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Itasca-area communities selected for Blandin Foundation initiative

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – Blandin Foundation announced today that it has accepted applications from the communities of Bovey and Northome to participate in Growing Communities, an intensive, 18-month visioning and action planning initiative through University of Minnesota Extension. “These communities each have demonstrated high levels of engagement and a commitment to work across sectors and …

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PowerPoint presentation by Tamara Lowney of IEDC to Blandin Foundation trustees

Blandin Foundation awards $3.7 million in grants, names trustees

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – Trustees of Blandin Foundation elected three new board members and approved 53 grants totaling $3,282,607 during their summer meeting on June 24 and 25 in Grand Rapids. Dr. Heidi Korstad, chair of the Foundation’s board of trustees, announced that three distinguished Minnesota residents emerged from a statewide search and will join …

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Blandin Foundation anticipates leadership change in 2020

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. (June 26, 2019)– Blandin Foundation President and CEO Kathy Annette informed the foundation’s trustees this week that she will retire in 2020 following a distinguished career in rural and Native community health and development. Dr. Annette has served as president and CEO for Blandin Foundation since 2011, following a distinguished and long …

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Blandin Foundation Education Grants awarded to 325 local students

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – Blandin Foundation recently shared with 325 Itasca area students that they have been awarded grants of up to $4,500 for their education after high school, putting higher education better within financial reach. The total amount awarded for 2019-20 is $992,100 to students from 11 area schools. “Students from our area schools …

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Communities selected for Blandin Leadership Programs

Grand Rapids, Minn.  – As part of its commitment to strengthening rural communities, Blandin Foundation has named communities where it is making available Blandin Leadership Program training in 2020. Blandin Community Leadership Program (BCLP) Residents of Battle Lake/Henning/Ottertail, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Fosston, Grand Rapids, Hutchinson, Owatonna and Two Harbors will participate in intense eight-day …

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KAXE radio series on Itasca history, including Blandin Foundation

Today’s episode of KAXE radio’s long-running radio series Papermakers covers Mr. Blandin’s creation of the Blandin Foundation.  The series, based on the book Papermakers: the Blandin Paper Company and Grand Rapids, Minnesota by local historian Don Boese, airs twice weekly.

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Blandin Foundation Commissions Mural by Local Artist

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – A mural titled “Niibii,” the Ojibwe word for water, is being created for placement on Blandin Foundation’s building. Local artist Leah Yellowbird is leading the work. “Grand Rapids is a vibrant, thriving community,” said Kathy Annette, Blandin Foundation president and CEO. “Art brings this to life. Our founder Charles Blandin believed …

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Lower Sioux, Mille Lacs, Prairie Island and Shakopee residents complete Blandin Reservation Community Leadership Program

Grand Rapids, Minn. (May 14, 2019) — Nineteen residents of the Lower Sioux, Mille Lacs, Prairie Island and Shakopee reservation communities completed a five-day leadership retreat May 10. This was the first segment of an intense seven-day training provided by the Blandin Reservation Community Leadership Program (BRCLP). The team also will participate in a follow-up …

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Keynote: The power of community partnerships

Blandin Foundation CEO Kathy Annette keynote address to the 54th U.S. Public Health Service Scientific and Training Symposium, May 6, 2019.   Thank you for your kind words, Rear Admiral Taylor. Distinguished guests. Welcome to Minnesota! Home of 10,000 lakes, 11 tribal nations, a strong educational system including University of Minnesota, Minnesota state system and …

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Blackduck, Kelliher, Northome area residents complete Blandin Community Leadership Program retreat

Grand Rapids, Minn. (April 23, 2019) — Twenty-three residents of the Blackduck, Kelliher and Northome areas returned April 12 from a five-day leadership retreat, the first segment of an intense eight-day training provided by the Blandin Community Leadership Program (BCLP). The team also will participate in three follow-up workshops. A program of the Grand Rapids-based …

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