GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – During their spring meeting March 17 and 18, Blandin Foundation trustees approved 91 grants totaling $2.8 million that strengthen rural Minnesota communities. It was 75 years ago that Charles K. Blandin established the foundation, with the first grant awarded in 1943 for the creation of Blandin Beach in Grand Rapids. Today, …
Grand Rapids, Minn. — Twenty-six residents of the Hibbing and Chisholm areas returned March 11 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, BCLP has …
Grand Rapids, Minn. — Six leaders in Minnesota’s technology sector have accepted invitations to the Blandin Foundation Broadband Initiative Strategy Board. Kristi Westbrock has been with CTC since 2007 and has over 18 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. She has a strong background in human resources, sales and marketing, business operations, strategic planning …
Grand Rapids, Minn. — Twenty-six residents of the Austin area returned February 26 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, BCLP has provided experiential …
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – Northern Minnesota native and community banker Brian Nicklason took the helm of Grand Rapids-based Blandin Foundation’s board of directors, effective with the new year. Blandin Foundation is Minnesota’s largest rural-based foundation and one of only a handful of private foundations in the country focused exclusively on rural communities. The Foundation works …
Grand Rapids, Minn. — Twenty-four residents of the Paynesville area returned January 29 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, BCLP has provided experiential …
Blandin Foundation education grants help put higher education within reach for area students GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – Applications for Blandin Foundation need-based education grants are now available for Itasca area students and are accepted until May 1. Up to $950,000 will be granted to Itasca County area students pursuing higher education during the 2016-2017 school …
OWATONNA, Minn. – Nearly 50 residents of the Mankato area completed a two-month community leadership training program provided jointly by Blandin Foundation, Bush Foundation, and the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. Leadership in Ethnically Diverse Communities (LEDC) develops the leadership capacity of all community members in ethnically diverse communities for the purpose of building intentional inclusion. …
Grand Rapids, Minn.—A consortium of six Itasca County community banks, led by Grand Rapids State Bank, have partnered to provide the Blandin Foundation financing for $6.1 million to pay off $3.6 million of existing debt as well as $2.5 million in new tax-exempt bonds to fund a building improvement project at the Foundation’s headquarters building …
Grand Rapids, Minn. — During their winter meeting Dec. 10 and 11, Blandin Foundation trustees approved grants that strengthen rural Minnesota communities, including 45 grants totaling $3.4 million for a range of initiatives underway in the Grand Rapids and Itasca County area. Recipients this round include many of the Foundation’s longest-standing local partners. Minnesota Diversified …