Valspar, Minnesota Initiative Foundations Offer Free Paint for Community Projects

Valspar Corporation, Minneapolis, will once again partner with the six Minnesota Initiative Foundations to help organizations spruce up communities outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Through the eighth year of the "Minnesota Beautiful Picture-It-Painted Program" partnership, Valspar will offer awards of free paint and other coating materials for restoration or beautification projects throughout the state.

"Valspar Corporation is a generous community partner," said Dan Frank, Initiative Foundation community development specialist and current Minnesota Beautiful program administrator for central Minnesota. "Their consultants offer their grant recipients quality coatings as well as expert advice on surface preparation, product selection and application."

In each region, Valspar and the Minnesota Initiative Foundation in that region will award free paint, stains or sealants for restoration or beautification efforts that best meet the program's eligibility criteria. Selection will be based on the visual impact of the proposed projects, potential advantages to the public, volunteer participation and support, intended use of the restored building, and benefit to the needy.

Projects that qualify for a grant include, but are not limited to, historic buildings, facilities for seniors or people with disabilities, community centers, public buildings and murals or other visual-impact designs. Projects that do not qualify include denominational churches, schools (except murals), city maintenance or privately owned facilities.

"Picture-It-Painted provides us with a way of reaching out to people in the region and making a visible impact on their public places and spaces," said Gwen Leifeld, Valspar Foundation manager. "We look forward to partnering with the Minnesota Initiative Foundations to offer the program for another year."

Applications are due by March 1, 2005. For more information on the Picture-It-Painted Program or to request an application, contact the Minnesota Initiative Foundation that serves your region:

• Initiative Foundation, Little Falls: Dan Frank at 320/632-9255 ext. 2056, 877/632-9255, dfrank@ifound.org.
     
• Northland Foundation, Duluth: Download an application at the foundation's Web site.
      
• Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Bemidji: Peggy Crandall at 218.759.2057 or 800.659.7859, peggyc@nwmf.org.
     
• Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Owatonna: Download an application at the foundation's Web site, or contact Heidi Brown at 507.455.3215 ext. 136, heidib@smifoundation.org.
      
• Southwest Minnesota Foundation, Hutchinson: Download an application at the foundation's Web site, or contact Liz Frisbie at 800.594.9480, lizf@swmnfoundation.org.
     
• West Central Initiative, Fergus Falls: Download an application at WCI's Web site or contact Mike Schreiner at 800.735.2239, mike@wcif.org.

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