Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation

Call Directions Website Contact the organization

Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation Our vision is to see southern Minnesota as a prosperous and growing region with vibrant communities,
(1)

Spring Valley and Preston were next on our stop for honoring our partners with Community Builder plaques. Thanks to all...
10/13/2026

Spring Valley and Preston were next on our stop for honoring our partners with Community Builder plaques. Thanks to all of the Spring Valley Area Community Foundation members who came along with us! We stopped by:

✨ Good Earth Village
✨Kingsland Public Schools
✨Spring Valley Area Food Shelf
✨ S & S Bait Shop
✨ O'Conner Pocket Park
✨ Spring Valley Public Library, MN
✨ Spring Valley pool
✨ Fillmore County Public Health
✨ F & M Community Bank, meeting location for Preston Area Community Foundation
✨ City of Preston
✨ Fillmore Central ECFE and Fillmore Central School District, Minnesota

SMIF is partnering with Enterprise Minnesota to host the State of Manufacturing Nov. 24 in Owatonna! Celebrate Minnesota...
10/07/2026

SMIF is partnering with Enterprise Minnesota to host the State of Manufacturing Nov. 24 in Owatonna! Celebrate Minnesota’s manufacturing industry, discover survey insights and learn about major issues impacting the industry.

Mark O’Leary, president and CEO of Enterprise Minnesota, will share results from the 18th annual State of Manufacturing survey, which reveals the opinions of manufacturing executives on Minnesota’s economy, business climate and their outlook for the future.

This event is a great networking opportunity for manufacturers, educators, elected officials, economic development professionals, granting agencies and members of the media.

Register today! https://www.enterpriseminnesota.org/event/som-2026-regional-event-owatonna/?_cldee=JXjDku4Ak6PdLKyD7bqSVwAxrM4fIS0LCPILqcPd8v5wfTKQUW-0laL8B8iwQ_kG&recipientid=contact-ac32e01546dae5118135000c29b59de6-3ab16f7f444b4e8dbc135b5eaabee6bd&esid=d1146ac6-cc7f-f111-ab0e-7c1e5247343d

Attention startup and small-business owners, community leaders, resource providers, investors and industry experts! Join...
10/06/2026

Attention startup and small-business owners, community leaders, resource providers, investors and industry experts! Join us Nov. 16 in Albert Lea for Momentum, a practical summit helping startups and small businesses strengthen financial readiness, access resources and drive sustainable growth.

Designed around real challenges and opportunities facing business owners, the summit combines practical learning and direct access to people and resources that can help businesses move forward. You'll learn about:

✨The different types of capital and the roles they play within business financial health,
✨The state of small businesses in MN and their importance to the state's economic vitality,
✨Regional resources available for businesses at any stage,
✨Financial and operational readiness,
✨Capital and financial management,
✨Available technical assistance support, workshops and trainings in the region,
✨Regional service providers,
✨How to help strengthen the regional entrepreneur support ecosystem in our region!

Register by Nov. 11! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/momentum-2026-southern-minnesota-startup-and-small-business-summit-tickets-1998254247245?aff=oddtdtcreator

Last week, we stopped by many of our partner locations in Waseca to deliver Community Builder signs. Every community has...
10/05/2026

Last week, we stopped by many of our partner locations in Waseca to deliver Community Builder signs. Every community has people and organizations working behind the scenes to make their towns stronger, more welcoming, and more vibrant. We hope these signs help shine a light on the community builders who make a difference every day. Some of the stops included:

✨ Farmamerica - The Minnesota Agricultural Interpretive Center (grant recipient)
✨ Half Pint Brewing Company (loan client)
✨ Waseca-Le Sueur Regional Library System (grant recipient)
✨ Waseca Public Schools (grant recipient)
✨ Morgan's Meat Market (loan client)
✨ Waseca Area Neighborhood Service Center (grant recipient)
✨ Lush Cakes (program participant)

We can't wait to see awesome vendors like SMIF loan client, Black Frost Distilling, at FEAST! Local Foods Marketplace! A...
10/02/2026

We can't wait to see awesome vendors like SMIF loan client, Black Frost Distilling, at FEAST! Local Foods Marketplace! Advanced tickets are available now! https://www.local-feast.org/festival

10/01/2026

Clean-up Day on Sunday October 4th from 8:30am to 4:30pm. All volunteers are to check in at the New Richland Fire Department, sign a waiver, and get a volunteer wristband. 203 Broadway Ave N, New Richland, MN 56072 Thank you for helping our New Richland neighbors recover from the recent flooding. Pl...

We had a great time at our staff retreat! Thank you, Henderson Hummingbird Hurrah & National Ruby-Throated Hummingbird C...
10/01/2026

We had a great time at our staff retreat! Thank you, Henderson Hummingbird Hurrah & National Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Center, for hosting us!

Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts and listened at Rural Voice! A special thanks to Kerri Miller with Minne...
09/30/2026

Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts and listened at Rural Voice! A special thanks to Kerri Miller with Minnesota Public Radio for moderating!

We are grateful to help create opportunities for rural Minnesotans to come together around the issues shaping our communities, including these important conversations around building vibrant Main Streets and the impact of data centers.

🍎Attention early childcare professionals! Don't forget to register for SMIF's Fall Dine and Learn training series! Each ...
09/30/2026

🍎Attention early childcare professionals! Don't forget to register for SMIF's Fall Dine and Learn training series! Each event is free and Develop-approved:

✨Oct. 12 in Byron, Supporting young learners
✨NEW! Oct. 28 in Owatonna, Healthy homes
✨Nov. 4 in Kasson, Healthy spaces, happy faces: reducing food- and waterborne risks in Early Childhood programs
✨Nov. 11 in Austin, Healthy spaces, happy faces: creating safe and healthy learning environments

✨Register today! https://smifoundation.org/programs/early-childhood-development/early-childhood-trainings/

Rural Voice is next week! Free town hall conversations in Albert Lea and Faribault!Who Owns Main Street? | Sept. 28 in A...
09/25/2026

Rural Voice is next week! Free town hall conversations in Albert Lea and Faribault!

Who Owns Main Street? | Sept. 28 in Albert Lea
- Discussion: Who is shaping the future of rural Main Streets — and what it takes to build vibrant downtowns.
- Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/owning-main-street-a-town-hall-moderated-by-mprs-kerri-miller-tickets-1994278603989?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

Data Centers | Sept. 29 in Faribault
- Discussion: Weighing the impacts of data centers in rural Minnesota.
- Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/data-centers-an-evening-with-rural-voice-moderated-by-mprs-kerri-miller-tickets-1996063803569?aff=oddtdtcreator

Moderated by Rural Voice co-founder and Minnesota Public Radio host, Kerri Miller, these free events will be recorded for Minnesota Public Radio and are supported by the Center for Rural Policy and Development and Minnesota Initiative Foundations.

Address

525 Florence Avenue
Owatonna, MN
55060

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 3pm

Telephone

+15074553215

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation:

Shortcuts

Share

Category