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In small towns across Minnesota, local grocery stores are more than just places to buy food — they are the bread and butter of the community. Yet many of these stores are facing an uphill battle against big-box retailers, rising operational costs and shrinking populations.
Bonnie’s Hometown Grocery in Clinton, Minnesota (pop. 376) is one of them. For over 20 years, owner Bonnie Maas has worked tirelessly to keep shelves stocked, freezers humming and the till ringing. But running a rural grocery store is no piece of cake.
“We make enough money here to keep the store stocked, and hopefully pay utilities and employees,” Maas shares. “But it really doesn’t give you a lot of leeway for repairs and different things. It’s really a struggle for small stores.”
Yet Maas says she’s committed to the work; it’s an integral part of the place she calls home.
“People come to town to get their groceries, do their banking, catch up with their neighbors, things like that. I think people in town would be lost without it.”
Shelf-stable support
Recognizing the vital role rural grocery stores play in Minnesota, the University of Minnesota Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP) is delivering resources and support.
“Across Extension, we understand that reliable food systems are essential to the wellbeing of Minnesotans,” says RSDP Statewide Director Kathy Draeger. “Our people are a part of the University, but they’re also the local community members who fill their baskets at these grocery stores. It’s not just about coming in to help, it’s personal for us.”
More than a decade ago, RSDP began working with grocery stores in communities across Minnesota to understand their challenges. Based on store owners’ experiences, RSDP developed a suite of online tools to address their needs — work that continues today. Resources available for grocers includes fresh produce handling guides, innovative recommendations for boosting sales and a plan for working with local farmers to purchase food.
In 2024 RSDP connected with 243 shops to offer support, resources and invitations to events like product merchandising workshops. Many owners also worked with RSDP to navigate the Good Food Access Program, a state-funded initiative to help with important improvements.
Energy efficiency is particularly important to rural grocers, as small improvements can make a big difference in their bottom line. In 2024, RSDP’s Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) worked with 17 rural shops. They offered support for store owners to “audit” their overall energy usage, helped with writing grants, offered technical assistance and shared other tools for grocery stores hoping to cool down their energy bills.
Bonnie’s Hometown Grocery is among the shops that received a CERTs Seed Grant to help replace old, inefficient equipment.
“The community has shown great support toward our energy-efficient freezer,” says Maas. “It helps keep our energy costs down so we can keep our store open for business.”
Aisles of opportunity
In 2026, RSDP will build on its commitment to rural grocery stores by hosting the National Rural Grocery Summit. Held biennially since 2008, this event is the go-to networking and resource-sharing venue for independent grocers and rural food access stakeholders.
The 2026 summit will be co-hosted by Kansas State University and the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Co-ops. It will offer a shared space for hands-on learning and collaborative problem-solving. With a focus on boosting profitability, improving energy efficiency and strengthening local supply chains, the event will ensure small-town stores have the support they need to stay open.
“This is about more than just individual stores — it’s about the long-term resilience of rural communities,” says Draeger. “If you’re thinking, ‘Why should the University partner with a grocery store in small-town America?’ I would just say that these stores are the cornerstone of local food systems and provide a tremendous amount of public good. Supporting rural grocery stores means supporting the future of our communities and our state.”
For shop owners like Bonnie Maas, that support makes all the difference.
“I don’t make much money here but I enjoy what I do. I like what it does for the community.”
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