Valspar, Minnesota Initiative Foundations Offer Free Paint for Community Projects

Valspar Corporation, Minneapolis, will partner once again with the six Minnesota initiative foundations in 2004 to help organizations spruce up communities outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Through the seventh 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.

"The Picture-It-Painted Program has made tremendous improvements all around the region," said John Ostrem, executive director of Northwest Minnesota Foundation, one of six foundations involved in the project. "We’re pleased to once again work with Valspar to help bring the Minnesota Beautiful project to enhance the appearance of some of our local landmarks and community facilities."

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, senior citizen or handicapped facilities, community centers, public buildings and murals. Projects that do not qualify include denominational churches, schools, 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, 2004, and awards will be announced on or after March 22, 2004. 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: Download an application at the foundation's Web site, or contact Dan Frank at 320/632-9255 ext. 2056, 877/632-9255 ext. 2056, dfrank@ifound.org.
     
• Northland Foundation, Duluth: Download an application at the foundation's Web site, or contact the foundation at 218/723-4040, 800/433-4045. info@northlandfdn.org.
     
• Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Bemidji: 218/759-2057, 800/659-7859.
     
• Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Owatonna: Download an application at SMIF's Web site, or contact Heidi Brown at 507/455-3215 ext. 136, heidib@smifoundation.org.
     
• Southwest Minnesota Foundation, Hutchinson: Contact Nancy Fasching at 800/594-9480.
     
• 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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