Small Town Grant Program

Small Town Grant Program is sponsored by Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF). This program seeks proposals from communities with populations of 10,000 or less that impact the culture, education, economy, and/or social aspects of the town. Projects that prioritize making the community more welcoming and fostering a sense of belonging are prioritized.

Small Town Grants - Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation Small communities are the fabric of our region, yet sometimes lack the financial resources to build on the assets and uniqueness of their communities. A key component to creating a vibrant region is to ensure all its communities are strong and successful.

The Small Town Grant Program seeks to invest in collaborative initiatives which improve the way your community works together, solves challenges, creates a welcoming community and sense of belonging for all. SMIF seeks proposals from communities with populations of 10,000 or less which impact the culture, education, economy and/or social aspects of the town.

This is a competitive grant round, and projects that prioritize making the community more welcoming and/or foster a sense of belonging for all will be prioritized above other projects. Previous grant recipients may apply again. Projects must be new or have a significant new aspect.

Application | Application preview Check out this short video for essential Small Town Grant information: The Small Town Grant program is supported, in part, by a generous donation in memory of Paul Johnson who wanted southern Minnesota’s smallest communities to thrive. Paul’s legacy is being continued by his family, Amy De Jong, Paula Rehder and Scott Johnson.

Application opens: July 22, 2026 Application due: August 19, 2026 Awards made by: October 8, 2026 2020 Grant Recipients (Special COVID-Response Grant) Sarah Scheffert, Communications & Community Vitality Specialist Email : sarahs@smifoundation.

org Donor Spotlight: Paul Johnson and his family “Given his philanthropic experiences, objectives and priorities, SMIF was a perfect partner and he was very proud to be a part of this innovative program. We, as a family, share not only his experience growing up in rural southern Minnesota, but also his philanthropic vision, and we are thrilled to continue what he started and support this vision in partnership with SMIF.

” In 2021 Paul Johnson, who raised his family in southern Minnesota, gave SMIF a generous gift to support the Small Town Grant program. We were deeply saddened by the news of Paul’s unexpected death in October of 2021. His three children knew that Paul would have wanted to continue supporting this program, so they have worked with SMIF to leave a wonderful legacy in his memory.

We are beyond grateful to Paul’s children for keeping southern Minnesota in their hearts during this difficult time. Read this story , written by Paul’s children, to learn more about Paul and his philanthropic vision.

Small Town Grant Spotlights Small Town Grant Spotlight: City of Kenyon Gallery Small Town Grant Spotlight: City of Kenyon Small Town Grant , Stories Small Town Grant Spotlight: City of Kenyon Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation gave a Small Enterprise Loan to Dr. Amanda Bohn in 2024 to support her practice, Personal Hearing Care, in St. Peter.

Comments Off on Small Town Grant Spotlight: City of Kenyon Pedaling Toward Inclusion Gallery Pedaling Toward Inclusion Pedaling Toward Inclusion A Great Day Farm used a Small Town Grant to launch a more coordinated and sustainable approach to adaptive cycling in the Dundas and Northfield areas.

Comments Off on Pedaling Toward Inclusion Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation awards $200,000 in Small Town Grants Gallery Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation awards $200,000 in Small Town Grants Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation awards $200,000 in Small Town Grants Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) recently approved 23 grants totaling $200,000 to support small towns of 10,000 or less.

Comments Off on Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation awards $200,000 in Small Town Grants Small Town Grant Spotlight: Montgomery Arts and Heritage Center Gallery Small Town Grant Spotlight: Montgomery Arts and Heritage Center Small Town Grant Spotlight: Montgomery Arts and Heritage Center In 2024, the Montgomery Arts and Heritage Center was awarded a $10,000 Small Town Grant to create a walking tour along their main street.

Comments Off on Small Town Grant Spotlight: Montgomery Arts and Heritage Center Small Town Grant Spotlight: Ellendale Area Heritage Society Gallery Small Town Grant Spotlight: Ellendale Area Heritage Society Small Town Grant Spotlight: Ellendale Area Heritage Society In 2023, the Ellendale Area Heritage Society was awarded a $10,000 Small Town Grant from SMIF to create an aluminum mural featuring the history of their town.

Comments Off on Small Town Grant Spotlight: Ellendale Area Heritage Society Small Town Grant Spotlight: City of New Prague Gallery Small Town Grant Spotlight: City of New Prague Small Town Grant Spotlight: City of New Prague In 2023, the City of New Prague was awarded a $6,630. 75 Small Town Grant from SMIF to enhance their Southside Park disc golf course.

