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Living Vibrant
Where do you imagine your community tomorrow? At Blandin Foundation, we see a world of possibilities within your answers. Discover how vibrant rural Minnesota is.
Itasca Area
Your partner in building healthy rural communities in the place we call home. Meeting spaces, grants, and more.
Opportunities
We meet communities where they’re at with: Leadership training, Broadband information and support Grants.
What are the possibilities?
You have resources. We have resources. Put them together, and you have a powerful approach your community can use to design and claim its future.
We Have Resources
Our programs train community leaders, support communities as they include and create opportunities for all people, and support work at home in the Itasca Area.
Learn MoreYou Have Resources
Information to support you in building your community. Whether you need research to prove a need, information on evaluation, or want to learn more about topics rural Minnesota cares about – you’ll find it here.
Learn More
Spot Us
Blandin Foundation stands with communities as they design and claim their futures. That’s thousands of partnerships in hundreds of communities over more than 75 years.
Take a LookLatest News
Ready. Set. Census.
January 19, 2020
Census Day is April 1. Find tools you can start using today to make sure each person in your community gets counted: 2020censusruralmn.org. Read More
GroundWork Blog
Among low-income communities, trusted relationships are key to a full census count
December 17, 2019
Census 2020 will impact all communities. Representation in Congress, business site selection and distribution of federal and state funds are all informed by census numbers. Some might dismiss the consequences that come with a low count – underfunded schools, limited money for road improvements, etc. For low-income families, however, the census has significant and immediate… Read More
Current and Upcoming Leadership Training
LEDC - St. Peter
LEDC September 11 - May 20
BCLP Fergus Falls Area
BCLP January 27 - 31
BCLP Fosston Area
BCLP February 10 - 14
LPEP Grand Rapids
LPEP February 20 - August 20
BCLP Hutchinson Area
BCLP February 24 - 28
BCLP Battle Lake, Henning, and Ottertail Area
BCLP March 9 - 13
BCLP Detroit Lakes Area
BCLP March 23 - 27
Learn About LeadershipUpcoming Grant Deadlines
Education Grants ($1,000 - $4,500)
October 1 - March 1
$10,001 - $50,000
January 1 - December 31
$1,001 - $10,000
January 1 - December 31
Blandin Leadership Program Grants
January 1 - December 31
Itasca Area Donations ($100 - $1,000)
January 1 - December 31
Over $50,000
March 15
Learn About Grants