For Immediate Release February 19, 2026 St. Paul, MN: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the Farm to Food Security Grant program. Established by the Minnesota Legislature in 2025, the program is modeled after the former federal Local Food Purchase Assistance Program and supports local farmers and producers by funding projects that purchase local food…

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For Immediate Release   First Children’s Finance MN is excited to announce numerous online, no-cost professional development and training opportunities for Minnesota providers in Spring 2026. These courses will help give providers the knowledge, resources, and connections to succeed in the child care industry.  Click here to view the complete list of training opportunities and…

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Original article published in the Mower County Independent, Thursday, January 29, 2026.   Reprinted with permission and gratitude. By Gretchen Mensink-Lovejoy   The Spring Valley Kiwanis Club has recognized Hailee Warren as one of this year’s Kiwanis Academic Excellence Award recipients. She is the daughter of Rick and Julee Warren. The Kingsland senior is active in…

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OWATONNA, Minn., February 3, 2026 – Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) is currently accepting applications for free paint and coating products for community mural, community welcome sign, historic structure or public art projects or to refresh public spaces in preparation for significant community milestone celebrations through its Paint the Town Grant program. This year, projects that lift up marginalized community members will be prioritized and the grant is open to all communities within SMIF’s 20-county region. SMIF’s Paint the Town Grant Program is…

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For Immediate Release:   Applications are OPEN for RBIL’s Fourth Cohort! CEDA is now accepting applications for the fourth cohort of its Rural Business Innovation Lab (RBIL), a cohort-based entrepreneurial development program for rural businesses ready to scale, expand into new markets and bring innovative products or services to market. In just three years, RBIL…

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Original article published in the Mower County Independent, Thursday, January 8, 2026.   Reprinted with permission and gratitude. By David Phillips  Several years ago, when I was running in Rochester with a group of friends, the trail around Silver Lake was so icy we had to run in the street, which brought us closer to the…

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