Community Offers Food, Volunteers, and Hope
Eagan grabbed the statewide spotlight on Day 27 of the federal government shutdown when Gov. Tim Walz announced a $4 million grant at Eagan’s Open Door Pantry. Those funds will be spread across Minnesota, serving roughly 500 food shelves.
“We have heard increased concern [and] anxiety from our families, and we are seeing more families than we’ve seen since 2020,” noted Jason Viana, executive director of Open Door, among Minnesota’s largest food shelves, during the Oct. 27 event. Prior to the shutdown, Open Door was serving 20,000 to 25,000 every month — an upward trend over the past couple years.
Why were more people needing assistance in November?
For two reasons: First, furloughed federal workers began missing paychecks the previous week and over 5,000 live in Dakota County.
Second, the federal government was no longer providing grocery benefits — the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP — to food-insecure households, mostly people who live below the poverty line. Generally, SNAP recipients don’t need to turn to food shelves for groceries. But without SNAP, they have no choice.
“Nothing can replace SNAP but SNAP,” says Shelbi Schadendorf, communications director of Open Door, explaining that for every meal their food shelf provides, SNAP offers nine. That said, businesses, nonprofits, and individuals are jumping in to help feed hungry people in Eagan and Dakota County.
“As soon as we received the news that SNAP would likely be paused three weeks ago, we knew we were looking at a tidal wave of folks coming,” she says, “and that we and other local nonprofits, like 360 Communities and Neighbors, Inc., would be the first line of defense. Thankfully, we’ve got a really strong community that backs us. They’re doing everything they can to ease the pain of this time.”
Local businesses are donating food, funds, labor, and time. One firm even loaned trucks and drivers to pick up and deliver food donations to Open Door. When asked for the names of these generous companies, Schadendorf demurred: “Our business partners just want to help and make sure people aren’t left behind.” They don’t want attention on their efforts to detract from the needs and the people who matter, she says.
Individuals are helping as well. Eighty to 100 people, many of them Eagan-area workers and retirees, volunteer every day. They greet clients, take appointments, pick up food from grocery stores, sort donations, pack grocery bags, and more. Due to the potential lack of SNAP resources, Open Door has added Saturdays as additional food distribution days. On the first Saturday, Nov. 1, generous volunteers filled 50 slots in under two hours. Combine all volunteer hours, Schadendorf says, and they add up to 22 full-time employees.
One of the most important Open Door efforts has been creating and distributing emergency to-go bags — two bags of groceries that can get a family through a few days. Generally, Open Door distributes a small number of these each week. Now they’re getting thousands of weekly requests for these bags.
“We’ve put out the call on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Reddit, and more,” Schadendorf says, and organizations and people are responding, donating food, packing food, and dropping off filled grocery bags. “It’s hard to walk into our warehouse right now and see the thousands of emergency to-go bags and feel anything but hope.”
How you can help
- Make a direct donation to a hunger organization. Financial gifts are always appreciated and, Schadendorf says, “Clients and volunteers love to support the businesses that support us.”
- Create a food drive. “Even if your employees donate 10 or 15 pounds of food, that’s still 10 to 15 pounds we didn’t have,” she says.
- Gather employees to create emergency to-go bags. The more, the merrier — giving back together feels good.
- Volunteer for a hunger organization. In addition to Open Door Pantry, your employees might consider volunteering at 360 Communities, Neighbors, Inc., or Hastings Family Services.
- Hold a special event. Chef Brian Ingram, owner of Hope Breakfast Bar in Eagan, gave away meals at his St. Paul location. “Watching our community come together reminded us what love in action looks like,” he said.
Schadendorf’s overall advice: “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.” Your business doesn’t need to offer a big check, she says. “Our clients tell us all the time: The food is so appreciated, but seeing all of the donated food and our volunteers lets them know that someone cares.”
Briefly
People
For the second year, Storm Creek CEO and majority owner Teresa Fudenberg has landed on the 2025 ASI Counselor Power 50 list as one of the most influential leaders in the promotional products industry.
Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal has named Kate Shibilski CFO of the Year, Largest Private Company category, for her work at Minnesota Vikings since 2020; previously, she served as vice president of finance and controller, also for the Vikes.
Business
A Texas-based franchisee plans to open Minnesota’s fourth Crunch Fitness at Eagan’s former Kowalski’s store (1646 Diffley Rd.) next year.
