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Rural Leadership Boost Grants

Round 1 Awards – Community Planning
October 2022

Aitkin County

Promote economic development and tourism.   $40,000

City of Blue Earth

Support for the Blue Earth Welcoming Project.   $20,000

City of Cloquet

Community engagement for storytelling/placemaking to highlight Settler and Fond du Lac history and cultures.   $50,000

City of LaCrescent

Community planning and design phases for monuments, kiosks in downtown LaCrescent.   $60,000

City of Lanesboro

Promote economic development and tourism focusing on the winter months.   $50,000

City of Murdock

Community engagement to promote economic development and community growth.   $50,000

City of Pine City

Community engagement process to develop local assets (recreation, housing, food co-op).   $50,000

City of Roseau

Community engagement process to develop and manage an indoor recreation and wellness center.   $40,000

City of Wabasha

Wabasha Healthier and Happier Project focusing on the future of the community.   $50,000

City of Wadena

Host respectful conversations around issues of polarization.   $5,700

City of Worthington

Engage community in diversifying leadership in decision-making positions.   $50,000

CommunityGiving

Design and carry out a community visioning process for the Sauk Centre area following the pandemic.   $45,000

Eagle Bend Area Community Development Corporation

Community engagement to design a regional community kitchen.   $130,000

Friends of the Finland Community

Community leadership building and youth mentoring projects centered on Art of Hosting practices.   $32,400

Goodhue County

Focus on healing and trust around historical trauma in Red Wing and Prairie Island Indian Communities.   $81,000

ISD 206-Alexandria

Create a private/public partnership to address the child care crisis, centered on ACES principles.   $25,000

Lake of the Woods Economic Dev. Authority

Promote and revitalize the community of Baudette through community placemaking and entrepreneurship.   $17,750

LeSueur County

Support for a mobile food truck to support broad community engagement and youth in the more rural areas.   $130,000

Red Wing Downtown Council Main Street, Inc

Focus on healing and trust around historical trauma in Red Wing and Prairie Island Indian Communities.   $81,000

Renville County

Pilot community efforts to make the Renville County area a welcoming and inclusive place to live.   $15,000

Revive Virginia

Restore community cohesion and hope after the pandemic through gatherings and events.   $20,000

Saint Peter Good Neighbor Diversity Council

Leadership training for residents interested in civic engagement in a diversifying community.   $100,000

Spring Grove Economic Dev. Authority

Feasibility study for Spring Grove 2030 Initiative focusing on entrepreneurism and economic development.   $80,000

United Way of Otter Tail & Wadena Counties

Host monthly community meetings for leaders to discuss needs and opportunities in the area.   $10,000

We Got Your Back

Launch Community Resilience Project to promote kindness, respect and self-care in communities.   $100,000

West Central Initiative

Design and offer a leadership program for new and current residents in the Barnesville area.   $17,150

Total                 26 grants      $1,350,000

 

Round 2 Awards – Capital Projects for towns under 3,000
October 2022

Ashby Legacy Fund
Renovations to the senior citizen building in Ashby           $20,000

Bigfork Improvement Group
Renovate the Over 50 Senior Club             $100,000

Boundary Waters Care Center (Ely)
Renovate the senior care facility with updated furnishing and equipment               $95,000

City of Aurora
Renovations to the Aurora Community Senior Center      $25,000

City of Coleraine
Install playground equipment near Cotton Park  $50,000

City of Dawson
Renovations to Gnome Park and provide watercraft rental services           $70,000

City of Frazee   
Purchase and install commercial kitchen equipment for the community event center        $25,000

City of Henning
Capital funding for a new skatepark         $65,000

City of Hoyt Lakes           
Renovate the library to increase multi-space in the community   $55,000

City of Lengby  
Capital upgrades to Spring Lake Park       $100,000

City of New York Mills
Renovations to the outdoor community swimming pool  $75,000

City of Paynesville
Construct a multi-use park shelter, plus ADA improvements         $50,000

City of Stephen
Renovations to existing community swimming pool          $75,000

City of Tracy      
Construct community center focusing on senior citizen activities $100,000

City of Two Harbors
Renovate the library to make it ADA accessible   $100,000

East Range Joint Powers Board (Biwabik)            
Reuse existing downtown space to support local entrepreneurs / remove barriers to capital by building an outdoor market $70,000

Grove City Area Living At Home Block Nurse Program
Upgrades to public walking space and adult exercise equipment $10,000

Lakes Area Community Center (Battle Lake)
Renovations to the Battle Lake Community Center            $50,000

Lakes Area Food Shelf, Inc. (Pequot Lakes)         
Capital and architectural expenses for a new food shelf and family resource center            $90,000

Madison Art Gallery (Madison)
Renovate art and innovation center to house community meeting and wellness space      $60,000

Milroy Public School     
Playground improvements at Milroy Public Schools           $50,000