Comments Off on Small Town Grant Spotlight: City of New Prague Blue Earth has made it its mission to be a welcoming community. Initially offering welcome baskets to new homeowners, the community has expanded its efforts to include a Day of the Dead festival, translation projects and other initiatives designed to help everyone feel a sense of belonging.

Comments Off on Welcome Home How to Leave a Legacy for Small Towns Gallery How to Leave a Legacy for Small Towns How to Leave a Legacy for Small Towns Scott Johnson and his sisters, Amy and Paula, believe that in order for communities to thrive, you have to maintain a sense of belonging for people. By continuing their late father's legacy, they are supporting small town growth and vibrancy.

Comments Off on How to Leave a Legacy for Small Towns SMIF awards $200,000 in Small Town Grants Gallery SMIF awards $200,000 in Small Town Grants SMIF awards $200,000 in Small Town Grants SMIF recently approved 25 grants totaling $200,000 to support small towns of 10,000 or less in SMIF’s 20-county region.

Comments Off on SMIF awards $200,000 in Small Town Grants Small Town Grant Spotlight: Friends of Peterson Gallery Small Town Grant Spotlight: Friends of Peterson Small Town Grant Spotlight: Friends of Peterson Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) awarded a $10,000 Small Town Grant to the Friends of Peterson in 2022.

They wanted to create a bare foot trail for people to walk and use as a sensory path for community members and visitors alike.

Comments Off on Small Town Grant Spotlight: Friends of Peterson Small Town Grant Spotlight: Hayfield Economic Development Authority Gallery Small Town Grant Spotlight: Hayfield Economic Development Authority Small Town Grant Spotlight: Hayfield Economic Development Authority SMIF awarded a $10,000 Small Town Grant to the City of Hayfield EDA to buy bikes and locks for residents to use, and to host a bike rodeo for youth and adults.

Comments Off on Small Town Grant Spotlight: Hayfield Economic Development Authority Small Town Grant Spotlight: The City of Fairmont Gallery Small Town Grant Spotlight: The City of Fairmont Small Town Grant Spotlight: The City of Fairmont In August of 2022, the city of Fairmont was awarded a $10,000 Small Town Grant from SMIF for a project called “Fairmont Area Life”.

This grant was used to create a campaign to focus on all things positive about Fairmont. Comments Off on Small Town Grant Spotlight: The City of Fairmont Small Town Grant Spotlight: The City of Lafayette Gallery Small Town Grant Spotlight: The City of Lafayette Small Town Grant Spotlight: The City of Lafayette In 2022, SMIF awarded a $10,000 Small Town Grant to the City of Lafayette to update their bandstand and park.

Comments Off on Small Town Grant Spotlight: The City of Lafayette Small Town Grant Spotlight: Fairmont Opera House Gallery Small Town Grant Spotlight: Fairmont Opera House Small Town Grant Spotlight: Fairmont Opera House In 2022, SMIF awarded a $10,000 Small Town Grant to the Fairmont Opera House. These funds were used to help put on multiple events on their stage focusing on diversity and highlighting underrepresented communities.

Comments Off on Small Town Grant Spotlight: Fairmont Opera House SMIF awards $206,000 in Small Town Grants Gallery SMIF awards $206,000 in Small Town Grants SMIF awards $206,000 in Small Town Grants The recent approval of 23 grants has pushed the total of Small Town Grants awarded beyond 100 for a total of 113 projects since the program began. Through this program, SMIF has invested a total of $972,490 in the small towns of our region.

Comments Off on SMIF awards $206,000 in Small Town Grants Weaving together resources for long-term impact Gallery Weaving together resources for long-term impact Weaving together resources for long-term impact The town of Spring Grove in Houston County has taken full advantage of SMIF’s grants and programming over the years.

Courtney Bergey Swanson and Rebecca Charles, both CEDA employees, shared how support from SMIF has made a difference in the community vitality and economic growth of the small town.

Comments Off on Weaving together resources for long-term impact Donor spotlight: Paul Johnson and his family Gallery Donor spotlight: Paul Johnson and his family Donor spotlight: Paul Johnson and his family Paul Johnson made southern Minnesota's smallest a communities a focus of his philanthropic goals. His three children are now carrying his legacy forward by supporting SMIF's Small Town Grant program.

Comments Off on Donor spotlight: Paul Johnson and his family Celebrating Diversity In A Small Town Gallery Celebrating Diversity In A Small Town Celebrating Diversity In A Small Town St. James, Watonwan County Feature Image: Members of Uniting Cultures/Uniendo Culturas: Sue Harris, [...] Comments Off on Celebrating Diversity In A Small Town inquiry@smifoundation.

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