The Initiative Foundation, Little Falls, has supported economic development and youth in central Minnesota as part of its latest round of grantmaking.

In the area of economic development, the foundation provided $10,000 to the Region 5 Development Commission in Staples to support the development of a regional marketing plan for the Job Opportunity Building Zones (JOBZ) program. The foundation also awarded $1,000 to Todd County to provide marketing support for the Todd County "e-Mall," which promotes local artists and craftmakers. The City of Little Falls/Community Development of Morrison County received a $1,000 grant to develop marketing materials promoting economic development in Morrison County.

In the area of youth, the foundation awarded $9,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota, St. Cloud, to match mentors with middle school students in seven St. Cloud-area school districts. The Pine River Backus School District/The Village School-Age Child Care Program received a $5,000 grant to subsidize after-school child care and homework assistance for low-income families. The foundation also awarded $5,000 to Precious Years Learning Center, Nisswa, to defray costs associated with the change of ownership, structure and operation of the Bear's Den, a community-based child care center.

The foundation's Healthy Organizations Partnership (HOP) program awarded grants of $500 each to update strategic plans at the following organizations:

• Friendship Foundation, Annandale.
• Friendship Ventures, Annandale.
• Kinship of Morrison County, Little Falls.
• Kinship Partners, Brainerd.
• New Pathways, Cambridge.
• Pine Habilitation and Supported Employment, Sandstone.

In total, the Initiative Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $55,000. For a complete list of grants, visit the foundation's Web site.

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