News Items

Grand Rapids, Minn. (November 15, 2017) — Twenty-six residents of the Lower Sioux, Mille Lacs, Prairie Island, Shakopee, and Upper Sioux Area reservation communities completed a five-day leadership retreat November 3. 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 …

GRAND RAPIDS, MINN.  (Nov. 7, 2017) – Daniel Lemm will join the Blandin Foundation senior leadership team as Director of Finance beginning Nov. 13.  In this role, Lemm will be responsible for Blandin Foundation’s overall financial management. “Blandin Foundation has a strong history of excellent financial management, and we welcome Daniel to Grand Rapids and …

BRAINERD, Minn. (Oct. 31, 2017) – “The number-one threat to community and economic development in the 21st Century is the digital divide,“ said technology researcher and development expert Roberto Gallardo last week at the Border to Border Broadband Conference, co-hosted by Blandin Foundation and the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development. “Rural communities can take a …

Blandin Foundation commissioned Ann Treacy of Treacy Information Services and Bill Coleman of Community Technology Advisors to look at five counties well served with broadband – Beltrami County, Crow Wing County, Goodhue County, Lake County, and Sibley County. The purpose of these case studies is to determine the value of that broadband based on impact …

For Immediate Release GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. (October 18, 2017) –Itasca area students looking to fund education after high school are encouraged to apply for a Blandin Foundation Education Grant. Blandin Foundation trustees have set aside $975,000 for these grants for the 2018-19 school year The grants provide $1,000 to $4,500 per student. Applications are now …

Grand Rapids, Minn. (Sept. 25, 2017) — Twenty-six residents of the Two Harbors area returned September 22 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 Blandin Foundation, …

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – During their recent summer meeting, Blandin Foundation trustees awarded grants that strengthen rural Minnesota communities, including 23 grants totaling $3.1 million to continue efforts of Grand Rapids and Itasca County area leaders. Invest Early serves at-risk children ages 0-5 across four local school districts, eight towns and 26 classrooms.  Continued funding …