Moose Lake Community Schools             
Install hiking trail near the school property           $70,000

Morcom Township
Install playground equipment and improvements to the ballfield $10,000

North Shore Area Partners (Silver Bay)
Install solar lighting, expand green space and update furnishings for senior center in Silver Bay     $90,000

Northeast Itasca Rescue (Bearville Twnshp)       
Construct building to house emergency vehicles, as well as community food pantry and training facility    $65,000

Preserve Appletons Heritage, Inc.
Install elevator in the city hall which houses the Opera Hall on the top floor           $100,000

Silver Bay Public Library               
Build an addition to the current library and renovate the interior of the existing space      $100,000

Something Cool, Inc. (McGregor)
Renovations to existing youth center space and upgrade furnishings         $25,000

SW Initiative Foundation (Granite Falls)
Install ADA accessible playground in Granite Falls               $15,000

SW Initiative Foundation (Pipestone)   
Co-locate the Meals on Wheels, Food Shelf and Senior Center in Pipestone           $40,000

WC Initiative Foundation (Wheaton)
Renovations to the Wheaton Community Park    $100,000

Wykoff Commons          
Renovate old school kitchen to provide healthy meals to community members    $50,000

Total      32 grants             $2,000,000

 

Round 3 Awards – Creative Placemaking
November 2022

Aitkin County Friends of the Arts
Capital support to renovate the Terrace for outdoor community events  $100,000

Art of the Lakes Assoc., Inc. (Battle Lake)
Capital support to develop a new arts incubator space    $100,000

Bois Forte Band of Chippewa Indians    
Project support for community events about the culture and history of property on Lake Vermilion            $9,000

City of Blackduck
Project support for placemaking readiness: downtown blight removal and lot infill / beautification             $15,000

City of Luverne
Capital support for neighborhood access / access for the disabled to the Luverne Loop Trail            $50,000

City of Mahnomen
Project support for the Manoomin Arts Initiative; arts-centered revitalization through public art installations                $75,000

City of Park Rapids
Capital support to renovate and repurpose historic building for cultural and community events   $100,000

City of Sleepy Eye
Capital support to revitalize and beautify downtown and main street areas           $10,000

Creative Healing Space (Worthington)
Project support to promote community healing and community engagement through artistic expression $35,000

DLCCC, Inc. (Historic Homes Theatre, Detriot Lakes)
Capital support to create murals, utility box wraps and other beautification projects         $90,000

Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Capital support for outdoor pavilion/classroom for cultural and community events            $131,000

Grand Marais Arts, Inc.
Project support to establish the Graham Studio Residency for two local artists to create public art               $10,000

Granite Area Arts Council (Granite Falls)
Project support to develop a rural artist residency program          $125,000

Hutchinson Chamber Foundation
Project support for residents and muralists to create murals throughout the community $40,000

Just for Nuts, Inc.
Capital support to complete local museum collection and promote tourism           $50,000

Kensington Area Heritage Society, Inc.
Capital support to restore its existing Museum for community events      $45,000

Mesabi Community Orchestra (Virginia)
Project support to compose and host a music performance at Virginia High School’s Goodman Auditorium                $10,000

Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
Project support to showcase/video document cultural traditions, creativity and talents: singing, dancing, arts                $150,000

Minnesota Children’s Press (Grand Marais)
Project support to create a Letteracy Outdoor Letter Writing Park for children and families            $20,000

New London Arts & Culture Alliance, Inc.
Project support to develop a City Artist in Residence Program to create public art               $25,000

Northwest MN Foundation (Fosston)
Capital support to renovate space to advance and destigmatize mental health services in Fosston               $110,000

Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians
Project support for community education on using place-based food and plant resources for wellness      $50,000

Sebeka Economic Development Authority
Capital support to renovate downtown buildings; placemaking/beautification projects     $30,000

Springboard for the Arts
Project support for Pilot Project “Rural Futures”; artist residency and cultural tourism initiative  $75,000

Staples Economic Development Authority
Capital support to revitalize and beautify the downtown corridor               $100,000

Stephen Arts Council
Project support for development of a 2023 summer concert series            $10,000

The Anderson Ctr for Interdisciplinary Studies, Inc.
Capital support to install public artworks focusing on the town’s African American history               $20,000

Theatre L Homme Dieu
Project support to design, develop and promote a virtual marketplace for the area arts and makers community                $15,000

Tower-Sudan Historical Society
Capital support to restore the Historic Tower Fire Hall for community events and heritage preservation   $125,000

Wells Historical Society
Capital support to restore a historic railroad lunchroom for public engagement   $125,000

White Earth Land Recovery Project
Project support for convening/programming on traditional use of land & food; promote community health & wellness                $50,000

White Earth Tribal Council
Project support to expand Gizhiigin Arts Incubator; produce print products for wholesale and retail markets                $100,000

 

Total    32 grants      $2,000,000

Grand Total    90 Grants     $5.5 million

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