MINNESOTA POTTERY STUDIO & ART GALLERY TO BE HIGHLIGHTED NATIONALLY 

DURING SMALL BUSINESS WEEK, SEPTEMBER 13-15, 2021

Hutchinson, MN — The Clay Coyote Gallery & Pottery has been selected as one of 10 businesses from across the country (and the only one in the Midwest) to be highlighted during the Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week Virtual Summit, taking place September 13-15, 2021. 

This year’s Summit will focus on the resilience of America’s entrepreneurs and the renewal of the small business economy as they build back from the economic crisis brought on by a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. 

In March of 2020, like many other small businesses, the Clay Coyote had to cease production and send their potters home. With the help of funds from the CARES Act, support from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and local SBA partners, the Clay Coyote was able to continue to pay their employees even when they couldn’t come to work. 

Now, the potters are back at their wheels, the business is open in a new, larger space, and the staff has grown.The Clay Coyote’s success story showcases how small businesses are not alone, and when crisis hits, there is a nationwide network of support to tap. This small, central Minnesota pottery studio and art gallery leveraged all of these resources and came out stronger. 

Owner, Morgan Baum shares, “We’re thrilled to be selected. During the pandemic there have been many moments where we didn’t know if we would make it. Like so many others, we need revenue coming in so that we can keep operating, and the pandemic created new threats that we had never considered. Because of the funding and support from the SBA, we were able to keep the lights on and our employees paid, and that peace of mind allowed us to get creative and launch new products and customer engagement initiatives that have helped us thrive over the last year.” 

There are over 526,000 small businesses in Minnesota. Nationwide, more than half of all Americans either own or work for a small business, which creates nearly two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.  

“This year more than ever, we’re excited to honor entrepreneurs and small business owners during Small Business Week for their grit and perseverance. These traits shone brightly through the pandemic’s challenging times,” said Brian McDonald, SBA’s Minnesota district director. “The resilience of small businesses like Clay Coyote continues to help Minnesota’s economy and our communities bounce back.” 

Learn more about the National Small Business Week Virtual Summit hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and join the conversation at https://www.sba.gov/national-small-business-week. Attendance is free and small businesses can learn new strategies, meet other entrepreneurs, and chat with industry experts. 

ABOUT THE CLAY COYOTE

For decades, the Clay Coyote family has been making quality, handcrafted, functional pottery in central Minnesota. Second-generation owners, Morgan Baum and her husband Ian, continue to carry on the family legacy making art you can cook with. Their specialty line of Flameware pottery is designed to go directly on the stovetop or grill. The Clay Coyote Studio is also home to a small business incubator for emerging ceramic artists. The Clay Coyote Gallery, open five days a week in downtown Hutchison, carries handmade ceramic, wood, fiber, metal, and jewelry artisans from across North America. More information available at www.claycoyote.com. 

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