Cool Truck brings down the heat with frozen treats

By Lailani Upham

A young Ronan resident keeps his eye on the prize, a rainbow popsicle from the “Cool Truck” on a hot end of the summer evening last week. (Lailani Upham photo)

ST. IGNATIUS — Selling ice cream from a “Cool Truck” is a cool job, according to Penny Kipp.

Kipp, a CSKT tribal member and tribal education advocate launched her idea of driving an ice cream truck across the rez last spring. This summer was her second year circling blocks of towns with the tingling, happy sound of 10 nursery songs announcing her arrival with cool treats for all ages.

Kipp’s entrepreneurial idea was not entirely planned out. She said it began when she spotted the tiny truck out while in Missoula and knew she had to have it. Kipp followed the owner and asked if he was willing to sell the truck. He was, and on the spot she bought the truck for $3,900. With a little thought, her idea to put the miniature truck to use was birthed; and an ice cream truck to cruise the streets and meet a needed demand to cool off and bring smiles.

“I always tell everyone this has to be the best job in the world, everyone loves you. They are excited to see you and you’re invited to some of the best activities and family functions,” she said.

The start-up costs for her business was basically the purchase of the truck and an additional $400 for her first set of product, insurance, city licensing for St. Ignatius and Polson and prepping the vehicle to hit the road. Ronan does not require a license to operate the ice cream truck, she said.

Kipp said her motivation to start a small business was to give a job opportunity to her daughter for the summers. Her daughter, Amissa Kipp, who works as a Head Start teacher throughout the school year, said she enjoys driving the “Cool Truck” because it allows her to be around youngsters and a chance to see her students on occasion. Kipps, 12-year old son Joey is a big help on the family “Cool Truck” as well.

This year the “Cool Truck” was fortunate to receive assistance of the CSKT DHRD American Recovery Reinvestment Act program to provide two summer employees, according to Kipp. “This was the first year that an hourly wage was paid to drivers. These employees played an important piece to the success of the business,” she said.

Penny Kipp, owner and operator of the “Cool Truck” greets a customer while on her weekly evening route in Ronan. Kipp says she loves seeing her customers all summer long. “This has to be the best job in the world. It’s like driving Disneyland!” (Lailani Upham photo)

The ladies hired for the summer through ARRA were CSKT Early Childhood Program teachers, Amissa Kipp and Robia Conko. CSKT Early Childhood requires background checks on all employees and although it is not a requirement for the “Cool Truck” business it has served a definite plus, Kipp said.

Conko not only drove the truck blaring hot nursery hits throughout the neighborhood but she initiated a Facebook page for the “Cool Truck” which stays active with all the regular customers, Kipp added.

The “Cool Truck” has been a ground up venture for tribal member Kipp. She had no idea how to begin an ice cream truck operation, but she started by asking questions and making it happen. Her first and main vendor, Meadow Gold provided her with a freezer free of charge for selling their product, she said. “It’s a push cart you see in cities that you plug in at night and it keeps the product frozen for up to ten hours.”

Next spring, the “Cool Truck” will be able to “hold its own”, Kipp said. The business will be operating on its own capital for the first time.

The truck got the name from community members who would see the little truck and yell out at Kipp, “Cool truck!”

“It’s great to watch the kids stop, look at you, then run away, then return within seconds, stand on the curbside, while jumping and waving their arms for the truck to stop at their house.”

Kipp said she tries to keep all products affordable to all. The menu ranges from 25 cents to $3.

According to Kipp, the summer schedule has now ended, but residents can still hear the tone of the “Cool Truck” in the evenings and weekends, weather permitting, she promises.