Skip to Main Content

News Items

Watch: Grand Marais featured on Crafts in America

PBS’s Crafts in America focuses on the ways woodcrafts enrich and support the economy and social fabric of Grand Marais, and keep wealth in the community. Catch it December 16 on your local PBS station. “The new roles Hedstrom Lumber plays in this community include providing economic diversity to the area to counterbalance the strong …

News Item

News Clip: Broadband rolls farther into the Iron Range

Business North takes a deep look into the past, present and future of broadband access on the Iron Range. It took lots of hard work from leaders across geographies and sectors to bring home the benefits of broadband. “Fast, reliable broadband is tied to every facet of community life and is vital for rural places …

News Item

ReVive Virginia receives $20,000 Blandin grant

As part of Round 1 Rural Leadership Boost Grant awards, ReVive Virginia will “create a series of events as a means to restore community cohesion negatively affected by the pandemic and promote a sense of community for those who may feel disconnected by working remotely or those who chose to leave the workplace.” Read the …

News Item

Blandin Foundation grants strengthen area news, community networks

Grand Rapids, MINN. (October 7, 2022) – Blandin Foundation recently awarded grants to strengthen local media and activities that build up community connections and resilience. Itasca County’s news and information ecosystem will be strengthened with a $500,000 grant to Itasca Community Television (ICTV). Paid over three years, ICTV will build up program offerings, audience outreach …

News Item

Native American communities prioritize traditional healing to treat mental health

Culturally-appropriate mental health care is vital to the continued healing and growth of Minnesota’s Native people. Yet there’s a gaping shortage of Native American psychologists — to the tune of 200 to 300 in the entire country. With population numbers of over several million, more mental health practitioners area needed. This article explores the issue …

News Item

Open Arms: St. Peter forms nonprofit to advocate for diversity

St. Peter leaders are finding ways to connect across differences to create community. In an effort that started during the community’s time in the Blandin leadership program, Leaders in Ethnically Diverse Communities, local champions have kept up the momentum, creating a nonprofit (St. Peter Good Neighbor Diversity Council) dedicated to creating a “caring, supportive, and …

News Item

Blandin Foundation awards $4.8 million in grants

Grand Rapids, MINN. (June 29, 2022) – Blandin Foundation Board of Trustees approved nearly $4.8 million in grants at its June meeting for work that will strengthen the area’s future workforce and make topics rural communities care about better heard and more visible.     An array of grants this round lift local organizations working to …

News Item

Clip: What it means to recognize Juneteenth

Juneteenth is a national holiday celebrating and commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. While it’s been over 150 years since June 19, 1865, the day the last of the enslaved people were freed, the impacts of the unjust treatment of African Americans are seen in our communities today. We all have a …

News Item
arrow icon pointing up Back to Top