OWATONNA, MN, FEBRUARY 16, 2021 – Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), in partnership with regional hardware stores, will be accepting applications for free paint and coating products for community mural, community welcome sign or historic structure projects through its Paint the Town Grant program.
This grant opportunity is available to communities with a population under 10,000 throughout SMIF’s 20-county region. A goal of this program is to encourage local volunteer involvement in the painting process. A total of up to 10 projects will be awarded paint products based on visual impact, public benefit, volunteer participation and community support.
Since 1997, SMIF has helped distributed more than 10,000 gallons of paint to 277 projects in the region through various programs. The Paint the Town Grant program was officially launched in 2015 with regional Ace Hardware and Arrow Hardware and Paint stores.
The participating stores are Arrow Hardware & Paint (store locations: Northfield, Owatonna, Rochester Crossroads, Rochester North, St. Peter, Shakopee, St. Cloud), Faribault Ace Hardware, Pellicci Ace Hardware (store locations: Eagan, Farmington, Rosemount, Zumbrota) and St. Charles Ace Hardware. While some participating stores are located outside of SMIF’s region, only communities with populations under 10,000 in SMIF’s 20-county region are eligible to apply.
“Pellicci Ace Hardware is honored to be a part of such an impactful program such as the Paint the Town Grant,” said Mark Pellicci, owner of four of the participating stores. “We enjoy being the place to go for paint and are proud to have it displayed for the community to see.”
“Faribault Ace Hardware is proud to once again support the Paint the Town Grant in partnership with SMIF,” said Joe Donahue, owner of one of the participating stores. “This program is a great way for volunteers to come together around a community project.”
“As we have seen over the past six years of the Paint the Town Grant program, beautification projects can have a powerful impact on small towns,” said Tim Penny, SMIF president and CEO. “We are proud to support these projects in our southern Minnesota region alongside our Ace Hardware and Arrow Hardware & Paint partners.”
Applications are due to SMIF by March 31, 2021. For more information or to apply visit our website at www.smifoundation.org or contact Jennifer Heien at (507) 214-7040; jenniferh@smifoundation.org.
About Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), a donor-supported foundation, invests for economic growth in the 20 counties of south central and southeastern Minnesota. The Foundation has provided more than $121 million in grants, loans and programming within the region during the past 35 years. SMIF’s key interests include economic and early childhood development and community vitality. To learn more about our work and mission, visit www.smifoundation.org.