Since 1992, Federated provided economic development dollars totaling $4.462 million. This contributed to keeping 1,163 jobs and securing 642 jobs in the area. More specifically, Federated’s revolving loan started in 2009 with a loan from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for $244,000 that financed a Ceylon fire truck and Tenhassen Township Hall. Then, in 2016, Federated secured additional USDA revolving loan funds and added a matching 20 percent totaling $421,515 toward new Heron Lake and Round Lake fire trucks.
Federated is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative serving 6,800 members in Jackson and Martin counties.
