Blandin Foundation

06/11/2026

We love to see summer is off to a swinging start at the Itasca County Family YMCA!

06/11/2026

For decades, Blandin Foundation has supported efforts to expand broadband access across rural Minnesota because we know connectivity is foundational to thriving communities.

Reliable internet access helps communities attract businesses, support students, improve health outcomes, and create opportunities for residents to participate fully in modern life.

That's why we're glad to share the U.S. Department of Agriculture Community Connect Grant Program, which provides funding to help bring broadband service to rural communities that need it most.

Applications due June 29. Learn more:

From the USDA… Community Connect Grants Program Application Period: Applications are being accepted from May 13, 2026, until June 29, 2026, at 11:59 a.m. EST. What does this program do? The C…

06/10/2026

Summertime is a great time to celebrate creativity!

Folks in the Bigfork area are once again sharing their talents to bring a big-time theater production to the Edge Center for the Arts. Head on up there with a couple friends, and discover how arts build community in this rural place: https://edgecenterarts.org/events

06/09/2026

The people who keep our communities running deserve to be heard.

From county offices and city halls to public health departments and planning offices, public servants help shape daily life in communities across rural Minnesota.

We’re glad to see the launch of Public Servant Pulse, a new national survey focused on the experiences and perspectives of state and local government employees.

Rural communities are often underrepresented in national research. The more rural voices included, the better we can understand the opportunities and challenges facing communities across the country.

If you work in state or local government, consider taking the survey and sharing it with colleagues. It should take 10 minutes: https://bit.ly/3PWd3FQ

06/08/2026

Which State Park are you planning to visit this Saturday? Greater Minnesota has so many!

The goal of Free Park Day is to encourage families and friends to spend time together in nature. Research shows many health and wellness benefits to spending time in nature. According to the American Psychological Association, exposure to nature is linked to benefits including improved attention, lower stress, reduced risk of psychiatric disorders and even increases in empathy and cooperation.

Find your park and get outdoors this weekend: https://bit.ly/2DycxpX

06/05/2026

Join us in welcoming Amy Fearing as Blandin Foundation's new accounting associate!

Amy brings more than 20 years of experience to the role, where she collaborates closely with the finance team, ensures payroll runs smoothly, and maintains financial records with accuracy and integrity. Amy shared: "I’m dedicated to supporting my team and contributing to the foundation’s mission through dependable, behind-the-scenes work."

A Hibbing native, Amy has always appreciated the closeness and sense of community that comes with small-town living. Now living in Grand Rapids, she and her family enjoy the connection to nature and the outdoors.

Welcome, Amy!

06/03/2026

How do we ensure long-term benefits stay rooted locally as more large-scale projects move to rural communities?

Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) are one tool communities can explore to help align development with local priorities, from workforce development and housing to infrastructure and community investment.

We appreciated this recent resource from Headwaters Economics, which explores how rural communities can use CBAs to help secure lasting local benefits from development projects.

Strong rural development is not only about attracting investment. It is also about building community wealth, strengthening local decision-making, and ensuring communities have the information and tools to advocate for their future.

Seventy percent of rural communities with high economic output are losing population, but rural leaders can use Community Benefit Agreements to ensure development leads to lasting local value.

06/02/2026

Nonprofit leadership can feel isolating, especially in Greater Minnesota where leaders are often balancing big responsibilities with limited capacity and peer connection.

That’s why we appreciate resources like Propel Nonprofits' Leaders Circles, which create space for nonprofit leaders to connect, problem-solve, and grow alongside peers who understand the realities of the work.

We’re especially glad to see a dedicated circle for Executive Directors in Greater Minnesota.
Strong rural communities depend on strong nonprofit leadership, and leadership is stronger when people have trusted spaces to learn, reflect, and support one another.

Learn more about Propel’s Leaders Circles and consider applying for the Greater Minnesota cohort. There is no deadline; leaders are welcomed in on a rolling basis: https://bit.ly/42Uv4av

We work with leaders, both experienced or emerging, to help them access their best thinking, build productive relationships, and navigate change effectively through Leaders Circles®.

06/01/2026

Congratulations to the 2026 Blandin Foundation Scholars!

It has been a joyful few weeks as we have celebrated the 355 local students receiving Blandin Foundation scholarships. A total of $1.8 million will be awarded to help these scholars pursue their dreams.

Several Blandin Foundation staff and trustees attended local awards ceremonies to honor our scholars, including Jen Alger, Scholarship Program Manager, pictured here with students from Grand Rapids High School, Hill City, Greenway, Bigfork, Deer River, Nashwauk-Keewatin, Northland and Blackduck. Expect more celebration of these young people over the coming weeks!

05/28/2026

As May comes to a close, we want to recognize the Governor's declaration of Community Action Month and to celebrate the organizations helping families and communities navigate challenges, build stability, and create opportunity.

We’re grateful for the work of and Community Action agencies across Minnesota and especially KOOTASCA Community Action, whose work reaches far beyond any single program. From housing and energy assistance to early childhood support, food access, transportation, and economic mobility, these organizations are deeply rooted in community and responsive to local needs.

This article highlights the impact KOOTASCA Community Action is having across the region and the many ways they continue showing up for communities every day. Thank you!

KOOTASCA Community Action celebrates 2025 accomplishments and shares update on community needs assessment