Initiatives
WADENA TODD
CROW WING
MORRISON
MILLE LACS
PINE
BENTON STEARNS
SHERBURNE
ISANTI
CHISAGO
Regional Investment Highlights
CASS
KANABEC
IQ
WRIGHT
WESTERN MORRISON COUNTY | Health, Horticulture and Happy Times for Kiddos Children at In-Harmony Child Care in Pierz got their hands dirty this summer while learning about gardening, harvesting and healthy eating. Supported by a Minnesota Department of Education grant distributed by the Initiative Foundation, the children had supplies to plant, grow and harvest vegetables. Staff also led children through yoga exercises, all with a goal of providing wellness opportunities to children affected by pandemic-related interruptions.
TODD COUNTY | Help Wanted: Uncovering Hidden Talent The workforce shortage is expected to last at least a decade. To fill job openings, Long Prairie’s Community Growth Fund hosted a webinar on creating felon-friendly workplaces. The effort was supported through a Department of Corrections partnership and a grant from the Initiative Foundation. Staff from CareerForce, Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program and Twin Cities Rise, Inc., served as presenters. The event has spurred interest in future sessions on tapping other under-utilized workers to meet the needs of employers. MORRISON: Children grew vegetables in an on-site garden at In-Harmony Child Care in Pierz.
NORTHERN
WADENA COUNTY | Grant Keeps Grocery, Thrift Store Doors Swinging in Verndale When the freezers go out at the only grocery store in town, quick action is needed. Supported by an Initiative Foundation grant, partially funded by the Minnesota Council on Foundations and its Disaster Relief Fund, Grocery & Treasures, Too in Verndale was able to fix its freezers so residents could continue to shop locally. The combined grocery and thrift store is operated by the Wadena County Developmental Achievement Center, which employs those with developmental disabilities.
CASS COUNTY | Year-Round Outdoor Learning Abounds in Pillager Pillager students can step out of the classroom and into the woods, thanks to grant support from the Pillager Education Foundation, an Initiative Foundation Partner Fund. The grant helped the school better utilize 40 acres and includes a trail loop and canoe launch; cleared areas for wildlife observation; and the purchase of cross-country skis, snowshoes, drones, camera equipment and spotting scopes. The improvements enhance outdoor learning opportunities for the forest, science and digital arts programs.
CROW WING COUNTY | WonderTrek Children’s Museum Hits the Road Staff from WonderTrek, an emerging children’s museum serving Wadena, Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison and Todd counties, spent spring and summer hosting more than 100 hands-on educational events, from painting classes to fort design and outdoor survival. The Initiative Foundation joined Sourcewell and other local funders to support early planning for the museum. Visit wondertrekmuseum.org to see future events.
MILLE LACS COUNTY | Health System Distributes COVID-19 Safety Kits When COVID-19 vaccines became available, Mille Lacs Health System patients were snapping up appointments as quickly as they opened. The health system used the opportunity to promote continued best practices by distributing COVID-19 safety kits. The kits, supported by an Initiative Foundation grant, included a box of masks, educational materials and a mask hanger for home or the car. Kits also were donated to local food shelves.
6 Initiative Foundation ifound.org
