Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation

09/04/2026

The next time you're in downtown Northfield, make sure to check out these Friendship Trees (Arboles de la amistad) in Bridge Square! We were so proud to support this project.

A crochet project of beauty and friendship, from Northfield's Hispanic community

09/03/2026

If you didn't get a chance to hear Benya and Brian on Minnesota Public Radio with Angela Davis, make sure to check out the recording of the conversation about finding creative solutions in rural Minnesota!

https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2026/08/25/finding-creative-solutions-to-problems-in-rural-minnesota-for-40-years

09/02/2026

🍎Attention early childhood professionals! SMIF's Fall Dine and Learn training series is just around the corner! Each event is free and Develop-approved!

✨Sept. 24 in Waseca, Children's development: what to expect and when to be concerned
✨Oct. 5 in New Prague, Movement anchors learning
✨Oct. 12 in Byron, Supporting young learners
✨Nov. 4 in Kasson, Healthy spaces, happy faces: reducing food- and waterborne risks in Early Childhood programs
✨Nov. 11 in Austin, Healthy spaces, happy faces: creating safe and healthy learning environments

✨Register today! https://smifoundation.org/programs/early-childhood-development/early-childhood-trainings/

09/01/2026

Don't forget to register! Two Rural Voice town hall conversations in southern Minnesota!

Who Owns Main Street? | Sept. 28 in Albert Lea
- Discussion: Who is shaping the future of rural Main Streets — and what it takes to build vibrant downtowns.
- Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/owning-main-street-a-town-hall-moderated-by-mprs-kerri-miller-tickets-1994278603989?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

Data Centers | Sept. 29 in Faribault
- Discussion: Weighing the impacts of data centers in rural Minnesota.
- Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/data-centers-an-evening-with-rural-voice-moderated-by-mprs-kerri-miller-tickets-1996063803569?aff=oddtdtcreator

Moderated by Rural Voice co-founder and Minnesota Public Radio host, Kerri Miller, these free events will be recorded for Minnesota Public Radio and are supported by the Center for Rural Policy and Development and Minnesota Initiative Foundations.

09/01/2026

The Taylor Family Farms Foundation invites applications from emergency service providers serving rural communities.

Applications will be accepted September 1-30, 2026, within 29 counties of southern Minnesota, and 17 counties of northwest Iowa.

Get all the details and apply: taylorfff.org/

08/28/2026

Thank you, ABDO - A Family of Educational Publishers, for the wonderful tour! It was fun to see so many books, and as always, we appreciate your partnership and dedication to early literacy in our region!

08/27/2026

SMIF staff had a wonderful evening with good company and Benya's delicious Thai food!

08/27/2026

📰Benya Kraus, SMIF president and CEO, shares how capital projects — from increasing capacity in childcare spaces to creating community gathering spaces — help people in rural communities connect.

Read Benya's full August op-ed: https://smifoundation.org/blog/2026/08/benya-kraus-the-infrastructure-behind-rural-neighborliness/

08/25/2026

🍎Free training opportunities for Minnesota childcare providers!

08/25/2026

Two grant opportunities are available through the Laura Jane Musser Fund!

✨Through the Rural Initiative, the Laura Jane Musser Fund encourages collaborative and participatory efforts among residents in rural communities that will help to strengthen their towns and regions.
- The applicant community must have a population of 10,000 or less.
- Project planning grants up to $5,000 and project implementation grants up to $25,000 will be considered.
- Applications will be accepted online through the Fund’s website from September 1 – October 1, 2026.

✨Through the Environmental Initiative, the Laura Jane Musser Fund assists public or not-for-profit entities to initiate or implement projects that protect, restore or enhance the ecological integrity of public open spaces. The Fund's goal is to support efforts that strengthen sustainable ecosystems by engaging local community members through stewardship, long-term care and shared responsibility, thereby reinforcing lasting environmental impact.
- Planning grants up to $8,000 and implementation grants up to $35,000 will be considered for this initiative.
- Applications will be accepted online through the Fund’s website from September 8 – October 8, 2026. (Please note that the guidelines for the Environmental Initiative have changed, so please see the complete guidelines on the website.)

✨Apply at: https://musserfund.org/