At Power of 100, we know our members show up and make an impact.”

Melissa Freiermuth, founding chair of Power of 100 Hastings Women

A new community event aimed at boosting local businesses and bringing women together will take over downtown Hastings this week.
Power of 100 Hastings Women is partnering with the Hastings Downtown Business Association for the inaugural Downtown Takeover on Thursday, May 14, from 5 to 8 p.m. The event will encourage women from Hastings and neighboring communities to spend the evening shopping, dining, and connecting while supporting downtown businesses during what organizers describe as a slower season for many retailers and restaurants.
The idea grew out of conversations within the Power of 100 Hastings Women group after members noticed local business owners posting reminders encouraging residents to shop local and support small businesses.
Melissa Freiermuth, founding chair of Power of 100 Hastings Women, said the group wanted to channel the same energy that has fueled its charitable giving efforts into direct support for downtown businesses.
“At Power of 100, we know our members show up and make an impact,” Freiermuth said.
The organization has become known locally for its fundraising efforts and community giving events. During its April gathering, members raised more than $30,000 for local charities, according to organizers. But instead of organizing another donation drive immediately afterward, the group decided to try something different.
“At our April giving event, instead of organizing another collection drive, we announced this Downtown Takeover initiative as another way we could support our community together,” Freiermuth said. “After raising more than $30,000 for local charities at that event, we wanted to continue the momentum by encouraging women to show up and directly support our downtown businesses as well.”
The Downtown Takeover will feature participating businesses throughout Hastings staying open for a special Ladies Night atmosphere, complete with shopping, food, drinks, treats, and opportunities to connect with other community members.
Organizers say the event is designed to be informal and welcoming, while also creating a meaningful economic impact for local businesses that help shape the identity of downtown Hastings.
“This event is about more than shopping, it’s about showing up for the businesses that show up for our communities every day,” organizers said in promotional materials for the event.
Power of 100 Hastings Women has invited neighboring chapters and members from communities including Prescott, River Falls, Eagan, Red Wing, Rosemount, Stillwater, Hudson, and Ellsworth to attend. Organizers hope the regional participation could create a noticeable boost for businesses in a single evening.
“Imagine the ripple effect if hundreds of women gather downtown for one evening to shop local, dine local, and support small businesses together,” organizers wrote. “That collective impact can make a real difference during a slower season for many downtown businesses.”
Freiermuth said the event is rooted in the belief that community support can have both financial and emotional benefits for local business owners.
“We’re hoping women show up, enjoy downtown, spend local, and make a difference,” Freiermuth said. “This is about community supporting community. We’ve seen what happens when women come together with a purpose, and we hope this creates a positive ripple effect for our downtown businesses.”
The idea for the event came together through a partnership between Freiermuth and Tatia Nelson of The Busted Nut. Nelson helped coordinate with downtown businesses willing to participate in the evening event, while the Power of 100 core team spread the word among its membership and neighboring chapters.
The collaboration reflects a growing effort among local organizations to support independent businesses that continue to face challenges from changing shopping habits and economic pressures.
Downtown Hastings has long served as a gathering place for residents and visitors alike, with its mix of boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops, bars, ice cream shops, and specialty stores. Organizers hope the Downtown Takeover will remind residents of the value those businesses bring to the community beyond their storefronts.
“We already know the incredible power this network of women has through our giving events,” organizers said. “Together, we’ve raised tens of thousands of dollars to support important causes in our communities. Now, we’re bringing that same energy directly into downtown Hastings to support the restaurants, boutiques, coffee shops, bars, ice cream shops, specialty stores, and local businesses that help make our communities vibrant and thriving.”
The event also highlights the growing presence of women-led networking and philanthropy groups throughout the region. Power of 100 organizations typically operate with a simple model, bringing members together to pool donations and support local causes. In Hastings, organizers say the group has evolved into something larger, creating connections between women while also supporting the broader community.
For this event, the focus shifts from charitable fundraising to economic support through everyday spending at local businesses.
Organizers are encouraging attendees to invite friends and family members and, if possible, wear Power of 100 apparel or logos during the event.
The evening is expected to include a relaxed atmosphere where attendees can move between businesses, meet women from neighboring communities, and experience downtown Hastings in a new way.
While the event is centered on shopping and dining, organizers say the broader goal is to strengthen community ties and remind residents that supporting local businesses can have a lasting impact.
“Thank you for supporting our inaugural effort to bring women, community, and local business together in a meaningful way,” organizers wrote. “We are excited to see what kind of impact we can create, together.”
If successful, organizers hope the Downtown Takeover could become an annual tradition or inspire similar collaborative efforts in surrounding communities.
For now, organizers are focused on May 14 and the possibility of filling downtown Hastings with hundreds of women supporting local businesses one purchase, one meal, and one conversation at a time.