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