Initiative Foundation Supports Youth Education, Workforce Training

The latest round of Initiative Foundation grants will help provide central Minnesota youth with new opportunities to learn about business, explore careers in technology and have educational fun after school. Other foundation grants invested in the central Minnesota workforce, providing time management and productivity training for manufacturing employees and Web-based training for nurses and health care staff at rural facilities. The foundation also selected four nonprofit organizations to participate in its Healthy Organizations Partnership program.

In the area of youth education, Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest in Maplewood received $5,000 for K-12 Junior Achievement in the St. Cloud-Brainerd Areas, to support a new staff position that will recruit volunteers and raise funds to help students learn about business, economics and entrepreneurship in public schools.

The foundation also awarded youth-focused grants to Pine Technical College, which received $2,000 for sponsorship of the Women in Technology Conference for sixth-grade girls to explore careers in technology; and Little Falls Community Services, which received $500 to purchase educational materials for an after-school child care program.

In the area of workforce development, the foundation awarded $10,000 to Lakewood Health System in Staples to support a Web-based, distance learning system for rural health care staff. Minnesota Technology, Inc., Minneapolis, received $2,500 to provide training in time management and productivity for employees of central Minnesota manufacturing companies; and Otter Tail-Wadena Community Action Council, Inc., New York Mills, received $7,500 to offer a fundraising incentive to increase local support of a volunteer transportation and friendly visitation program.

The Initiative Foundation also selected four nonprofit organizations to participate in its Healthy Organizations Partnership (HOP) program, a one-year training program in nonprofit leadership and strategic planning. The next program is scheduled to begin January 20. The program is designed to help nonprofit organizations become more effective by providing strategic planning assistance, leadership training and grants.

The organizations selected for the next HOP program are Central Minnesota Senior Federation, St. Cloud; Great River Arts Association, Little Falls; Kettle Kinship, Sandstone; and Onanegozie RC&D Council/Mid-Minnesota Mississippi River Resource Conservation and Development Council Inc., Mora. Each organization received a $5,500 grant as part of their involvement in the program.

In total, The Initiative Foundation awarded ten community grants totaling $49,500 in its latest grant funding. The Little Falls-based foundation seeks projects that strengthen central Minnesota communities and address barriers to economic development. Grants are available for short-term or planning efforts (up to $5,000) and program implementation for single community projects (up to $10,000). Inquiries for applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and are generally reviewed within 14 days of receipt.

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