Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation Seeks Communities for Early Childhood Initiative

Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Owatonna, is looking to select additional communities to participate in the statewide Early Childhood Initiative. This initiative began in 2003 as an effort to ensure that area young children have the kind of care and education that leads to success in school and in later life.

This is the third round of communities to be selected for the initiative. Communities within the foundation's 20-county area that have already been selected to participate in the initiative are Fairmont, Houston County, Northfield and Watonwan County.

The Early Childhood Initiative is working to build multi-sector coalitions within communities. "Communities need to look at new ways to support, nurture and invest in the futures of our youngest children," said Trixie Ann Golberg, president of the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. "This reaches well beyond the systems that traditionally have been involved with preschoolers, from community volunteers to organizations, businesses, neighbors and friends."

Funded in part by a $3.2 million grant from The McKnight Foundation, the Early Childhood Initiative covers the entire state through Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation and the other five Minnesota Initiative Foundations (MIFs). A total of 36 communities statewide will be selected to participate in this program. All of these communities will receive technical support, educational information and funds of up to $15,000 to support their early childhood development efforts.

To learn more about how your community can become part of this Early Childhood Initiative, contact Rae Jean Hansen at 507/455-3215, or visit the foundation's Web site. 

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