Losing his vision in 2021 due to a hereditary condition he was unaware of completely transformed Brad Blank's life. A lifelong carpenter and woodworker, Blank was no longer able to work, so he contacted State Services for the Blind (SSB) to learn how to live independently with vision loss. After two years working with assistive technology instructors and employment services specialists, Blank felt ready to take on the next challenge: starting his own woodworking business.

To help launch his new business, an SSB employment services specialist suggested Blank turn to the St. Cloud Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Like SSB, the nine SBDCs across Minnesota are part of the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Consultants with SBDC assisted Blank in mapping out a business plan, designing business cards and building a website. In addition to providing skills training, as Blank's business took shape, SSB helped him purchase accessible woodworking tools. With a plan in place, Blank officially filed his business in May of 2025, and Mind's Eye Woodworks officially opened with a ribbon cutting in August.

As word spreads about Blank's work, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Bringing together sustainability and design, Blank uses repurposed wood from pallets to build raised garden boxes, bat houses and décor pieces. His garden boxes with an American flag motif have proven especially popular. One of those boxes was featured in a silent auction for the Wounded Warrior Project in the Crosslake area.

To use an analogy that Blank might appreciate, the services and support provided by SSB and the SBDCs are like tools in a toolbox. With those tools, entrepreneurs like Blank can use them to build a strong business and a new life.