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 …
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune profiles GrantAdvisor, a new funder-rating tool available to nonprofits in Minnesota and California. Co-created by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, GrantAdvisor is a new feedback element in funder/grantee relationships. More from the Star-Tribune here.
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, …
“Every day, every person has opportunities to take fearless action. To lead, to take a stand, to listen. To seek relationships that open up possibilities, not those that feed prejudice.” — Kathy Annette, Blandin Foundation CEO in her statement on the importance of inclusion in building healthy community. Read her full statement.
Members of the most recent Fergus Falls area leadership cohort and other Fergus Falls BCLP alumni and leaders who make up the Forward Fergus Falls initiative have called a series of community meetings to identify community assets and resources to move forward on the community’s self-identified Destiny Drivers. Learn more from the Fergus Falls Journal.
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 …
Members of the spring 2017 Bovey-Coleraine BCLP cohort are taking action to give their community’s main street a boost. This simple act has sparked a swell of support for their project — and strengthened ties among residents, businesses and more. Get the full story from the Grand Rapids Herald-Review.
Grand Rapids, Minn. (June 20, 2017) – As part of its commitment to strengthening rural communities, Blandin Foundation has named 10 communities where it is making available Blandin Leadership Program training in 2018. Blandin Community Leadership Program (BCLP) Residents of Albert Lea, Alexandria, Benson/KMS (Kerkohoven, Murdoch, Sunberg), Dawson-Madison, Chisago Lakes area, East Range area (Aurora, …