Storm Creek has earned a Gold rating from EcoVadis — that means the Eagan-based apparel company is in the top 5% of more than 130,000 companies assessed globally for sustainability.
Government
In October, the Eagan City Council voted in favor of a resolution offering support for continuing local control of public transit, including Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, and for long-term stable funding.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, most Minnesota employers must participate in the new Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) state law, which allows employees to take up to 20 weeks of paid leave per year to care for themselves or family members. Costs will be shared by employers and employees. For more information, find the PFML Employer Toolkit at mnchamber.com.
Development Year In Review
Check out all the development projects that have happened across the Eagan landscape in 2025
21st Century Bank is completing construction of a new small-format retail bank and drive-thru at Yankee Doodle Road and Heritage Lane.
Demolition of buildings on the Thomson Reuters campus is complete, and construction of a 3.2 million-squarefoot Amazon distribution center is well underway. Ryan Companies, which purchased the 179-acre site, is in discussion with additional light industrial users.
An original data center on the former Thomson Reuters campus is being repurposed by Centra for use as a 155,000-square-foot, 12 MW data center, and regional connectivity hub.
While Eagan Art House was completed this year, the renovation and expansion of Eagan Community Center will wrap up next year.
The 300,000-squarefoot Spectrum Office Building was purchased in 2024 by Hunt Electric, which employs over 500 office workers and 1,400 electricians. The company will complete its $11.5 million renovation of the office and warehouse next year.
Kwik Trip Inc. purchased the Hilltop Plaza retail center (4160–4166 Pilot Knob Rd.) to develop as a gas-and-convenience store. If the Kwik Trip project receives final approval, construction is anticipated to begin in 2026.
Omni Viking Lakes Hotel & Conference Center is completing work on a new outdoor pool/spa/amenity area, scheduled to open next year.
On former underused YMCA property east of Hwy. 149, Oppidan is developing a 61,500-square-foot, 5 MW edge data center.
The former Blue Cross Blue Shield call center (1750 Yankee Doodle Rd.) is completing its expansion and renovation as a high-tech, medical research-and-development facility for Solventum, a 3M healthcare spinoff.
Lennar purchased 23 acres for Trails End Commons, a 104-unit townhome development, which is under construction near the intersection of Elrene Road and Yankee Doodle Road.
Under construction on nearly three acres adjacent to Mount Calvary Lutheran Church is Veteran Village (3930 Rahn Rd.), which will provide 22 one- and three-bedroom attached units serving veterans who’ve experienced or are at risk of homelessness. The project will be operated by the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV).
In 2024 the City of Eagan completed the Northwest Central Commons Small Area Plan for 80 acres of vacant or soon-to-be-vacant office properties surrounding Eagan Central Park and Community Center. The completed plan contemplates a mix of up to 1,000 residential units and over 300,000 square feet of commercial development. The former Delta Airlines site (Central Park West) was purchased by the Dakota County Community Development Agency, which intends to develop approximately 100 units of affordable senior and work force housing, and to sell the remaining site for development consistent with the approved small area plan. Demolition of the former Delta Airlines building has begun.
Boost Your Energy, Lower Your Costs
Many energy tax incentives will end on Dec. 31. Yet businesses can still improve energy efficiency, reduce environmental impacts, lower energy bills, and support Eagan’s Climate Action Plan goals
“To begin, lighting is a really easy fix,” says Gillian Catano, sustainability coordinator for the City of Eagan. Swapping out old lighting for LEDs is one of the first recommendations that can result in major energy savings.
Other endorsed upgrades include using smart thermostats, upgrading insulation and windows, giving your HVAC system a tune-up, and replacing old appliances with energy-efficient alternatives.
Most important, Catano says, is getting to know your Eagan utility, whether Dakota Electric, CenterPoint Energy, Minnesota Energy Resources, or Xcel. “They all offer energy-saving programs and rebates, and can assist businesses with energy audits and assessments, which can help them decide what high-efficiency upgrades and other changes can lead to big savings.”
No matter your energy company, you can visit the City’s newly launched list of business resources (cityofeagan.com/se-biz-resources) and find a direct link to your utility’s energy-saving programs and rebates. In addition, the City’s website offers advice about saving energy; managing waste, water, and wastewater; and more.
Need help figuring out where to start saving energy? Contact City staff at