News Items

Grand Rapids, Minn. — Twenty-four residents of the Battle Lake, Henning and Ottertail area returned March 13 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.  – Dr. Malissa Bahr has been selected by Blandin Foundation as its Director of Leadership, effective immediately, following the retirement of Dr. Valerie Shangreaux.  A resident of Grand Rapids, Minn., Dr. Bahr has been part of the Foundation’s community leadership training team for the past 20 years, most recently as its senior …

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. (March 27, 2020) – At a special meeting of Blandin Foundation’s board executive committee, trustees voted to quickly establish two $500,000 funds to support Itasca County area small businesses, one for working capital and one a relief fund. “Small businesses are at the cornerstone of vibrant communities,” said Dr. Kathleen Annette, Blandin …

Blandin Foundation announced today that it has selected five rural Minnesota communities for intensive, two-year partnerships with the Foundation to advance local broadband initiatives. Otter Tail County, Chisago Lakes, Le Sueur County, Red Lake Nation, and White Earth Nation were all successful in their bids to become Blandin Broadband Communities (BBC). “High-speed Internet access – …

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. (Mar. 3, 2020) – Three Minnesotans have joined Blandin Foundation’s board of trustees, filling positions of three who completed terms of service in December.  Blandin Foundation’s 12-member board are Minnesota-based community leaders who provide strategic leadership and governance, fiduciary and financial oversight for the foundation. They serve up to 12 years and …

Grand Rapids, Minn. — Twenty-five residents of the Hutchinson area returned February 28 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 …