GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – Representatives from Blandin Foundation and the Charles K. Blandin Residuary Trust again head to St. Paul in December to update the Ramsey County District Court on its commitments to the communities of its local giving area (Itasca County, plus neighboring communities of Remer, Hill City, Blackduck and Northome). The public hearing, …
Grand Rapids, Minn. — Twenty-four residents of the Blooming Prairie, Ellendale and Medford area returned October 23 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. — Twenty-six residents of the Luverne area returned October 9 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. – At their September quarterly meeting, Blandin Foundation trustees made key decisions related to grants, board governance and finance. As it was their extended fall meeting, trustees also took extra time to dive deep into the past, present and future of the communities of the Itasca area. Grantmaking Trustees ratified education grants …
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – Blandin Foundation announced recently that it has awarded 30 grants totaling $314,513 to assist rural Minnesota leaders as they grow high-speed Internet access and use in their communities. Projects funded will strengthen existing broadband work happening in communities designated as Blandin Broadband Communities (2014-2016) or Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (2010-13). Both …
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – At their June 23 meeting, Blandin Foundation trustees selected three distinguished Itasca County area community leaders to join the Foundation’s board of trustees. Dr. Mike Johnson, chairman of the Foundation’s board, announced that three Grand Rapids residents emerged from an intensive and open local search that yielded 40 applicants. Guy Clairmont, Mark …
GRAND RAPIDS, MINN. – Blandin Foundation has named Minnesota’s chief information officer, Thomas Baden, to its Broadband Initiative Strategy Board. This board oversees and advises the Blandin Community Broadband Program (BCBP), a $1.5 million grantmaking program. Since 2003, the Blandin Foundation Broadband Initiative Strategy Board has recommended 246 grants to nearly 70 communities and 110 …
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. —The Blandin Foundation building, which houses the operations of the foundation and hosts more than 1,000 community meetings each year, will be renovated this summer. Between June 28 and September, offices of the foundation temporarily will be relocated to the Market Crossings building at 28 Northwest Fourth Street. Blandin Foundation, located on …
Hello, everyone. Great to be with you here on your 25th anniversary. What an achievement and I am so glad that you are taking the time to pause together, to remember your roots and honor how far you have come together. I was asked to reflect on my journey to becoming part of the “philanthropy system …
GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – Blandin Foundation announced today that it has awarded 29 grants totaling $321,245 to support rural Minnesota communities as they grow high-speed Internet access and use in their communities. In a joint venture, Kandiyohi County and the City of Willmar will host a “hackfest,” bringing together technology enthusiasts and professionals to build …